After a burglary, robbery, car theft or shooting, detectives often walk the surrounding blocks looking for cameras. They are called canvasses. An officer or detective knocks on your door or walks into your shop, asks whether you have cameras, what they cover and whether you can look for a specific time. If you have never experienced it, the visit can feel sudden. This guide explains what usually happens, how to respond helpfully without putting yourself at risk, how to export footage properly, what your options are if you are uncomfortable and how to set up your cameras so that, if the day comes, you can help quickly.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every situation differs. If you are worried about your own exposure, or the request seems unusual, you may ask for the request in writing and consult an attorney.
1. The Short Version
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ask for the officer's name, rank, unit and contact details. |
| 2 | Find out the date, time window and location they care about. |
| 3 | Check your recorder quickly, but do not delete or change anything. |
| 4 | Export only the relevant cameras and times. |
| 5 | Keep a copy and write down what you provided. |
| 6 | Ask questions if anything is unclear. |
2. How a Canvass Works
Detectives usually start at the scene and move outward, asking residents and shops whether they have cameras that cover the street, doorways or driveways. They may ask to view footage on the spot, or leave a card and ask you to call. They are looking for people, vehicles, direction of travel and anything that helps establish a timeline. A camera two blocks away that captures a car turning the corner can be as valuable as one pointed at the scene. That is why even modest home cameras matter.
3. Your Options
You are generally free to cooperate voluntarily. Detectives may also use other legal tools, such as subpoenas or warrants, when they need footage and a voluntary request is not enough. If you are a business, you may also be interested in the NYPD's Community Camera Sharing Program, which NYC311 describes as free and open to any business with a security camera; see portal.311.nyc.gov. If you are unsure about handing over footage, ask for a written request, take a day to review it and speak with an attorney. Our guide on subpoenas for security footage explains the formal route, and our guide on giving footage to the NYPD covers voluntary requests.
4. Verify Who You Are Talking To
Most canvassers are who they say they are. Still, take a moment. Ask for a badge and a card with a name and phone number. If someone you do not know asks about your cameras without clear credentials, ask them to contact the precinct, and call the precinct yourself using a number you look up. People who pose as police to learn about your system do exist. Never give out your recorder password or let someone access your system remotely. Export the clip yourself.
5. Find What They Need
Ask for the date, a time range and the address or direction of interest. Then check your recorder:
- Confirm the recorder clock is correct. If it is off by a few minutes, note how much.
- Navigate to the date and time.
- Look at all relevant cameras, not only the obvious one.
- If you see something, do not guess what it is. Describe what you see: a dark sedan turns left at 11:42 p.m.
- Note camera locations and their fields of view.
If you cannot find footage, say so and explain why, such as retention or a camera outage. Do not apologize excessively or invent explanations. Our guide on verifying your cameras are recording can help you prevent gaps in the future.
6. Export Correctly
Use the recorder's export feature, not a phone video of a screen. Export in the original format with a viewer, and a standard format such as MP4 if available. Include a few minutes before and after. Label files with the date, camera and time range. Save a copy for yourself. If you are asked to hand over a drive, use a clean one and keep a note of the serial number or label. Our guide on chain of custody for footage explains a simple routine.
7. Write It Down
Create a short log entry: date, who asked, their unit and contact, what was requested, what you provided, how it was delivered and where your copy is stored. This takes two minutes and helps if questions arise later, including if detectives need you to testify or authenticate the footage. Keep it with your retention policy documents.
8. Privacy and Third Parties
Your cameras may show neighbors, tenants, employees or passersby unrelated to the case. Provide what is relevant. If you manage a multifamily building, consider your tenants' privacy and your lease and notice terms. If you are worried about handing over footage that shows residents, speak with your attorney before you do. Do not edit the original. Our guide on a landlord's buyer guide discusses retention and requests in apartment buildings.
9. If You Have Concerns
It is fine to ask questions. You might ask what the investigation concerns in general terms, whether you will be contacted again and whether the footage may be used in court. You may not receive detailed answers. If you are a business, you might ask whether the police can send a written request. If you are a tenant with a camera in a building you do not own, check whether the owner's permission is needed. If the footage shows something that could implicate you or your family, talk to an attorney first.
10. Make Your Cameras More Useful
You can improve the odds that your footage helps a neighbor in trouble:
- Aim at the street or sidewalk edge of your property, not just your door, while still respecting neighbors' privacy.
- Ensure good light for night views.
- Keep the clock accurate.
- Retain at least thirty days.
- Know how to export.
- Make sure your lenses are clean and your cameras are not blocked by branches.
- Consider a camera that reads plates at a driveway entrance if you have one.
Our guides on license plate cameras and on testing camera views explain what clear footage looks like.
11. News Context
Canvasses are part of how cases get solved. In July 2026, QNS reported that police were seeking a burglar who hit homes in Flushing, Oakland Gardens and Bayside, with a vehicle's plate partly covered and a $3,500 reward. In February 2026, NYPD released stills and video from a Staten Island doorstep to help identify three young men who tried to enter three homes overnight, according to CBS News New York. The NYPD Crime Stoppers page lists a tip line and rewards of up to $3,500 in certain cases; see nyc.gov.
NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).
12. Costs
Planning ranges in 2026 for professionally installed systems: video doorbell, $150 to $550; four-camera home system, $1,600 to $3,600; eight-camera home system, $3,000 to $6,800; plate camera at a driveway, $900 to $3,500 per lane; recorder with longer retention and easy exports, $800 to $3,500. These are planning ranges, not quotes.
13. Questions to Ask Your Installer
- Can you show me how to export a clip with a viewer in under five minutes?
- How do I check the recorder clock?
- How many days of footage will I have?
- Can you position one camera to cover the street edge without viewing neighbors' windows?
- Can night footage capture a plate at the driveway?
- Can you give me a one-page export guide for my system?
See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, commercial camera installation in Brooklyn, security camera installation in Queens and our services page.
Want your cameras ready for the next knock on the door? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.
14. A Sample Scenario
A burglary happens at 2 a.m. on a Staten Island block. At noon a detective visits a homeowner two doors away, who has a doorbell camera and a driveway camera. The homeowner asks for the time window, confirms the recorder clock is two minutes fast, exports 1:45 to 2:30 a.m. from both cameras to a clean drive, keeps a copy and writes a note. The footage shows a car pausing at the corner and two people walking toward the scene. The detective thanks the homeowner and leaves a card. The homeowner mentions the clock offset in the note, which helps the detective line up timelines. The whole thing takes twenty minutes.
15. Keep a Go-Bag
A small folder near the recorder, physical or digital, can make a canvass painless: a sheet with the recorder login procedure (not the password), a one-page export guide, a clean USB drive, a blank log sheet and a card with the installer's contact. Tell household members or managers where it is. It is a ten-minute project that turns a stressful moment into a routine task.
More From Revolvis
Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:
- Keyless entry installation and smart lock installation
- Access control systems and commercial access control
- Video doorbells and intercoms
- Alarm system installation
- Complete unified security
Learn more about Revolvis, meet the team, see all services, browse the blog or contact us.
Areas We Serve
Revolvis installs residential and commercial camera systems across the New York metro area. Every borough and county has its own building stock, rules and wiring challenges, so the plan for a Queens two-family is not the plan for a Manhattan co-op.
- Staten Island: houses, detached garages and shop fronts. See security camera installation in Staten Island.
- Brooklyn: brownstones, row houses and storefronts. See security camera installation in Brooklyn.
- Queens: attached brick homes, two-families and busy commercial strips. See security camera installation in Queens.
- The Bronx: pre-war buildings, bodegas and warehouses. See security camera installation in the Bronx.
- Manhattan: co-ops, condos, offices and retail. See security camera installation in Manhattan.
- Long Island: Nassau County and Suffolk County.
- New Jersey: Jersey City, Newark, Hoboken and nearby towns.
The full list is on the service areas page.
Get a Custom Quote After a Site Visit
Revolvis prices every job after a site visit, because the building sets the cost as much as the equipment does. A few things make the estimate faster and more accurate:
- The address and property type: house, apartment, co-op, condo, storefront or warehouse.
- Which doors, sides and areas you want covered, and what worries you most.
- Photos of those spots and any spots where you already have cabling or power.
- How many days of footage you want to keep and whether you want to watch on your phone.
- Any landlord, board, lender or insurer requirement.
Call 347-258-9165 or use the contact page to book a site visit. The quote you receive is written and itemized, so you can compare it line by line.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to give detectives my footage? Cooperation is often voluntary, but detectives may use subpoenas or warrants. If unsure, ask for a written request and consult an attorney.
What should I check first? Ask for the date, time window and location, then check your recorder clock and the relevant cameras.
Should I give them my recorder password? No. Export the footage yourself.
How much footage should I provide? Only the relevant cameras and a window around the time.
What if I do not have footage? Say so plainly and explain, such as retention limits or an offline camera.
How can I make my cameras more helpful? Keep the clock accurate, retain at least thirty days, aim for useful views and learn to export.
Ready for a custom quote? Call Revolvis at 347-258-9165 for a site visit and a written, itemized estimate.
Safety note: A camera system supports, but does not replace, good locks, lighting, alarms and everyday habits. If you are in danger or witnessing a crime, call 911. Prices and legal summaries in this guide are general information for the New York metro area, not an offer or legal advice. A written quote after a site visit governs your actual price, and for legal questions you should confirm with the agencies linked in the article or a licensed attorney.