How to Give Security Camera Footage to the NYPD

If your camera captured a crime, the most useful thing you can do is report it, preserve the original footage and make a clean copy of the relevant clip with the correct date and time. Then give the copy to the NYPD officer or detective handling the case, or provide tips through the NYPD's channels. If it is an emergency, call 911. Do not delete anything, do not edit the original and do not post the video online before talking to police. This guide walks through the practical steps, the programs that exist and the mistakes to avoid. It is general information, not legal advice.

1. The Short Version

Call 911 if a crime is in progress or someone is in danger.
File a report with the precinct or online where available, so there is a case number.
Do not delete or overwrite the footage. Stop the recorder from overwriting if needed.
Export the relevant clip from a few minutes before to a few minutes after the event.
Write down the details: camera name, date, time, time zone and any clock error.
Keep the original on the recorder and make at least one copy.
Give the copy to the officer or detective, and ask for a receipt or case number.
Share the video only with police for now, not social media.

2. First, Report the Crime

Footage is most useful when it is attached to a case. If you are the victim of a crime, report it through 911 for emergencies or through your local precinct for non-emergencies. Ask for a complaint or case number and the name and contact information of the officer. If you are a witness or a neighbor with footage, tell the officer you have video and ask how they want it delivered.

NYPD Crime Stoppers also accepts tips, including anonymously. According to the NYPD's Crime Stoppers page at nyc.gov, you can call 800-577-TIPS or submit a tip online or through the CS-NYC app, and rewards of up to $3,500 are offered for anonymous information that leads to the arrest and indictment of a violent felon. The page does not say whether video can be attached, so ask when you call.

3. Preserve the Original Footage

Many systems overwrite old video automatically. If your recorder has a 14-day or 30-day retention, the footage you need will be erased when the drive fills. As soon as you realize something happened:

Export the clip immediately.
If your recorder offers a "lock" or "protect" feature, use it.
Do not reformat the drive or reset the system.
Do not edit the original file.
If you need to replace a failing drive, keep the old one.

If you have cloud cameras, download the clip before the cloud retention period ends.

4. How to Export a Clip

Steps vary by system, but the general approach is:

Open the recorder or app and find the playback screen.
Select the camera and the date.
Find the time of the incident and scrub back a few minutes to include the approach.
Choose "export" or "backup" and select a start and end time.
Save to a USB drive or download to your phone or computer.
Choose a format that plays on common devices, or export the player software along with the clip if the system uses a proprietary format.
Play the exported file on another device to make sure it works.
Make a second copy.

If you get stuck, ask your installer for help. Revolvis can show you how to find and export clips during installation.

5. Record the Details

Write down:

Your name, address and phone number.
The location of each camera.
The date, start time and end time of the clip.
Whether the recorder's clock is accurate. If it is off, note by how much.
Who exported the clip and when.
Any other cameras that may have captured related activity, including your neighbors'.

A short note with the clip makes it easier for the detective to use it.

6. Give It to Police

Ask the officer or detective how they prefer to receive it: USB drive, email link or in-person. Handing over a drive is common. Keep your original. Ask for a receipt or write down the name and badge number of the person who took the copy. If you send a link, use a secure method and a link that does not expire too soon.

7. Registering Cameras Ahead of Time

NYC businesses can register cameras with the NYPD's free Community Camera Sharing Program. According to NYC311, the program is open to any business with a security camera, and the NYPD will access a feed only during a criminal incident or emergency at the business location. The page describes it as a program for businesses, so homeowners should ask their precinct how to share footage. Registering can also help detectives know where cameras are when they canvas an area. It does not mean police can watch you at any time. If you are considering registering, read the program details first and ask any questions before joining.

8. Doorbell and Cloud Cameras

If your footage is stored in the cloud, you may need to download it yourself. In January 2024, Ring ended its "Request for Assistance" tool, which had let police ask Neighbors app users for footage, according to WOBM. Police can still post public requests and may use legal process. The practical lesson is that you should know how to download your own footage quickly. See our guide on police footage requests and local recorders.

9. Do You Have to Hand It Over?

Generally, you can choose whether to give police footage voluntarily. Police may also seek footage through legal means, such as a subpoena or search warrant, in some circumstances. If you are concerned about privacy, liability or what the footage shows, talk to an attorney before handing it over. If the footage shows people other than the suspect, such as customers or children, consider asking the detective how it will be used.

10. Do Not Post First

It is tempting to post a clip on social media to identify a suspect. Doing so can interfere with an investigation, expose you to defamation or privacy complaints, put innocent people at risk of misidentification or tip off the suspect. Talk to police before you post. See our guide on posting footage online.

11. Business Owners

Businesses should have a written process:

Assign someone to handle police requests.
Know how to export clips quickly.
Keep at least 30 days of retention.
Keep a log of exports, who requested them and what was provided.
Review contracts and privacy policies for any obligations.
Check your recorder clock weekly.

In May 2026, the Suffolk County Legislature considered a bill that would require larger public-facing businesses with fixed cameras to preserve felony footage and give it to police within a day, according to News 12 Long Island. I could not confirm its final status. Whether or not such a law applies to you, being able to produce footage fast is good practice.

12. News Context

Footage regularly appears in local investigations. 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. In Queens in July 2026, QNS reported on burglaries in Flushing, Oakland Gardens and Bayside where footage showed a getaway vehicle and a $3,500 reward was offered. These cases show why clear footage and quick delivery matter. They do not guarantee an arrest.

NYPD reported burglary down 19.5% and grand larceny down 12.4% citywide in May 2026 compared with May 2025 (NYPD).

13. Mistakes to Avoid

Waiting too long. Footage may be overwritten.

Exporting a tiny clip. Include time before and after.

Not checking the time. A wrong clock causes confusion.

Giving away your only copy. Keep the original.

Editing or cropping the video. Provide the original format.

Forgetting nearby cameras. Neighbors and businesses may have better angles.

Posting before telling police. It can hurt the case.

14. Questions to Ask Your Installer

Can you show me how to export a clip before you leave?
Is my recorder clock synced to an internet time source?
How many days of footage will I have?
Can I lock important clips so they are not overwritten?
What format are exported clips, and what plays them?
Can you register my cameras with the NYPD program or explain how?

See our local pages for security camera installation in Staten Island, Brooklyn, commercial installation in Queens and our services page.

Not sure your system can export footage quickly? Revolvis will walk the property with you and mark the spots.

More From Revolvis

Cameras are one layer of a secure property. The same in-house crew also handles the rest:

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

How do I give security footage to the NYPD? Report the crime, preserve the original, export a clip with times before and after and give a copy to the officer or detective, with notes on the camera and clock.

Should I call 911 or the precinct? Call 911 for emergencies. Use your local precinct for non-emergencies and ask for a case number.

Can I submit video anonymously? NYPD Crime Stoppers accepts anonymous tips. Ask whether video can be attached.

Should I keep the original? Yes. Give police a copy and keep the original.

Does registering my cameras give police constant access? According to NYC311, the NYPD can view a live feed only during a criminal incident or emergency at your location.

What if my footage is in the cloud? Download it quickly before the retention period ends.

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.