It’s in my nature to be a good Samaritan. I like to pay it forward whenever I can, so I look for ways to keep my neighborhood and larger community safe. I figure if everyone were to adopt that attitude, the world would be a safer place. To paraphrase the popular Ghandi quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” That’s why I love the Scene Finder platform. It’s built for good Samaritan’s like me, giving an additional way to look out for those around me.
The Stolen Car
I live in a tight-knit neighborhood. We all like to look out for one another. I know most of my immediate neighbors. But I also like to exercise caution. To help keep my home safe and secure, I decided to buy a doorbell camera. I figured it would help make my property —and the neighborhood— a safer place. I was right. It turned out to be a great investment.
I installed the camera so that it had a good view of the street outside. For the first couple of weeks there wasn’t a lot of action. All I saw was a near-continuous stream of deliveries and the occasional car passing by. My neighborhood is anything but a sleepy, suburban area though. There are lots of single family homes on our street, as well as a small plaza just up the road. People come and go regularly.
I have a morning ritual: I like to review my doorbell cam’s footage from the night before while I enjoy my morning coffee. This particular morning, I spotted an unfamiliar car in front of my house. A woman got out, locked it, and walked up the street. About a half hour later, a man approached the car, and began fiddling with the lock. After a few minutes, he broke in, managed to start the car, and drove away.
I couldn’t believe my eyes!
Putting Samaritanship Into Practice
Unfortunately, car theft like this is far too common. This year alone, car thefts jumped 13%according to the NY Times. I wanted to help the woman get a sense of justice, but I had no idea who she was. By the time I found the footage, she was long gone. But I had an idea. I had recently heard about the Scene Finder platform from a friend who had successfully used their platform, so I decided to give it a try. I’m glad I did!
I took the footage from my doorbell cam, which Scene Finder labels as “Evidence-based content,” and I uploaded it to their platform. From there, insurance agencies, involved parties, and law enforcement are able to browse through uploads with the goal of matching it to open cases and claims.
Scene Finder is geared toward good Samaritans like myself. If the evidenced-based content you upload is successfully matched to an open case, you qualify for a reward. I’m not in this for money though; my goal is to build a positive relationship with the people in my neighborhood and give back. That’s why I was so pleased to find that Scene Finder gives you the option of donating your reward to a charity of your choice!
Keeping Your Community Safe
I’m happy to report that using Scene Finder worked wonders! With my evidence-based content in hand, the police were able to locate the stolen vehicle, thief, and its owner. On top of that, I got to make my neighborhood a safer, friendlier place.
Scene Finder is a great way to help others, and a great way to be a good neighbor. For more information on the Scene Finder platform, please visit our website at www.scenefinder.comtoday!
