SOME HAVE argued that some criminal minds take perverse pleasure in knowing they are being observed; the risk of being caught is part of the thrill. Then again, if one were, say, a suicide bomber, there is essentially no fear of falling into the hands of authorities after the deed is done. Instead, there is the reassurance that somewhere, there would be a record of the "martyr" about to fulfill his "mission" for his similarly deluded brethren to admire.

For the most part, the use of CCTVs for security in many public places comes after the fact — or after the crime, to be more precise. CCTV footage helped authorities identify little Jamie's young murderers in 1993. Thirteen years later, video from various CCTVs would also help narrow down the authorities' list of those who probably who placed explosives in the London Tube and a double-decker bus.

Perhaps then the security come-on for CCTVs should be modified: they may not prevent crimes, but those who commit one are not going to get away with it in the end. Having cameras always on you may not guarantee that you would not be mugged, raped, or killed, but at least you have the assurance that if you do become a victim, then your assailant is likely to get caught. Unless of course the security cameras happened to be out of order or turned off at the time of the crime. Whatever the case, you would still be without money, in trauma, injured, or dead.

Here in the Philippines, one seldom hears (if at all) of criminals being stopped in their tracks because of CCTVs. And while most banks now have security cameras, somehow few have figured prominently in police investigations of bank robberies. One can only guess why. Poor maintenance of the equipment, perhaps? Badly located cameras? Sheer ignorance on how they should be used? A brownout?

Still, there is one local case where a bank's CCTV is being put to good use. Police are using footage from the bank's security system to help the family of one of the "Wowowee" victims get back a substantial amount of money that was lost in the tragedy that occurred earlier this year. In the confusion, a packet containing P49,000 was given to another family that had also had a member perish in the stampede. The bank video supports the first family's claim that the victim had withdrawn the money before joining the "Wowowee" throng at the Ultra in Pasig.

Hinlo's experience of being able to shoo away his drug-dealing former neighbors in Pasay — without getting a blade stuck through his ribs — also shows that when used in the right manner, CCTVs can deter crime. At the very least, though, there should be human eyes constantly on the monitor as well.