Alderman wants surveillance cameras at late-night stores

Chicago stores open overnight would be required to have surveillance cameras both inside and out between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. - and share those recordings with the Chicago Police Department - under an anti-crime crackdown that has drawn the ire of retailers.

Currently, interior and exterior surveillance cameras are required, only of those Chicago bars with 4 a.m. liquor licenses.

Alderman Tom Tunney wants to broaden that Big Brother umbrella to make the same demand of "late night retail licensees" open between the hours of 2 a.m. and 5 a.m.

Digital recordings would have to be "maintained for not less than 30 days and made available" to the Chicago Police Department "no less than twelve hours after an incident."

Those same merchants would also be required to prominently display a "24-hour telephone number of a local contact" for emergency use.

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