PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — Multiple times a month, neighbors in Portsmouth send 10 On Your Side video of crimes caught on doorbell cameras.

Just this week, someone sent us a video of thief stealing two packages from a porch on Fairview Circle South.

It’s these videos that police say are helping them solve investigations.

“It’s helped us out tremendously, we’ve been able to use Ring video to help us solve a multitude of crimes,” said Portsmouth Police Lt. Jeffrey Branch.

Branch says they help, especially around the holidays when thieves know packages are being delivered.

10 On Your Side asked Branch if he thinks these cameras help thieves in a way, by basically alerting the criminal that no one’s home, when packages are left outside.

“I think they have, but I also think it gives the homeowner a live feed at their residence, just because a homeowner doesn’t answer the door doesn’t mean the homeowner cannot visually see the camera and see who is on the porch at the time,” said Branch.

Police believe the more people invest in this technology, the more thieves have the chance of being caught.