The Junction is a Toronto neighbourhood that was formerly an independent city known as West Toronto. The neighbourhood’s main street is Dundas Street West and the major intersection in the Junction is Dundas and Keele Street. The Junction’s northern boundary is St. Clair Avenue and it’s southern boundary is High Park. It stretches as far west as Runnymede Road and as east to just past Keele Street in some places. The Junction is home to a great deal of recent development, both commercial and residential, as well as many older buildings. As with all Toronto neighbourhoods, and neighbourhoods in any large city, the Junction has its share of crime. In the area south of St. Clair and north of the railway tracks, between Runnymede Road and Keele Street, there is an average of 6.6 crimes against people per 1,000 people living and working in the area. However, there is an average of 36.32 crimes against people per 1,000. South of the railway lines to Annette Street, between Runnymede Road and Quebec Street, there is an average of 5.78 crimes against people and 21.19 crimes against property. West of Quebec Street, there is an average of 10.62 crimes against people and 24.31 crimes against property. Unfortunately, crime strikes all Toronto neighbourhoods and the Junction is no different. In December 2009, a man was shot and killed in the area of Dundas Street West and Gilmour Avenue near Runnymede Road in the Junction. Witnesses say that two men were involved in the murder and that they were seen fleeing the area shortly afterwards. The murder took place at around 10pm. The victim was a 29-year-old man who likely had no connection to the assailants. He was ambushed and shot outside of a local restaurant. Some speculated that he was killed for standing up to local criminals in the past. He had been called an ‘anti-gang activist.” Police stressed that the Junction is “known for being a safe neighbourhood” and urged anyone who saw the crime take place to come forward and speak to police. They also mentioned that the murder was recorded on as many as five security cameras in the area. The footage was analyzed immediately. A few weeks after the murder, three arrests were made in connection with the killing. Having security footage available is incredibly beneficial for police. While witnesses may not wish to come forward to report a crime, either out of fear or for other reasons, video evidence does not lie. Eyewitness testimony can sometimes be suspect, but the same does not hold true for video. Upon arriving at he scene of a crime, one of the first things that the authorities often ask for is if there is any video surveillance footage. Installing security cameras inside and outside your home or business can greatly increase the chances that a criminal will be caught in the act. This holds true for any type of crime, from murder to assault to robbery and everything in between. There is no substitution for security cameras. They are an invaluable tool when it comes to identifying and prosecuting criminals. They also act as a powerful deterrent against crime.