02/09/2026
🚨 **PSA for Downtown Griffin Businesses** 🚨
Attached is **video footage** of an individual captured on our **security cameras around 2:00 AM**. The individual was observed **attempting to disable our security system**. Police were immediately contacted, and a report was made.
We are sharing this video and description to **make all businesses in downtown Griffin aware** and encourage everyone to stay alert, review their security systems, and report any suspicious activity.
**If anyone recognizes this man, please contact Griffin PD.**
Please feel free to share to help spread awareness.
Stay safe and look out for one another.
Sincerely,
Reset Aesthetics
---
Someone walking up to a camera and flashing a light at it is most likely attempting to blind the camera, obscure their identity, or test its functionality. Because security cameras rely on sensors to see, a bright, sudden light source can create a "lens flare" or wash out the image, making it difficult to identify faces or actions in the recording.
Here are the primary reasons for this behavior:
To Blind the Camera (Veiling Glare): By shining a high-intensity flashlight or LED light directly into the lens, the person forces the camera's auto-exposure to compensate for the extreme brightness. This results in a "blind spot" where the surrounding area becomes too dark to see, or the image becomes entirely washed out, effectively covering their actions.
Concealing Identity: The intense light creates a glare that makes it nearly impossible for the camera to capture a clear, usable image of a person's face or clothing.
Testing if the Camera is Active: The person may be checking to see if the camera is recording. If the camera has a visible status LED (like the blue light on a camera), they may be confirming it is in operation, or they may be trying to trigger the infrared (IR) sensor to see if it turns on.
Malicious Intent/Vandalism: The person may be attempting to disable or confuse the security system to prepare for a break-in or to commit vandalism.
Irritation with Privacy: A neighbor or passerby may be trying to disrupt a camera they feel is spying on them, using the light to obscure the view of their property.