How to Submit Video Evidence to Police or Insurers

A video clip can be your strongest evidence in a theft or damage case. But if it’s saved incorrectly, edited, or lost, it can quickly become useless. Here’s how to keep it admissible.

1. Save the Original Immediately

Recorders overwrite old footage. Export the relevant clip as soon as possible, including a few minutes before and after the incident, in your system’s original format. Keep a backup copy as well.

2. Don’t Alter Anything

• Don’t cut, crop, or apply filters to the original footage.
• If you need a short excerpt for discussion, make a separate copy and leave the original untouched.
• Note the system time and any difference from the actual time, if there is one.

3. Document the Chain of Custody

Record who exported the clip, when, from which camera, where it was saved, and who it was handed to. A timely incident report is extremely helpful.

4. Handing Over to Police

Law enforcement may request footage as evidence. Provide the clip on a storage device or via a secure link, along with the incident report, and always request a receipt confirming the handover.

5. Handing Over to the Insurer

Insurers typically require the clip, the incident report, and proof of loss (receipt, invoice, inventory). Only send what’s necessary for the claim and log the transfer in your records.

What Never to Do

• Never post the clip on social media or in groups, even as a 'warning.' This breaches data protection and can jeopardize the investigation.
• Don’t send the clip to anyone not directly involved in the case.
• Don’t delete the original until the process is officially closed.

With automatic verification, every alert saves the clip, receipt, and exact timestamp, so your package for the police or insurer is ready in minutes. See also the incident report template.

This article is for informational purposes only. For a specific case, follow the instructions of law enforcement or your legal advisor.

See also: Gas Stations · Retail & Supermarkets · Loss Calculator