The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority has placed cameras in the Christchurch's residential red zone with the aim of keeping remaining residents safe.
In the last 18 months residents have reported dozens of cases of suspicious behaviour to the police.
The authority's chief executive, Roger Sutton, says last month the cameras caught three men at a Crown-owned property in Bexley with a large bag of tools. The men are now facing burglary charges.
Almost 2000 red zone properties have been demolished and about 500 are awaiting demolition.
