Representatives from several Steel Valley communities got a preview of a proposed high-tech surveillance system this afternoon at the Waterfront.

Megapixel cameras mounted at key locations throughout the retail complex, which covers Homestead, West Homestead and Munhall, would be able to record and feed video to police stations.

The computerized program will not only be able to scan car license plates, but alert the police should it read a plate number already in the authorities' database of "known" offenders. Thanks to improved computerized imaging, faces and other details on the images will be much clearer than shot by standard analog cameras.

Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala helped secure $75,000 in federal funding through Homeland Security. A matching grant for $25,000 sought by the Steel Valley Council of Governments is necessary to purchase the system.

If the money comes through, the system could be running within 90 days, he said.