Nevertheless, during the 1980s video surveillance began to spread across the country specifically targeting public areas.[9] It was seen as a cheaper way to deter crime compared to increasing the size of the police departments.[12] Some businesses as well, especially those that were prone to theft, began to use video surveillance.[12] From the mid-1990s on, police departments across the country installed an increasing number of cameras in various public spaces including housing projects, schools and public parks departments.