Security Cameras Catch Criminals

Many advocates claim security cameras are ineffective weapons against crime. Despite the multitude of research studies that show reduced crime rates in regions under surveillance these few people are still not convinced. One study of car parking garages showed a 51% reduction of criminal acts. Security cameras are an integral part of police investigation and special police units are dedicated to their use. Often officers with special training are monitoring 50-60 cameras at a time in a single room, which can be a monotonous ordeal, as camera feeds rotate through monitors every 5 – 10 seconds. However, anti surveillance activists frequently point to situations and circumstances where these units failed to respond when a crime was being committed.

In one such example a woman was assaulted at knife point while inside her apartment building monitored by approximately 200 security cameras. She was forced into a stairwell where there were no cameras and raped. To use the horrendous nature of events like these to lobby against security cameras is unfounded. Cameras did not record the crime itself, but did observe the struggle in the hallways.

What are the alternatives? What would be fool proof? Greater physical presence of police and security guards? What are the chances security personel patrolling the grounds would have stumbled upon the crime in progress, especially since none of the residents heard or reported anything? If guards had missed the crime what options would police have to follow up with other than slowly taking the victims description of the suspect and developing a sketch.

While these are terribly unfortunate events, just because a crime is committed under surveillance does not mean there is a problem with cameras themselves. The presence of cameras and readily accessible digital footage frequently leads to a speedy arrest of the perpetrator. Since there are so many cameras on the streets and in buildings, many times police can retrace a criminal’s steps providing them with an excellent profile of the suspect or his identity. In the example above police were able to locate footage of the criminal approaching the building from a gas station across the street. Other cameras in the gas station spotted the assailant purchasing cigarettes with his credit card and obtained his identity. He was apprehended immediately. Video footage is excellent evidence of the crime and will likely lend for a speedy trial and conviction.

People are people and sadly they make mistakes. Improvements in security technology are vastly closing the human error gap with image recognition. These high tech surveillance cameras can recognize items such as a gun or knife, as well as suspicious behaviors and criminal acts such as vandalism and assault. Absolutely nothing should replace personal common sense. One should always be aware of their surroundings and never take personal safety for granted.

Advances in technology have brought about much higher quality cameras at reduced prices making it a viable option for almost any homeowner to have indoor and outdoor video surveillance. Wireless surveillance cameras are quickly becoming the popular choice since they are so easy to install. These cameras can be quickly installed since there are no holes to drill and wires to run. Monitored security systems will dispatch security agents and notify police immediately.



About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and wireless security cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.

Security Cameras Controversy – Why Police Should Stop Carrying Guns?

Security camera technology is getting exponentially better every day. With automated smart cameras that can recognize faces, specific items, and behaviors security teams rely on them more now than ever. They are widely used to police big world events, such as the Olympics and. These days cameras are found almost anywhere both inside and outside. With improvements in wireless security cameras that can be placed just about anywhere you really cannot know for sure who is watching. There has never been more controversy over the continued installation of CCTV networks than now.

Many individuals are concerned that continued video surveillance poses a risk to their privacy. Some fear video footage will be accessed and shared with unauthorized users, voyeurs or individuals with malicious intent. Some radical groups promote attacks on installed CCTV networks and develop websites to teach techniques on how to destroy and vandalize cameras. These groups believe they do nothing to alleviate street crime and only divert limited police resource.

However, there are plenty of benefits and it may be the price that is necessary to pay for everyone’s safety. Footage from security cameras has aided police investigations of all kinds of criminal activity. Quick access to key video has allowed officials to recover stolen goods, and more importantly abducted children. The presence of cameras keeps children safe at schools, daycares, and at home with the nanny or while playing around the pool. It is an integral part of loss prevention and employee monitoring. They also assist with ensuring safe work practices at work sites.

Proponents against surveillance cameras argue they do not prevent or even reduce crime. They often cite the Brian Nichols incident at the Atlanta Fulton County where a female security guard was overpowered while under video surveillance. Nichols then went on a killing spree for 26 hours while police struggled to locate and apprehend him. This instance really points to human error and poor procedures. Had the security agents been focused on their job the incident may have been curbed or prevented altogether, furthermore if more advanced cameras utilizing imaging analysis been in place an alarm may have been sounded automatically. Other criticism might point to why a 51 year old female guard was left in charge of a male prisoner accused of rape. Consider an equally ridiculous argument. Perhaps if the deputy did not have a gun for Nichols to take the initial assault would never have occurred. In this case police should not carry guns at all.

From examples like this it seems clear that the problem is not the cameras themselves, but rather how they are used and regulated.


About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras. For more information about security cameras please visit The Protection Depot.

Security Costs at the 2010 Olympics

The city of Vancouver is bustling with preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Intensive construction efforts directed to improve transportation, provide housing for athletes and venues for competitions have been underway for several years. Major projects such as the Sea to Sky Highway, and the Canada Line skytrain addition are just a few examples. The immense activity during a mega event such as an Olympic Games is mind boggling. For 17 days between February 12th and 18th the streets, buses, and skytrain will be congested constantly with people moving every which direction all day and night. Crowded stadiums filled with high profile VIP’s and athletes would be a tantalizing target for terrorist attacks. The logistics and costs to setup city wide surveillance and security are massive and several multi-million dollar studies are underway to strategize how best accomplish this goal.

The Vancouver Olympic Committee is expecting to spend somewhere around $177 million dollars on security for the games, however the number is likely to increase. Olympic watchdog’s “2010 Watch” spokesman Chris Shaw questions the validity of this claim. In 2002 the US spent over $500 million in Salt Lake, while the Athens Olympics ran a bill of $1.5 billion US dollars. How could a number like $177 million be realistic when other cities have spent so much more? Most of the money, approximately two thirds, will be spent on providing additional police and security personnel during the games. The next biggest expense will be surveillance equipment, voice stress analyzers, security cameras, and explosives sensing equipment. CCTV networks utilizing highly advanced hardware and software will give security officers an astounding amount of information. These networks will be able to recognize people’s faces and be able to rapidly cross check their identity with government records or hotel registrations. Rapid access to this information could give the police the edge they need to prevent a major terrorist disaster.

One concern is that the cameras will remain in place after the games, as they have in recent venues such as Salt Lake City and Sydney, and that they would infringe upon individual privacy. Indoor and outdoor cameras numbering in the thousands will be installed everywhere from Downtown Vancouver to Whistler. Others question whether or not the cameras will actually do anything to prevent even a small scale terrorist attack. Even if the presence of security cameras does not actually prevent a crime they would certainly help the Vancouver Police Department identify and apprehend perpetrators and this can help reduce crime in the long run.


About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Protection Depot, a leading online provider of security cameras and surveillance cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit Protection Depot.