Convenience Store Cameras Could Have Helped Solve Murder

Over the weekend, a 71-year-old convenience store clerk was shot and killed in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Two armed robbers entered the store - Hermanos Unidos on Dudley Street - on Sunday morning and shot the man when he wouldn't cooperate, according to the Boston Police Commissioner, Edward F. Davis. The owner and a customer who was in the store at the time were not harmed.

A resident who lived near the store called the victim a "grandfather figure" and said she has known him for over five years. "He's a familiar face that you wake up to everyday. You go in, say hello, and make conversation. He was a Christian. He was very kind. He never had anything bad to say about anybody or life itself," she told the Boston Globe.


One of the store's regular customers said he was a "sweet man" and always gave her "hugs and kisses."


Commissioner David said the Boston Police would be "working around the clock on this until we bring these people into custody." However, no suspects have been caught or identified and one reason for that could be because the store does not any type of surveillance cameras. Nearby businesses did have cameras and police are attempting to gain information from them, but if the store would have had its own cameras, things would be a lot easier for the Boston PD.

Convenience stores are one of the most dangerous places in the country. According to Crime Magazine, convenience store clerks fall victim to homicide more than any other occupation outside of police officers. Some cities have even created special task forces for convenience stores. Reasons for convenience store murders range from the amount of cash kept on hand to the small, easy layout of the store. Having quality security cameras installed in your convenience stores can not only save you, your customer and employees from violent crimes, but keep your business running smoothly by deterring would-be-criminals.

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Even in a Fire, Restaurant Camera Comes Through

At 4:30 AM on November 9, 2009, Emory's restaurant on Silver Lake - an Everett, Washington landmark - was set on fire. Once the fire was extinguished, fire detectives found a surveillance camera in the rubble that was almost completely burned and destroyed, but a lot of hard work from the Everett Police Department's Video Forensic Unit led to a break in the case.

The task was said to be difficult and time-consuming but technicians managed to dry and salvage some shots from the camera. In the video, a man is seen walking toward the restaurant, right in the area where the fire is thought to have started, and leaving just minutes before the flames broke out. He is wearing a DC hooded sweatshirt, a baseball hat, shorts, and tennis shoes.

Robert Goetz of the Everett Police Department told local media that he hopes the release of the video will prompt someone who recognizes the suspect to call in with information. If you have information about the case, you can call the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450.
The owner of the restaurant says he plans to rebuild and that he hopes the guilt party comes forward on their own. The three-alarm fire, with reported 100-feet flames, burned through the restaurant's roof, causing severe damage. No one was injured in the fire. The restaurant should re-open this fall.

Even though there were no injuries, many local residents say they do not feel safe in their own neighborhood anymore. Resident Ron Moyer told a local news station, "When someone commits arson, that is an act of vengeance of passion and thereby there's danger involved." Another woman who enjoys walking in the area expressed similar concerns, "What can you do? Tell me what you can do about it. Crazy people go and burn something up because they don't like it."

You can view the salvaged video for yourself below:

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Even Small Towns Need Security Cameras

At the time of the 2000 Census, Newburg, Pennsyvania had about 372 residents. Located in Cumberland County, the tiny town has no traffic lights and no law enforcement, which has presented a problem for its inhabitants. That's why they've decided to take matters into their own hands.

During a borough council meeting last month, residents expressed a desire to install on-street surveillance cameras.

One of the cameras would be mounted somewhere outside of Teresa Guyer's Styling Salon. On January 15th, a car hit the telephone poll across the street from the salon - located on Main Street - and drove off. Guyer, the owner of the salon, called 911, but it took police officers an hour and a half to respond. Because the town is too small to hire its own law enforcement, they are forced to rely on state police located in the city of Carlisle, which is about 20 miles away.

And while crime isn't a major factor in the day-to-day lives of Newburg citizens, they do find themselves running across the occasional minor issue, including speeders and double-parked cars. Resident Jeremy Strayer, who lives on Main Street, told PennLive.com it's time for the town to get into the 21st century, "We might not have crime like Harrisburg and Hershey, but there are speeders and kids crossing the street.” Strayer said that in the past, his own car was hit with eggs and trash cans near his house were detonated.

Newburg Mayor, Susan Stump, says she's all for the cameras. “Cameras let people know that even though we don’t have a police department on hand, they can’t get away with anything.”

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1,000 Cameras to Provide Security for Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will take place February 8-12 in Vancouver, Canada. In an effort to beef up security for the Games, a large network of over 1,000 closed-circuit cameras have been installed.

The Olympic Integrated Security Unit, led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), had about 900 of the cameras installed in and around the Olympic venues. One hundred more will be installed in the city of Vancouver, keeping watch on city streets. This unprecedented move has some citizens uneasy and concerned about their privacy, but officials have said the cameras, which went live on February 1st, will come down after the games.

The city actually already has a number of cameras placed around the city, but the security team felt it was necessary to add surveillance. The RCMP Assistant Commissioner said the alternative would be adding more foot patrol, which would cost taxpayers unnecessary money.

The cameras are said to be on a motion-detector, meaning they won't be monitored 24/7 and will only record when a motion sensor sets them off. The system was already tested last week when an intoxicated man stumbled into view near a cruise ship being used to house police officers during the Olympic Games.

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Surveillance Cameras Can Save Your Restaurant

Police officers in Bonneville County, Idaho are looking for someone. The person they are searching for is suspected of armed robbery at a local I-Hop restaurant. Sergeant Doug Metcalf with the Bonneville County Sheriff's Office has been trying to piece together what he can about the robbery, but there's something missing, something that could make his job a lot easier: video or a picture of the suspect from a surveillance system.

"It makes solving the crime a lot easier," Metcalf told a local news station, "Usually the ones that don't have surveillance video and all we have is a description, those could take months, years to solve."

And Metcalf is right. Having a security camera system installed in your restaurant can ultimately save your business. In the event of a robbery, or some other type of crime, police can take the video from the surveillance system and use it to find that person and arrest them so that they do not return to your restaurant.

It just so happens that this particular restaurant in Idaho had a security camera but it was not properly placed and therefore the suspect was able to take off without a trace. Poorly placed cameras are just like not having a camera at all. At the very least, you want your cameras focused on all entrances to the building, so that no one can get in without being seen. You also want to make sure that the cameras are placed at an angle so that you're able to get any potential criminal's face in the shot, not just the top of their heads.

Beyond entrances and exits, you'll want to place a camera where money transactions take place. Registers are usually where hold-ups occur and not only that, but you may be able to prevent or solve a crime involving employee theft. You want to trust employees and think the best of them, but it's always possible for one bad apple to work their way into restaurant. Employees who are aware they're being watched may think twice about stealing money, and if they do choose to steal some cash, you'll catch the incident on camera, to use as evidence.

In the long run, not having security cameras in your restaurant can be very harmful to your business. It can end up costing you thousands of dollars and maybe even more. Below are some tips and ideas about installing cameras in your restaurant.

1. Make sure your cameras are pointed so that you can see the faces of customers.


2. Place outdoor cameras that help identify cars that enter your parking lot.


3. Have cameras in locations where any cash handling transactions take place.


4. Cameras placed at counters can help you monitor long lines and schedule staff for peak hours.


5. You always want to have cameras placed at entrances and exits so you can see everyone who enters and exits your building.


6. Outdoor video can keep track of any vandalism to the outside of your building, any landscaping you may have in your parking lot, or if you have an outdoor dining area.


7. Many restaurant owners are surprised at the types of surprises they come across when they place a camera at their dumpsters.


8. Make sure your video is viewable from a remote location, such as your home or office computer, or even your wireless laptop.
   
   

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Sugar Land Police Make the Most of Security Cameras

If you're planning to commit a crime in Sugar Land, Texas, you better hope there aren't any cameras around. Lately, the Sugar Land Police Department has been using high-quality surveillance systems to their advantage. The cameras are leading to arrests, providing evidence, and helping police to remove dangerous and obnoxious criminals from the street.

On January 24th, 2010, at 11:41, PM, the Sugar Land Police Department received a call about several men breaking into cars in the parking lot of the AMC Theater located on Town Center Boulevard. Six men were taken into custody, based on the description provided by witnesses. But when it came time to file charges against the suspects, police turned to the AMC Theater's surveillance video. The video led to charges of burglary of a motor vehicle and engaging in organized criminal activity for the six young men, who ranged from age 17-21.

"This incident illustrates the importance of citizens being aware of their surroundings and immediately reporting suspicious activity to police. It also shows the value of surveillance cameras as an investigative tool," said Sgt. Mike Richards of the Sugar Land Police Department. The police department is currently working with neighborhoods and retail establishments to encourage surveillance camera installation for security purposes.

As a matter of fact, it was the cameras at the entrance of Eldridge Lake Subdivision that helped provide detectives with information about a woman who was attacked in her garage. On January 22nd, at 10:00 PM, a 60-year-old woman was in her garage, exiting her vehicle. She was confronted by three men who displayed a handgun and took her cell phone and purse. They lady was not hurt and said she noticed the men were driving a red car. Cameras that had been purchased and installed by the neighborhood's homeowners association confirmed the woman's words. A newer, red Chevrolet Cavalier followed the woman into the subdivision and left shortly after the robbery took place.

The police are still looking for the three men, who were described as being around six feet tall, wearing black clothing and ski masks. If you have any information, please contact the Sugar Land Police Department at 281-275-2540 or Fort Bend County Crime Stoppers at 281-342-TIPS (8477).

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Connecticut Residents Use Cameras to Deter Speeders

If you're driving on Terry Road between Bloomfield and Hartford Connecticut you may want to slow down. A few neighborhood residents who call themselves the "Terry Road Action Committee" have mounted two surveillance cameras on a tree along side of the road. They say their goal was to protect the over 30 children who live on the street from speeders.

Upon installing the cameras, the group handed out fliers at the nearby University of Hartford, explaining the cameras and why they installed them. They promised to notify police, the university, insurance companies or a student's parents if a student was caught driving recklessly through the neighborhood. They even offer a $500 reward for anyone who reports a speeder.

Jonathan Fairbanks, a member of the group, told a local newspaper that they have seen a decrease in the number of speeders since the cameras have been put into place, and that overall traffic has slowed down. He is the owner of both the cameras and the tree which they are mounted on. Otherwise, he is very secretive about the cameras.

The speed limit in the area is 25 MPH and police have increased traffic enforcement there. Residents have also tried placing traffic cones in the road and requesting the city put speed bumps there, but none of those ideas worked. Fairbanks said speeding and reckless driving are most prevalent when students return to the college in the fall and after the winter break.

John Carson, the vice president of university relations said the school has no problem with the cameras. "We haven't heard or seen any concerns... we don't have a sense that they are infringing on any innate right," he said in an interview with a local paper. City police said they were unaware of the cameras and have not been involved.

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Oakland Schools Get 750 Security Cameras

It'll soon be harder for delinquent students and would be-criminals to get away with committing a crime in the Oakland School System. At least that's what the school district hopes. A high-powered security system with at least 750 cameras is being implemented in 30 middle schools and high schools in the city. The cameras are supposed to be installed by August 2011.

The district hopes the cameras will cause a reduction in crimes such as defacing of property, and even keep students from cutting class. The camera footage will be linked so that Oakland police and authorized school district staff members can sign in and view it at any time online, even giving them the ability to zoom in if needed. A spokesman for the district said you can see something as small as the insignia on a shoe when the high-quality cameras zoom in.

The high-tech surveillance system will cost about $3 million; half is being paid by the school district and half is coming from a grant from the Department of Justice. According to Michael Moore, Sr., the district's director of procurement, the money had already been set aside for security purposes.

The cameras will be located both inside and outside the schools. They'll watch what's happening in the hallways, gymnasiums, and in the parking lots and streets surrounding the schools. However, they will not be installed in classrooms or bathrooms. Urban Promise Academy principal Mark Triplett said he thinks the cameras are a "great idea." He also said that while he already uses cameras to monitor who comes and goes from the school after-hours, the quality is grainy and unclear. Triplett's middle school is not on the list of schools where cameras will be installed but he says he'd like to see to it that they are.

The first school to receive the cameras was Oakland Technical High School in North Oakland. They were installed there last week. Fred Trotter, the head security officer at the school, has already used the cameras to identify three different students on three separate occasions. One was using illegal drugs on campus, another had a weapon, and another one was defacing school property with graffiti. As word about the cameras spread amongst the student body, it is likely that crime will decrease.

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Texas Beach Neighborhood Installs Security Cameras

A subdivision with public beach access in Galveston, Texas is beefing up security. The homeowner's association of Pirate's Beach has installed four security cameras to monitor who comes in and out of the neighborhood. Many of the homes in the neighborhood are vacation homes, which means they aren't always occupied by their owners.

Ron Pearrow, a neighborhood resident who was for the cameras, says it wasn't burglaries or break-ins that prompted the installation of the cameras, but more of a desire to keep an eye on things and possibly prevent any future incidents. Homeowners have seen an increase of beach-goers trespassing on private property.

Even so, Pearrow says homeowners aren't trying to prevent the public from taking advantage of the beaches, “Ninety-nine percent of the people who use the beach do so in a reasonable manner,” he told the Galveston County Daily News. “But there are people who don’t. The Open Beaches Act does not say you can park in a driveway, ask to borrow a beach towel or use someone’s shower."

If an incident were to take place in one of the private homes located in the neighborhood, homeowners may not discover it until weeks later, but with the cameras, police will have some added evidence to help them carry out an investigation.

Pearrow is insistent that the homeowner's association simply wants to protect their private property and not limit access to the beach. Two cameras were installed at Pirate's Beach's entrance and the other two were installed at nearby banks where people can also enter the neighborhood. The cameras are set up to catch images of everyone who comes and goes from the subdivision, as well as vehicle license plate numbers.

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Cops in Harlem catch two crimes on CCTV on the same night in same building.

On Saturday January 2nd officers assigned to the Viper Unit, part of the NYPD's housing bureau that monitors security cameras at a housing project in Harlem, caught two suspects on CCTV in the same building, on the same night.

The first incident involved a stabbing. Officers didn't have a suspect description, but saw a man standing in the elevator, barefoot, and followed him through the building and outside on a cold, snowy night. They called in the description and the suspect was arrested shortly after.

The suspect is Alejandro Morales is being held without bail for the stabbing death of his 9 year-old cousin, Anthony Maldonado.

The second incident involved animal abuse. The officers just happened to see a 21 year-old man viciously kicking and abusing a tiny black-and-white Chihuahua and Pomeranian mix. The man kicked the 12 pound dog across the elevator where the dog cowered in the corner until they left the elevator.

Officers searched the building for the suspect and when Chris Grant returned to his home on Monday, he was greeted by police and arrested. He was arraigned last week on charges of torturing and injuring an animal and resisting arrest.

Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly gave the officers certificates of recognition for their work. One, Lt. Jason Savino, was also commended for tracking and locating a second murder suspect. The other four, Sgt. Christopher Dixon, Det. Michael Oner, and Police Officers Raul Gabriel and Naetron King were commended for helping to capture "an abusive individual who repeatedly and brutally beat a small defenseless dog."

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Libraries Need Security Cameras, Too!

The Austin, Texas City Council is taking security at the Austin Public Library seriously these days. On the Monday before Christmas, they voted to approve nearly $12,000 of city contingency funds to go towards new security cameras for the building.

The library already has four cameras in place and director Ann Hokanson says the system allows library staff to identify people who might be causing problems. She also believes they deter other would-be troublemakers.

While theft and vandalism are not a huge problem at the Austin Public library, they do occur and can be very troublesome to staff and patrons. For example, in June of 2009, a 3x2 antique map from the 1800's was stolen from a wall above a drinking fountain in the library and no one has been caught in the case. More cameras inside and around the building could prevent future thefts or help authorities catch anyone who decides to commit a crime in the future.

Hokanson says confrontations inside the library's computer lab can also be a problem, as well as bicycle theft and other incidents outside. "We get an incident report maybe once a month or two. Probably the most disturbing of the incidents was some hateful vandalism on one of our employee's cars," she said, referring to an incident where a library employee's car had vulgar language scratched onto it, along with having the mirrors broken.

As an editorial in the Austin Post-Bulletin points out, "If there's one place where kids and adults should be able to go without fear, it's the library."

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GeoVision GV-NVR

The GeoVision GV-NVR, or Network Video Recorder, is a camera system that records audio and video data over TCP/IP networks. The GV-Surveillance and Video Management Platform is built upon easy-to-integrate and comprehensive supporting technologies and hardware. The GV platform provides performance-optimized video monitoring as well as advanced analytics/control features which support many enterprise's management functions.

The platform itself is scalable and extensible and can also be fully customized and integrated seamlessly with other security system applications that include POS/ATM/EAS to help with loss prevention, License Plate Recognition systems for law enforcement, entrance control and revenue collection, Central monitoring stations for high profile commercial, industrial or residential areas with high security, access control for building automation or even megapixel IP devices for monitoring critical areas and mobile objects.

The GeoVision GV-NVR allows you to house as little as 4 channels to as many as 32 channels with certain minimum requirements for each. For all channels you will need a minimum OS of either Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or Windows Vista though 64-bit versions of these operating systems are not supported. To house 4 channels you will need a minimum Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz CPU and Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz for anything more. All systems require 2x1 GB Dual Channels of RAM and ATIx700 256 MB VGA. You also need a minimum 1 HDD for 4 to 8 channels, 2 HDD for 16 channels and 3 HDD for 32 channels.

GeoVision also recommends that people running 32 channels use 4 hard drives of Seagate SV35.3 Series or other brands and to run 8 channels to a single hard drive. This is recommended due to the fact that with 32 channels of megapixel IP video sources, the size of transmitted data may be very large and reach beyond the processing speed limit of a normal hard drive.

Overall, GV-NVR is a good bet for your camera system with its easy integration to other systems and its solid supporting technologies. If you are in the market for a security camera system but aren't interested in making a permanent purchase then check out our security camera rentals page.

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Looking for a DVR or NVR Security Camera System? If so call today at 877-422-1907 x226 for a free phone consultation.

Security Cameras Catch Car Dealership Vandal

There are any number of reasons for Car Dealerships to have quality security camera systems in place and one of the main ones is vandalism. A few dealerships in South Burlington, Vermont recently learned the benefits of security cameras the hard way.

Throughout October and November of this year, police received complaints from five various car dealers regarding the shooting out of windows of cars in their lots. A total of 45 cars received over $21,000 worth of damage.

Finally, a security camera at Shearer Chevrolet caught some suspicious activity involving pickup trucks and employees took the investigation into their own hands.

"On one occasion the person involved in the shootings drove in in a vehicle with a company logo on the side -towing a specialized trailer behind him. We showed these particular pictures to local businessmen - people in the trade and they helped us identify the individual," Steve Dinco, a sales manager at Shearer Chevrolet told WCAX.

Police were able to track down the owner of the trucks. They arrested his 23-year-old son, Jay Stewart Jr., who in turn, confessed to the shootings. Police did not release a motive in the shootings, but Stewart will appear in court in February. Thanks to quality security cameras, the case was easily handled and wrapped up neatly by dealership employees and local police officers.

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Even Churches Need Security Cameras

Last month, in East Point, Georgia, the First Mallalieu United Methodist Church caught on fire. No one was hurt in the fire and the church didn't burn to the ground but it did receive some damage. According to investigators from the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the East Point police and fire departments and the Georgia Fire Safety Commissioner's office, the fire was an arson, set by an unknown man.

"We found evidence of accelerant both inside and outside the church. The person broke out two window panes to the sanctuary," said John Oxendine who oversees the Georgia state fire marshal's office.

But something else led authorities to seek the man responsible: security cameras. The church's surveillance system caught video of a man dressed in glasses and a black jacket, carrying what looked to be a gas can on church grounds. Authorities have released still photos of the man to the media, in hopes that someone will identify him and an arrest can be made. The Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the man.

This just proves that security is important in all public places. While most people may not think of a church as a place that needs security cameras, any public place where large crowds gather can be a target of crime. And as with any place, there are important things to remember when you set up your church security cameras.

You'll want to map out your church and figure out where, both inside and outside your building, you'd like to monitor. Entrances and exits are important because anyone who comes along to vandalize your building or harm your members is going to have to enter and exit somewhere. Placing cameras pointed at doors so they can get a good look at the faces of each person who enters the building is a safe practice for any business.

Does your church have a daycare center or nursery that needs to be monitored at all times? Maybe you have an outdoors area such as a playground or athletic field. Keeping children safe should be a top priority. Parents trust that when they live their children with a church, they will receive only the best care.

Outdoor areas can also be big attractions for vandals. Vandalism is on the rise with many churches. Often times, it is the result of religious hostility from people who do not agree with that particular church's faith. For example, at a Christian church near Peoria Illinois (a historic building, dating back to 1845), vandals spray painted an entire wall with satanic symbols.

There are other ways to keep your church safe. Be friendly with church neighbors so that they might keep an eye out for your property when it's empty. Make sure you know local law enforcement and stay in touch with them. Also make sure law enforcement is called immediately in the case you do have a problem on your hands. And of course, make sure your surveillance cameras are properly placed, up-to-date, and working properly.

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The Standalone DVR Myth

A few days ago I took a call from a nice fellow with the Secretary of State’s office from one of my favorite, but unnamed, western states. To my surprise the caller had an amazing application for a security camera system. Each system was to be a four camera setup with a limited but critical need to save video at certain times of the year. The project called for each county in the state to have one security camera system of this type and a quote was needed immediately for a high level meeting the next day.

I explained to the caller that our primary security camera system was a PC based solution using a combination of Dell systems matched with the GeoVision DVR card and software that we preinstall. I explained the benefits of a PC based system and it appeared to be a perfect fit for the application. Making the fit even more complete was that our PC based DVR’s, being ready to go out of the box, could easily be installed by the state’s IT staff present at each county office needing the equipment. Again during the entire call, as I was explaining that a PC based solution using Windows XP Pro offered an amazing variety of remote access options for both the local offices and my caller, whose office is in the state’s capitol, everything appeared to be a perfect fit. From iPhone/Blackberry remote viewing to the fact that this system was as secure, if not more so, than any PC in use by the state now the conversation went wonderfully and ended with a request for a quote ASAP.

As luck would have it, this fine state had a little e-mail problem that day and not a single e-mail I sent with the quote went through. I tried sending the quote from my office account, my Yahoo account, my Gmail account, all to no avail. Any message I sent from any mail service with even a single PDF attachment was being blocked do to what was at the time an unknown problem with the state’s e-mail. Finally, around 7:00 PM Eastern I sent the quote as text only in an e-mail from my main office account and the caller was very grateful that at least he had the numbers for his meeting the next day.

By the next morning the problem with state’s e-mail service had been corrected and every vendor who had reported the same issue the day before was now able to sent attachments with no problems.

But to get to the “Myth” I mentioned in the title: My afternoon follow-up call the next day took an unexpected turn when the nice fellow from the Secretary of State’s office used the term “Standalone DVR”. Not being able to keep quiet I politely mentioned that that term was used to describe non PC based DVR solutions and I described them as a set top box more like the DVR unit you might have at home from Direct TV or your cable company. To my surprise I received the reply: “Yes, exactly, that’s what we want!” . I was beside myself. I instantly thought of our talks the day before, I thought of the time spent explaining the benefits of a PC based solution to which every tidbit of feedback from the caller was positive. I recalled working late from home to make sure the caller had the quote in time for his meeting.... and now I am told they want a standalone solution?

Of course, I had to ask what features of the standalone product the caller was interested in? Was it the myth of the lower price? (Which, as I explained, is only realized when looking at the absolute lowest end of the standalone product line.) Was it the myth of ease of use? (And I would agree with this if you think it’s easier to navigate a cell phone menu using only 4 directional arrow buttons than it is to use a mouse and a keyboard.) But before I could go any further the nice fellow from the Secretary of State’s office interrupted and said “No it’s just that we don’t need all those features of a PC bases DVR and we don’t want anything that can get a virus or be hacked into.” And there you have it right there at the end of that statement. The great myth that makes perfectly intelligent people drop about 100 points off their IQ in seconds.

Though, I did not get into this at the time, it’s worth mentioning the absurdity of this belief. For starters, and of course correct me if I am wrong, but I’m thinking that every critical application of any business or government agency in the last 15 years is run on a computer. The belief that computers should be avoided because they can get a virus or be hacked would not prevent the same customer from using his PC based e-mail to conduct all manner of critical and confidential business. It would not prevent the Government from keeping all manner of data stored on them, from our tax returns to the tracking of terrorists. It would not prevent those same callers from going home and doing their Christmas shopping online. But yet somehow the fear that someone could hack into your DVR system and watch video of your parking lot is enough to prevent using the most flexible and feature rich DVR solution on the market?

Keep in mind that anything can be hacked. So you are left with two choices. Put your trust in a PC based DVR solution whose core technology is a known entity to your IT staff and whose security is constantly improved by one of the world’s leading software development companies. Or put your trust in a standalone product whose security is an unknown factor that your IT staff will have virtually no knowledge of or ability to improve. To me choosing the second option is no more than putting your head in the sand and pretending that you are safe.

So, in my opinion, if you need a full featured DVR, take a deep breath, look around at the world we live in, decide if you need a serious and full featured DVR solutions, and stop obsessing over the security of a PC bases solution. That is, of course, unless you just trashed all your PC’s and bought everyone in your accounting office an abacus .

For more opinions on the Myth of the Standalone DVR contact www.CameraSecurityNow.com 877-422-1907

Cameras Combat Crime in Amish Country

Located in the heart of Dutch country, Lancaster, Pennsylvania may have the image as one of the tranquil places in the country. But in reality, it's one of the most crime-laden cities in the country. In 2008, Lancaster ranked 9th among cities its size in violent crimes rates. For this reason, city officials took a step to protect their citizens by installing 160 cameras across four square miles within Lancaster. According to CBS, that's more cameras than major cities such as Boston or San Francisco.

The cameras are monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by paid employees, who can zoom in and out when they see something suspicious. According to Lancaster Police Chief, Keith Sadler, the camera monitors are to call 911 when they see unusual activity and the police are immediately notified. As a matter of fact, live video feeds can be sent right to police dispatchers.

So far, the cameras have captured a number of crimes, such as DUI accidents, an illegal gun sale, and an assault on an elderly victim by a group of teenagers. The cameras also helped catch a murderer. According to the victim's mother, Freda Brown, the jury was able to watch everything that happened via camera footage of her 19 year old son's violent death.

But as with anything, the camera experiment is not without controversy. One Lancaster citizen says the camera captures him walking down his street or sitting on his front porch. His complaint is not that the cameras are in place, but who is behind the monitors watching them. While the cameras are funded partially by the city, they are also funded by private individuals, individuals who some citizens say have an agenda.

Joe Morales, the head of the security coalition that operates the cameras says he understands that the monitoring system is a touchy subject, "We understand how serious this is, the very serious nature of the work we're doing. And we know that it wouldn't take very much to damage the trust and integrity we've earned up to this point."

And the debate continues. Over the last seven years, since the cameras began being implemented, some citizens point out that the crime rate has held steady. But for Freda Brown, the cameras were an instrumental tool in bringing her son's murderer to justice.

According to CBS, at least four more cities in the United States are considering implementing the same program.

Florida Officers Caught On Security Camera Playing Wii

Wii video games are gaining popularity all over the world, they're so easy to play they're almost ideal even for non-gammers. Well that was never proven more true than during a Florida drug task force raid in September.

Polk County Sheriff's Drug Task Force raided a home near Lakeland, FL. Instead of acting like professional police officers, they were distracted by a video game, Wii Bowling, to be exact. Unfortunately for the officers, the whole day was caught on a security camera connected to the homeowners computer. (Video.)

Various members of the task force are seen on video playing a game of Wii Bowling for more than an hour. While the whole raid lasted roughly nine hours and cost the tax payers of Polk Country nearly $4,000. In all, 11 members of the team were found to be at fault in an internal investigation. They all received 2 hours of retraining and their supervising sergeants are to complete 4 hours of retraining.

"We are learning from our mistakes," said sheriff's Chief of Staff Gary Hester. "I'm absolutely convinced these folks will never do that again. I think we handled (the investigation) appropriately."

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Cameras Coming to Coral Springs, FL

The city of Coral Springs, Florida will be installing security cameras at the intersection of University Drive and Atlantic Boulevard soon. If all goes according to planned, the cameras will help catch criminals and prevent would-be criminals from committing crimes.

"I want this at every intersection so if we're looking for somebody, we are able to follow their progress and stay on top of them. What I envision: there is a robbery, we pull up the camera in that area, you can follow [the car] in a system of cameras, and say 'he passed through this intersection and took a right.' And on DVD is that suspect at the bank driving away which is a beautiful piece of evidence to go to court with," said City Commissioner Tom Powers.

Atlantic and University was chosen because it is the city's busiest intersection. Unlike nearby Pembroke Pines, the cameras will not be used to catch traffic violators.

Forfeiture money will be used to purchase the cameras, not tax dollars. What is forfeiture money? It's money collected by cities after arrests from suspects who are later convicted and it comes mostly from drug-related crimes. Powers said of the funding, "The beauty of this is the money will come from forfeiture money, so criminals are paying for technology to catch other criminals." On average, Coral Springs gets between $250,000 and $400,000 in forfeiture funds each year.

A number of other nearby cities are also looking to prevent crimes with cameras, but with more specific goals in mine. In Lighthouse Point, Florida, poles have been installed at the town's 26 entrances and exits. Eventually, each pole will have a camera. While Coral Springs is planning to use their surveillance system to prevent crime, Lighthouse Point Police Chief Ross Licata says their cameras will be used to monitor license plates, in order to find stolen cars and wanted felons. "We're not using it to track the general public to see them coming and going, we're not using this to write tickets," he told the Sun Sentinel.

Though they may have different goals and budgets with what they plan to do with their camera systems, all of the cities do have one thing in common, the hope that the cameras will deter crime. "If there's a chance of getting caught, [criminals] will think twice about it. Rudy Giuliani put more police officers on the street, and crime went down. It doesn't mean more people got caught they were afraid of being caught," Powers said of the camera system's desired outcome.

Dallas Security Cameras

Located in North Texas and covering over 385 square miles, Dallas is the third largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in the United States. Its 12-county metropolitan area, known as Dallas-Ft. Worth-Arlington, is the fourth largest metropolitan area in the country and the number-one fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. Not only is the area home to over six million people, but it's home to thousands of businesses including 25 Fortune 500 companies, such as AT&T, Exxon Mobile, Southwest Airlines, and Blockbuster Inc. The Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is one of the largest and busiest in the world and Dallas is the third most popular business travel destination in the country!

With so many people in and of the city, it's important to take all measures of precaution when it comes to security. That's why Dallas CCTV Security Camera Systems are popular products when it comes to protecting your business. Whether your company is part of the oil, telecommunications, banking and commerce, or transportation businesses or any part of Dallas's diverse economy, we can help you find the right surveillance system that's right for your company and your budget.

CCTV systems serve so many purposes. Protect your business, monitor your employees, deter crime, or in the event your company is subject to a criminal incident, provide law enforcement agencies with footage of the suspect. To learn more about how CCTV can help you and your business, or to get a fast quote, call 877-422-190 or visit www.camerasecuritynow.com today.

Granddad Bandit Caught on Camera

The "Granddad Bandit" is wanted in seven states and now the FBI is involved. A $10,000 reward is being offered for any information that will lead to an arrest in a string of bank robberies being committed by an older man. Since April 2009, the man has hit at least nine banks in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, and New York.

Images of the man have been captured on each bank's surveillance system, showing exactly why the FBI nicknamed him the "Granddad Bandit." He looks like any other bank customer and doesn't attempt to cover his appearance. Atlanta FBI Special Agent Stephen Emmet says that while the man is not armed, he's a "nuisance" to the banking industry and needs to be removed from the streets, "He's going into the banks and being very subdued. He wants to fly under the radar and not draw attention to himself." Images from the various bank security cameras have been used to connect the robberies to the same man and have been released all over the country, in hopes that other law enforcement agencies will recognize him, maybe even connect him to other robberies, and help get information that will lead to his arrest.

The man is calm and quiet, doesn't attract attention to himself, and generally leaves the bank without disrupting his surroundings. He does this by passing a note to the teller, demanding a certain amount of cash. He is thought to be between 50-60 years old, is between 6' and 6'4 and weighs between 220 and 250 pounds, with a stocky build. He's bald on top with short, gray hair on the sides and wears glasses. As Special Agent Emmet says, "He looks kind of like your father or your grandfather." If you have any information or recognize the man, please contact the Atlanta FBI.