Surveillance Cameras for Pharmacies

Any type of retail outlet or health care facility should have surveillance cameras for a number of reasons. A pharmacy combines both of those worlds, so it's even more important that a pharmacy be protected by quality security cameras. Pharmacies contain an inventory of items that are expensive and in high demand, and that makes security an even bigger issue.

Your pharmacy's security cameras can serve a number of purposes. Cameras placed at key locations can protect your staff and your customers from harm. They can deter would-be criminals and catch any sort of illegal, criminal activity. When a crime is caught on camera, police are able to release video to the public or use it in other ways that may lead to an arrest. Also, video footage can provide an objective witness in the event it is needed for a court case.

Cameras may also help keep your prices low and competitive. Pharmacies often have a problem with stolen stock, due to the nature of their inventory. Stolen drugs can drive up prices and even eventually run you out of business.

When you do decide to purchase a surveillance camera system for your pharmacy, there are a few things to consider. What is the size of your store? Are you located in a large retail store or are you in your own building? Is your pharmacy freestanding or are you part of a strip mall or other building? How do your customers receive their drugs? Do you have a drive-through service or do all transactions take place at the counter? Do you already have any type of security in place? An alarm system, other cameras, or a guard, for example? Maybe you want to compliment what you already have or maybe you are starting from scratch. Also, you'll want to consider any type of problems you've had in the past. Do you find a certain aisle always has missing inventory? Does your drive-through always fall prey to hold-ups or other incidents?

Once you've answered these questions, you'll want to keep a few things in mind while installing the cameras. You'll want to place your cameras where every customer you serve is caught on video, both at the counter and the drive-through if you have one. You need to be sure you catch every person's face on camera and if you do have a drive-through, catching their license plate numbers on camera can also serve you well. Just be sure you are protecting well-meaning customers' medical information private. You'll also want to monitor areas where you keep drugs in storage or discard unneeded items. These areas are very attractive to thieves who are looking to get drugs they are unable to get without a prescriptions.

---

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

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.

---

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

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).

---

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

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.

---

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

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.

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.