Illegal Activity Caught On Camera in Colorado

The Police Department in Trinidad, Colorado is putting city security cameras to good use. Recently, they caught four young people on video, participating in illegal behavior at the city skate park. Last week, the kids were caught smoking marijuana in the park on Sunday night. The incident was caught by a dispatcher who just happened to be monitoring the camera. An officer was sent to the scene and citations were issued.

Trinidad Police Chief Charles Glorioso had high praise for the surveillance technology. He told the Trinidad Times, "That’s the whole reason we put (the camera) there, trying to keep the park clean and safe. But, apparently the kids - maybe they don’t believe the technology is as good as it is. We can really zoom in and see faces and identify people with them.”

Not only is the park's camera in plain sight, but it has a sign underneath it which lets people know the park is under surveillance. Even so, the drug-related incident was just the most recent in a line of issues that have plagued the city and were caught on camera. In may, a young person was caught on camera vandalizing the park with graffiti and was charged a fine, given six months of probation, and made to serve 48 hours of community service. In June, 23-, 18-, 17-, and 14- year olds were caught in 36 various graffiti incidents. The vandals will be assisting the city's Graffiti Removal Task Force with cleaning up the town's vandalized property.

Glorioso said people should be more aware of the cameras, which are often monitored by dispatchers, "That whole park is monitored, and I want to let them know what dispatch has the capability of accessing that camera and zooming in...a lot of dispatchers use the cameras on their downtime. It’s like having extra officers out there patrolling."

Cameras are located at the intersection of Main Street and Nevada Avenue, Cimino Park, Miners Memorial Park, and Central Park are also minored by the Trinidad Police Department, in addition to the one at the skate park.

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Security Cameras for Cruise Ships

When you think of businesses purchasing security cameras, cruise ships may not be high at the top of the list, but cruise ships have many common and unique security camera needs. A cruise ship is sort of like its own little town, with shops, entertainment ares, restaurants, sleeping quarters and much more. But unlike a regular small town, a cruise ship is floating in the middle of the ocean, and easily accessed by anyone from any country. With this in mind, there is lots to think about when purchasing a surveillance system for a cruise ship.

So, what all can a cruise ship security camera do for you?

• Crime Prevention - There have been several famous cases where cruise passengers have gone missing or were thought to be the victims of violent crimes. Not only were security cameras helpful to authorities in solving these crimes, but a criminal is less likely to commit a crime when he or she knows they're being watching.
• Provide Evidence - In the even a crime does take place on a cruise ship, security cameras can provide monumental evidence in court. Not only that, but if someone is injured or there is another type of accident that may lead to a lawsuit, visual images can save millions of dollars in damages fees.
• Fight Terrorism - As mentioned, a cruise ship spends much of its time floating in international waters and can be easily accessed by anyone from almost any country. For this reason, cruise ships could easily become a target of terrorism and security cameras can help monitor for potential danger.
• Monitor Employees - As with any business, there is always the potential for an employee to do something they're not supposed to. A cruise ship is so large and employees so many people, you can't always be everywhere to keep an eye on them, and a security camera system can do that for you, allowing you to view your employees from one remote location.

Once you decided to purchase a cruise ship surveillance camera system, there are some things you need to keep in mind as you work to place the system. What kind of security does your ship already offer? If you have security guards monitoring an area, adding cameras could end up being redundant. A more cost-effective measure would be to put cameras where human eyes can't always be present first. Also, if you have a casino on your ship, or any other type of area where large amounts of money are handled frequently, you'll want to be sure that cameras are keeping watch over that area as much as possible.

Is there a specific place on your cruise ship that is prone to accidents & injuries or crime. These places will also need to be considered for security cameras. Are there areas on your ship where cameras left alone could easily be tampered with or vandalized? You'll want to make sure your cameras are as tamper-proof as possible. And finally, be aware of your passengers' privacy. Never place cameras in bathrooms, bedrooms, and other areas where privacy can be a concern.

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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.

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.