Security Cameras for Swimming Pools

If you own or manage a swimming pool, whether it be one in your backyard, your neighborhood, or your local city park, you probably take as many safety precautions as possible. While swimming pools can be great for family fun, working out, or having a party, they can also be very dangerous for a number of reasons. However, having security cameras at your swimming pool can make all the difference in the world. Here is a look at just how swimming pool security cameras could help you.

Supervision - You should never let younger, inexperienced children swim alone, so please don't ever let a security camera replace the watchful eye of an adult. But, as your children grow up and you do begin to trust them alone in the pool, chances are they spend a lot more time playing in the water than you do. You have other things to do, but even though they're growing up and can swim better than you can, you still want to keep an eye on them. Security cameras can help do this. If you're inside and anyone is outside at your swimming pool, you can watch a feed of what's happening via your computer or even your TV. Imagine catching up on some work from your home office and keeping an eye on your teenage daughter and her friends at the same time. This can help ease your mind and save you time.

Investigations - No swimming pool is a danger-free zone. If you watch the news, you have may have heard the story of two Boston-area toddlers who were found floating in their parents' swimming pool. The girls' mother attempted to revive them, but, unfortunately, it was too late. No one knows how the girls ended up in the swimming pool, but this pool did happen to be covered by security cameras. Police are now using that security camera footage to aid their investigation into the girls' deaths. Whenever an accident happens on your property, whether it be residential or commercial, you can be held responsible. We live in a nation of lawsuits and it seems like an accident of any kind can prompt one these days. Having security cameras at your swimming pool can show just how an accident happened in the event you do find yourself at the receiving end of a lawsuit. After all, security cameras make the best witnesses.

Prevent Crime - Last week in Bayonne, New Jersey, a teenager was arrested for trying to break into a city swimming pool. This week the city is installing four new infrared security cameras. Footage from the cameras will feed directly to the local police department. This way police will notice if anyone is trying to break into the swimming pool and possibly prevent a crime before it happens. Also, would-be criminals may think twice about committing a crime, knowing the cameras are now in place. These cameras may prevent theft, vandalism, and dozens of other potential crimes. It will also increase the safety of the other swimmers who are taking advantage of the pool during these hot summer days.

Have you already decided to install security cameras at your swimming pool? Here are a few things to consider before making the installation:

1. More than likely your cameras will be located outdoors. Make sure you choose weatherproof cameras or housing for your cameras to protect them from natural elements.

2. If your family likes to swim at night or criminals like to visit your pool at night, consider purchasing infrared or "night vision" security cameras.

3. If you have a large pool area, consider purchasing several cameras. You'll want all corners of your pool covered, including gates, fences, doors, and walls surrounding the area.

4. Don't place cameras in areas that would violate people's privacy. If you have bathrooms, showers, or changing areas at your pool, cameras should be off-limits in these locations.

5. If you need more help, consider contacting an experienced camera installer from a company such as CameraSecurityNow.com. They can help you make the right decisions about what kind of cameras to purchase, where to put them, and may even do the installation work for you.

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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.

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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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 Lead to Rapist's Arrest

A Cypress, Texas man accused of rape has been arrested and police can thank quality security cameras. The man is accused of raping a teenage girl in her home.

23-year-old Michael Chenault was arrested earlier this month when a Crime Stoppers tip came in to police. The tip said the suspect had been spotted in a specific area on a bicycle and according to officials was even wearing the same clothes he had worn during the incident. Undercover officers spotted and arrested the man.

According to the Houston Chronice, Chenault was wearing a hooded Texas A&M sweatshirt, jeans, and a baseball cap when he broke into the girl's home in a local subdivision. He pulled a knife on the fifteen year old girl and assaulter her in her bedroom.

Before leaving the house, he stole a credit card along with a few other small items. The girl was able to give police a description of the man and in turn, police were able to get that description to the public. He was later spotted and caught on camera at a local Wal-mart, using the stolen credit card. Police were able to use the captured images to get more information about the man to the public.

Chenault was charged by the Harris County Sheriff's office with burglary with intent to commit sexual assault and burglary of a habitation. The man's criminal history goes back at least six years, with charges of car burglary and breaking into a home among others. He is currently being held without bail.

Thanks to the help of a good security camera, there is one less criminal on the streets.

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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.

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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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.

Montana Law Enforcement Praises High-Quality CCTV

Butte-Silver Bow Police Captain Doug Conway says security cameras make his job a lot easier. "Video is a great source of evidence to investigators," he told the Montana Standard.

Recently, a burglar broke through a glass door and left RD's Party Shop, in Butte, Montana, with as much beer and as many cigarettes as he could fit in his hands. The man had no idea that a security camera was pointed at him. Police were able to release images of the suspect to the media and the man was quickly apprehended. That's the forth break-in the store has been subject to in four months.

But just because a store has a security camera, doesn't mean there will be an arrest. Often times, stores purchase poor, cheap equipment and then once it's installed, poor placement and bad lighting can leave law enforcement scratching their heads. "Business owners should think about spending the extra money to get a better system," Conway told the paper. High quality images can lead to better identification of facial features and other details, and often times can help identify even license plate numbers on a get-away car.

Some blame the recession for recent increases in crime; as more people lose their jobs and life savings, they're more willing to turn to theft to feed their families and their habits. As crime becomes more and more of an issue, business-owners in Montana are becoming more and more concerned about protecting their property and their employees at all costs.

But buying a quality surveillance system is just the first step. As Conway suggested, cameras need proper placement. For example, a camera placed too high will only get you pictures of the top of the thief's head. Considering most criminals wear masks and hoods, that's not going to help officials identify the person. It's also a good idea to keep your system updated and to keep up with the latest technology. Roy Morris, the owner of RD's Party Shop in Butte, said he likes to upgrade his system every three to four years.