September 9, 2019 by Anas Mustafa
Closed-circuit television systems (CCTV) are a staple of crime prevention security for countless businesses across Canada. They have the ability to monitor vulnerable areas of your business, so owners and managers can ensure optimal safety for their employees, customers, and property. These camera systems are also used to monitor for theft, violence, and other crimes.
CCTV refers to video camera monitoring systems that are limited to a closed circuit. The signal is transmitted to a single source, which is often the business owner or a private security monitoring company. This allows you to place cameras in vulnerable areas of your commercial property, so you can monitor for threats to your business. CCTV helps prevent crime in a variety of ways:
Often, burglars and other criminals search for a target that is vulnerable and gives them the best opportunity for reward with the least amount of risk. By installing video cameras throughout your commercial property or storefront—especially in visible areas—you are essentially showing would-be burglars that committing a crime within view of those cameras is not worth the risk of being caught. In this way, many criminals will move on in search of a better target.
Not only do CCTV systems and video cameras act as a deterrent, but they provide real-time monitoring of vulnerable areas of your property. In the event of a break-in, an act of violence, or emergency, you will be able to react immediately and seek assistance as necessary.
Customers and clients are guests on your property, and they must feel safe and secure. By placing video cameras on your property and watching for potential threats, you can ensure your storefront or commercial office is a safe, comfortable place for everyone present. In the event of an emergency situation such as a robbery or fire, being able to react swiftly and appropriately can save lives.
As you can react immediately to a potential threat, this increases the response times of emergency responders and authorities. In the case of a fire or medical emergency, firefighters and paramedics can be deployed without any delay, ensuring the safety of everyone involved.
Should a criminal commit a robbery or violent act on your property, CCTV systems can catch them in the act with video recording evidence. This can help give police officers the necessary evidence to bring the criminal to justice when the case goes to court. This footage can be invaluable in determining the nature of the crime.
Now that you have a CCTV system, there are a variety of ways you can maximize the impact of the cameras to protect your business and everyone present. Here is a breakdown of how to situate your CCTV system:
The first step is to place your video cameras in vulnerable areas that provide maximum coverage without blind spots. Depending on the number of cameras available, be sure to place one at every entrance, so you can identify people who enter and leave your storefront or office. The more coverage of the public areas of your property, the more effective these cameras will be in an emergency situation.
To deter criminals from robbing your store or preventing suspicious individuals from entering your office building, be sure to make the cameras as visible as possible. They do not need to be hidden to be effective. In fact, ensuring that potential criminals know you have video cameras can effectively stop them from attempting a break-in, choosing instead to go elsewhere.
For added visibility, most security companies provide stickers and security signs that advertise their security coverage. This makes it obvious to every individual that they are on camera, so they will think twice before committing a crime.
For video cameras that record footage over long periods of time, be sure to back up your digital copies of the videos. In the event of a crime or emergency situation that calls for old footage, you will be able to go back and access it with ease. For criminal trials, violent acts, and medical emergencies, this evidence can be invaluable to the investigation.
With modern business security systems, you can elect to view the video camera feed directly on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Most security companies will let you control the security system remotely through their app, so you can view the camera feeds at any time. You can also opt-in for push notifications, which can be customized to alert you in the event of an emergency situation. These smart security systems can include CCTV among other features, including climate control and alarm protection.
For businesses in vulnerable areas—such as those with high crime rates or increased risk of flooding—after-hours monitoring can be invaluable in preventing serious damage and crime. When combined with an alarm system, you can outfit your video cameras with motion sensing. This will immediately send you an alert notification and sound the alarm in the event of an after-hours break-in.
At Canadian Security Professionals, we specialize in outfitting residential and commercial properties with security systems and video monitoring. Our team of security professionals has years of experience creating security monitoring systems and CCTV that is customized to the needs of our clients. We will work with you to identify vulnerable areas of your property and create a security plan tailored to your property, ensuring maximum protection and safety.
For more information about CCTV installation and other security systems, call Canadian Security Professionals at 1-877-494-9911 or visit our website here.
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