Security cameras have become one of the most widely adopted tools for protecting homes, businesses, and public spaces across Australia and around the world. Over the last ten years or so, technology has come a long way — the capabilities of resolution, storage, remote access, and even installation flexibility have all improved to the point that a high-quality security system is available for a price point that a few years ago was unheard of. Whether a property owner is considering the installation of security cameras to improve safety and deter crime or just looking to understand how that works and what makes a security camera installation system effective, it's worth their time.
The Deterrent Effect
Deterrence is the most obvious and often cited advantage of installing security cameras, and the impact of a security camera installation is on the people who would otherwise consider engaging in criminal activity on or around the property. The studies on the effects of visible surveillance equipment on crime have been repeated many times and consistently indicate that it does cause a reduction in the likelihood of a property being targeted. The vast majority of residential break-ins (opportunistic criminals) make quick decisions based on the risk and rewards involved. When security cameras are in full view, most opportunistic criminals won't stop.
The deterrent effect is independent of the monitoring of the cameras. The potential for being recorded, identified, and prosecuted is enough to change the course of most opportunistic criminal activity toward less visible targets. In business settings, where the same property could be targeted in the future by more than one possible enemy, the uniform presence of security cameras eliminates the property from consideration, which other security devices can't do as effectively.
A significant amount of evidence collection and investigation supports
If a crime does occur, then a security camera will give investigators the most reliable and most admissible evidence available. The technology of today's security camera has been improved to a point where they can take clear pictures at significant distances, including facial images, vehicle registration numbers, and unique clothing, which can prove valuable to the police during an incident as compared to the fuzzy, non-conclusive images that older systems may have captured.
In cases of internal theft, insurance fraud, or disagreement with customers or suppliers, a video of security footage can effectively settle a dispute and ultimately avoid the need for legal proceedings to go further than they might need to. In the case of a house, a video of a break-in or of a vehicle leaving a driveway gives investigators a place to begin, increasing the chances of solving the case.
The importance of this evidence collection role goes beyond the immediate incident. The security cameras are strategically positioned to extend the properties' coverage area, maximizing the impact of each camera beyond its own immediate protection and making the network more valuable in the event of a crime occurring in an entire neighbourhood and needing to be traced back to the specific property.
When the cooling system is monitored remotely, awareness is raised in real time
The ability to monitor a security camera remotely through a modern system is taking the property owner's interaction with the security system to a new level. Property owners can use smartphone apps that link to the camera system to watch the live footage from anywhere, anytime — from while they are traveling to a property, while watching a business from home after hours, or to make sure a motion trigger was activated and not a nuisance.
This can be a real-time awareness capability that's useful for more than just preventing crime. Property owners can have their property monitored remotely to respond to non-criminal situations, such as a gate left open, an unattended delivery, or an unexpected visitor, with the same response time as a security incident. Being able to keep track of a property's status on the fly, no matter how many properties you own, or how many properties you have and don't own but rent out, is a virtual and tangible advantage.
Ensuring the safety of workers and customers
In the business world, the installation of security cameras is not only for the protection of business assets but also for the safety of people inside the premises. Cameras at entrance points, car parks, and locations where staff are working outside of their normal working hours offer a deterrent to aggression towards staff and a quick evidence collection if an incident does occur.
Security cameras in the workplace also help to create a documented duty of care record, which is relevant in the event of a workplace incident or a public liability claim. Video with images of the premises at the time of an injury reported or the circumstances that caused a workplace altercation creates objective proof and is a defense against false claims to both the business and employees.
Choosing the Right Camera System
Whether a security camera installation is effective or not depends largely on the quality of the system that is installed and the intelligence with which it is being placed. Resolution is the initial point – for most applications, a minimum of 1080p high definition is required, and 4K resolution offers much improved identification capability at distance in key locations, including entry points and car parks for high priority applications.
It is important to understand the risks and vulnerabilities of the property in order to position the camera appropriately. For most residential or commercial installations, the best locations are entry points, driveways, car parks, and locations where there is no view of nature from the street or neighbour. The lenses vary in the angles of the area covered, where wider-angle lenses cover more areas, and varifocal lenses can be adjusted after installation to best cover a particular zone.
Storage and retention are important considerations, too. The best off-site backup of footage is cloud storage, which allows recordings to be stored remotely from a physical recording device so that footage is not lost if a recording device is stolen or damaged during an incident. Most quality systems provide a minimum of 30 days of rolling storage.
Professional Installation
Consumer-grade camera systems can be installed or purchased by the end user, it is important to ensure the cameras are installed correctly, connected to recording systems, and set up optimally to cover the property. A professional assessment of a particular vulnerability to the property generates a much more effective system design than a generic placement approach.
Conclusion
Security camera installation increases safety and crime prevention by deterring, collecting evidence, monitoring in real time, and protecting people and property. Any property owner who cares about the safety of their home, business or the people in their home or business will find it one of the most cost-effective investments they can make will be a well-designed and properly installed system.
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