CCTV Systems, The Best Protection For Your Property

By Ben Sparks

Ever since the advent of small affordable CCTV systems, protection of property has been a paramount use. Originally most of the CCTV systems were located indoors and utilized as a deterrent against shoplifters. As CCTV systems, particularly cameras have become smaller and more inexpensive, the CCTV cameras have moved outdoors and now provide property owners an added measure of security in protecting their property.

It is difficult today to enter any store and not see at least one CCTV camera that is part of a CCTV system present. What many people don't realize is that CCTV cameras are also present outdoors also. These cameras provide 24 hour surveillance of gas pumps, store parking lots, entrances and perimeters to plants and warehouses and the lobbies of public buildings. These outdoor cameras provide physical property protection for the building owners.

Exterior cameras can often be recognized by a smoked glass or chrome dome hanging from the side of a building. These domes contain cameras that have pan/tilt head inside of them and the camera inside is normally equipped with a motorized zoom lens. The pan/tilt head inside of the dome can automatically pan the camera providing a view of the entire area that the camera is able to view. The operator can, at any time, stop the auto pan function and zoom in on a subject. The ability of the operator to move the camera to any area of the property within sight and to zoom in on the subject provides additional security for the property.

Exterior CCTV cameras and their housings are often subject to vandalism. This vandalism may be teens attempting to destroy something "just for the fun of it" or an actual intruder attempting to deny security their identification. Manufacturers are well aware of this problem and for areas that are or may be subject to vandalism provide ballistic rated housings. These ballistic rated housings are strong enough to withstand a bullet shot at the camera housing. More expensive than standard housings, for many areas, ballistic rated housings provide a cost savings to the owners of the property.

The utilization of security cameras to secure physical property, warehouses, truck parking areas, plants and parking lots provides the owner of the property the assurance that the property is always being looked after. The property owner does not have to pay a security staff to patrol the premises. This reduction in staff will pay for itself in a short time thus increasing the profit margin of the company. Additional savings may arise from a lowered insurance rate due to the CCTV system that is in place.

With the growth and prevalence of the Internet, there no longer is a need for a security guard to be onsite to monitor the CCTV system. Through the use of the Internet and motion detection, a camera viewing a plant can transmit the images to a central station when motion is detected. The operators at the central station can notify the proper law enforcement offices if trespass is detected. Interior cameras in stores still protect against shoplifting. Exteriors of the building or plant are now likewise protected by CCTV systems. This protection is affordable, reliable and accurate. CCTV systems will, in future years become more prevalent and more and more businesses and even cities and towns will utilize this technology. - 30201

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