Security System and Burglar Alarm Information
Video
Surveillance Equipment
Video cameras and video recording equipment are a key part of almost
any security system / burglar alarm. Careful thought should be given to
selecting and siting cameras, lighting fixtures and video analytics /
recording equipment.
Old video equipment recorded only one frame every few seconds, and
often only in black and white...everyone has seen these jerky, grainy
surveillance videos on the TV news. If you are really interested in
preventing crime, you should select near- or full-motion video capture
and recording. Full-motion is 30 frames per second, just like standard
broadcast TV. Color should be used if possible, although fairly bright
lighting is required to capture good color images. Since the lighting
will be on up to 24/7, you should select fixtures that are
energy-efficient. LED lighting is the most efficient type, using the
least electricity per lumen.
In locations that cannot be adequately lighted, infrared surveillance
cameras can be used with infrared LED lighting.
Modern digital network video cameras, eith wired or wireless, are a
better choice than old analog cameras.
Cameras are often located above the ground level, to provide a
birds-eye view. To hide their faces, many burglars, arsonists and other
criminals wear baseball caps. When possible, it is often useful to
mount a surveillance camera at or below eye level to reveal these
identities. For example, such a camera could be trained on the doorway
used by persons entering a bank or convenience store.
Video analytics equipment monitors what is being observed by security
cameras and records suspicious activities, as well as alerting human
guards. No person can be expected to watch surveillance video for more
than a few minutes at a time, but that is a job that video analytics
equipment does very well. Video surveillance software can watch for
persons and vehicles where they don't belong, or packages left
un-attended, or rapidly-moving persons or vehicles. It can then
preserve the video taken before, during and after the suspicious event,
and notify an on-site or off-site guard.
Criminals dislike surveillance cameras, so it is wise to let them know
that they exist. "Video Surveillance in Use" signs can be the
least-expensive, yet most effective, part of a crime-prevention
program.