SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS
Every business enterprise needs protection against criminal activity, whether it is against shoplifting or robbery during business hours or to collect photographic evidence during a break-in at night. There are three elements of surveillance. Signs outside and inside the business announcing the use of video cameras will make potential criminals think twice before entering and hopefully select another business for their attention.

The second element is the placement of cameras facing the areas that might need to be watched and a connected video screen at the office or cash register, so the personnel present can view the images from the cameras. Finally, the system should be able to record the images for later review in case illegal activity has been detected. The recordings might make it possible to identify the person.

It is advisable to install several cameras and they should be motion activated with capacity to work in very low light. Wireless cameras are preferable because they can easily be moved should area changes in the need for surveillance control become necessary even on a daily basis.

Several systems will allow access from any location via the Internet. Combining the system with a wireless motion sensor that automatically by phone will alert someone, when motion has been detected or a secured door or window is opened, is making the business protection even stronger, when nobody attends the business outside normal hours. The combination of Internet and phone alerts will enable the person answering the distress call to check the problem at the business site and take appropriate action by calling police or examining the situation personally.

The recordings on a computer's hard drive from each of the installed cameras will often be a good form of evidence for insurance claim purposes and might even be of value for identification of the person who triggered the cameras.

Further information on these and other similar systems is available at http://www.gpsurveillance.com/ complete-systems.htm

Learn more about this author, Poul Christiansen.
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