Statistics show that 9 of 10 crimes caught on tape go without an arrest. Having been a part of crime investigations, I have unfortunately seen many mistakes made by users of video surveillance that contribute to this poor success rate. I have learned that owning a security system is only half the battle… being prepared to use that system can make the difference between a successful and a failed investigation.

Below are key actions that will help you prepare your system BEFORE a crime occurs, and tips to help you know how to react WHEN a crime occurs. Be prepared… Don't be a statistic…

Ensure your equipment is up to snuff

Nothing is worse than having a crime committed against you or your business, and then finding that your surveillance equipment recorded either nothing at all, or unusable footage. Oh yes… this happens all the time - but the reasons for the lack of recording might surprise you. While today's video surveillance equipment is extremely reliable, there are other factors that prevent a surveillance system from doing its job… and they are usually very avoidable. Here are some of the more popular reasons:

1. Equipment has failed due to voltage spikes or lighting strikes
2. Camera lens is dirty or unfocused
3. Camera had been knocked in the wrong direction
4. Recorder memory was full, and the overwrite feature being turned off
5. Persons committing the crime had disabled surveillance equipment

Preparation

When a crime does occur, you'll have a lot on your mind… and time is absolutely critical when comes to catching the criminal. This in mind, it's wise to have taken the following steps, BEFORE the crime occurred:

1. Make sure you, and at least one backup person, are familiar with all DVR operations
2. Practice offloading video
3. Have blank media on hand
4. Have a notepad & permanent marker nearby the recorder

Before the police arrive

1. Get a still shot - When the police arrive on the scene, the first thing they'll ask for is a description of the suspect(s). This is where your surveillance gear's usefulness starts to shine. An eyewitness description of suspects is generally very poor - even trained police officers have a difficult time of giving accurate descriptions. So don't rely solely on what you or others saw, freeze frame an image of the suspect (print the images if possible) and make specific notes on what the video shows. In my experience, a speedy and accurate description of the suspect(s) is the single biggest contributor to apprehension.
2. Export proprietary video - Most DVRs will export two digital video types, a generic format such as AVI and a proprietary format. Generic formats are useful for easy review on PC's. However, police need to both review the video as well as validate the video's authenticity - and most proprietary formats address both needs.
3. Export more than the crime footage- When exporting video, typically all that is needed is the video showing the criminal act. However, it is commonly useful to include video both before and after the crime – as many suspects will first plot out their crime and/or return to the scene to witness the results of their crime.
4. Mark the copy - Once you have exported video onto a DVD, CD, SD card or USB drive, give it a permanent indentifying mark. For example, write “Exported XXhour, MM/DD/YYYY, your initials” on the medium so that it is never confused or questioned.
5. The recorder stays – Usually, if you can provide the police with a good export video of the crime, your recording equipment can remain onsite. This can be extremely important, as many criminals will strike again if not apprehended. And others will know if you are now unprotected. If your DVR does not provide exports, then the police will likely need to take the DVR for evidence.

After the police leave

1. Make a copy for yourself - Your personal review of events may uncover details that law enforcement would never recognize as significant. Review of footage should be done on a copy - not the original hard drive. If your DVR does not provide an export and police have taken the DVR for evidence, it is a good idea to at least dub footage onto a DVD recorder or even a VCR.
2. Protect the hard drive - The drive contains the original evidence and you should guard it. At a minimum, archive the events of concern onto a separate portion on the hard drive. Even better, replace the hard drive and store it in a fireproof safe. If you do opt to replace the hard drive, be sure to follow procedures in the records manual or contact a technical support representative.
3. Don't share the evidence - Once you've exported footage, it can be very tempting to share it with family, friends and even the media. However, depending the severity of the incident, this could jeopardize prosecution.

Thank you again for reading my blog, I hope I've been of service to you. If you have any further questions, comments, or suggestions for future postings, please feel free to contact me at jake@supercircuits.com

The use of infrared with video cameras has been a proven partner for military, law enforcement, aviation and scientific research for several decades.  But traditionally, due to higher costs and lack of awareness, IR technology has not been widely used for business and home applications.  In recent years, however, I've seen explosive growth in use of infrared products by the general public, driven by more affordable price tags, easy-to-use form factors, and designs that meet the needs of nearly any application.  What's more, consumers continue to benefit from the many technology advancements paired with tried and true components to produce superb surveillance.

When looking for surveillance cameras, here are some of the top reasons to consider infrared:

1. Perfect for covert applications.  Infrared illumination is in a frequency range beyond what the human eye is capable of registering as light.  Conversely, most video cameras perceive infrared light just as they would any other type of light.  So if your goal is to catch a bad guy in the act – and they usually strike in the darkness, then infrared is an invaluable tool to obtain irrefutable evidence of a suspect who believes he is not being watched.
 
2. Never get left in the dark.  The day/night capability of IR cameras provide the best of both worlds, delivering vibrant color images during the day and high resolution b/w images at night. 
 
3. Save on energy costs.  Video cameras equipped with IR capabilities typically use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) to produce infrared illumination.  In comparison to incandescent lighting (normal light bulb), LEDs use 80% or less energy while still producing the same level or sometimes greater intensity of light.
 
4. Save even more over time.  Infrared cameras are usually equipped with photocells that turn IR lighting on/off, giving you IR lighting only when necessary and thus boosting the LED life.  In addition to help of the photocell, LEDs simply last a long, long time.  LEDs last between 20,000 and 25,000 hours of constant use, compared to the lifetime of a normal light bulb of 700 to 2000 hours.  Some cameras equipped with advanced LEDs will even last up to 100,000 hours.
 
5. Suited for any application, outdoors and in.  IR cameras are available in countless form factors, IR ranges, and feature sets, and most IR cameras produced today are rated for outdoor use.  That said, it is common place to see IR cameras used indoors, especially IR dome cameras that can be mounted in such a way to be pleasing to the eye.
 
6. Got vandals?  No problem.  On the surface, IR dome cameras may appear to be vulnerable to the attack of vandals… but for the most part the opposite is true.  Today's IR dome cameras use Polycarbonate clear domes that can withstand direct blows of a three pound hammer or more…now that's tough.  What's more - most mounting brackets provide an enclosed channel to protect Ethernet, video and power cables - preventing the bad guy from snipping the cables.  The same mounting brackets can withstand 5 tons of force without breaking, making disabling the camera a near impossibility.
 
7. Save time…  Ready to go out of the box.  In comparison to other types of cameras, the time required to install IR cameras can be dramatically less, because everything comes all in a single plug-and-play package.  IR cameras typically come with the lens pre-installed and precisely focused for infinite viewing.  You will also save time not having to install a camera into a housing, or cut and strip cable for the housing. 
 
8. Save money at time of purchase.  Along with time savings, there is usually a sizable cost savings associated with buying a camera that's ready to go out of the box - versus buying a separate illuminator, lens, housing, camera, extra cable and multiple power supplies.
 
9. Improve light penetration.  A little known fact is that infrared light penetrates atmospheric haze better than visible light.  Underwater researchers that use video gear have long been leveraging this unique benefit of IR to help cut through murky waters.  Similarly, areas of the country with high humidity and pollution can experience better video quality using infrared versus normal illumination.
 
10. Decrease light pollution.  In times past, security needs for homes and business that called for 24/7 visibility typically meant lots and lots of lights placed around houses, yards, parking lots, driveways, etc…  This often does more than provide security… it annoys the heck out of neighbors.  IR cameras offer you the perfect blend of surveillance with the twist of not having to punish your neighbors with glaring lights.

On occasion I meet a person that can't help but ask, "do you practice what you preach Jake?"  When it comes to security the answer is "yes".  Every single one the cameras on my house is equipped with infrared.  When I hear a noise outside or when I'm traveling and remotely monitoring my house, it is quite a comfort to see what is going on day or night.

Thanks for reading my blog.  I hope I've helped you in selecting the right tools for the job.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions at jake@supercircuits.com

Jake

Like so many others in law enforcement, I learned early-on that only the dumb criminals get caught… and statistics prove this out. According to Department of Justice’s 2004 Clearance data, less than 19% of theft ever results in an arrest. Many business owners have responded by taking necessary action to turn the odds in their favor. In fact, according to a recent National Retail Federation (NRF) survey, over 87% of retail establishments are currently employing surveillance equipment. However, NRF statistics indicate that many businesses are still missing the boat – and that much crime is still going undetected.

Over the course of 2006, the NRF reports that losses due to theft soared to 34.5 Billion dollars - split between employees, customers and vendors. This increase in theft (over the same period that saw a dramatic increase in the use of CCTV) points to the fact that smarter thieves see traditional surveillance as a meager hurdle to great gains.

My solution? Augment traditional CCTV with covert video equipment. Covert surveillance is the single tool that gives YOU the advantage over those crooks, and the power to finally put a stop to your losses.

Here are ten vulnerable areas in your business that make ideal locations for covert video equipment, including tips on which covert gear to use and how to use it.

#1 The Cash Register

Just like a gaming table, cash registers are teaming with temptation. Unfortunately, in the crook’s favor, transactions with a cash register often entail a lot of fast action - which blurs even the most suspicion eye. Seasoned shoplifters will look for the more busy registers, hoping the cashier doesn’t recognize the items stuffed underneath the cart, items underneath the heavy dog food bag, items stuffed into other items, and mislabeled items. What’s more, employees operating the till commonly pocket some extra spending cash, and will even coordinate efforts with friends posing as customers so that items purchased can be undercharged or not charged at all.

An eye that never gets blurred by fast action is a tiny covert camera placed near a cash register. And because of their small size, covert cameras can be placed close to the action - disguised in fixtures and signage – and often require little or no disguise. Whichever kind of camera is used at the register, I always recommend coupling it with a cash register overlay, that instantly ties in cash register data with the video and provides an easy way to pinpoint suspicious activity.

#2 Back Door & Dumpster

Back doors and dumpsters are favorites places for thieving employees. It’s easy for employees to camouflage valuable merchandise with trash leaving the building, even when prevention measures are employed, such as managers checking trash as it leaves the building.

A covert camera disguised as a utility enclosure or loudspeaker blend in perfectly in these areas. When these cameras are connected to digital video recorders they’ll not only catch the thieves when they come back to retrieve the loot, the recorders will also alert you when they do.

#3 Storage & Layaway Areas

Stockrooms are typically lacking of supervision, and traditional surveillance cameras are easy to avoid or disable. Store owners commonly uncover proof that this area is one steeped in vulnerability - finding discarded packaging and RFID tags – but long after the crime was committed.

While dishonest employees find comfort in these backrooms, these areas also are probably the easiest places to conceal covert cameras. One common place to conceal cameras is in storage boxes and/or containers. Ultra-pinhole cameras, for example, can be easily placed inside a cardboard box, needing less than a 1/16th inch hole for complete surveillance of a room and crystal clear video.

#4 Vending Machines

Vending machines are often overlooked by managers as a serious item of vulnerability. Those that suspect loss from vending machines, often find themselves giving up investigations quickly due to the time involved conducting inventories and money counts. Even when investigations turn up losses, the relative size of a single incident often doesn’t warrant a confrontation of the employee. But these managers are missing the big picture.

Like most employee theft losses, vending machine losses over the course of a year can be huge - but occur a little at a time. Furthermore, it is often these employees who are taking advantage of your other vulnerable areas. Covert video systems using recorders with both time/date search capabilities and large memory sizes will compile days, weeks and months activity together, expediting investigations and ensuring seamless and confident dismissal and prosecution.

#5 Self Serve Areas

Seasonal garden centers or other merchandise displays in store parking lots are favorites areas for both dishonest employees and shoplifters. Traditional cameras affixed to the top of store facades will typically provide great documentation of thieves literally helping themselves to valuable merchandise… but it’s an entirely different story when it comes to providing identification for the authorities.

Covert cameras placed near the most valuable items can provide close up shots for clear identification, and can be positioned at the proper angle for identification – a shortcoming of traditional overhead camera