Why is video surveillance essential during the holidays?

by Get Stealth Chicago Stealth Security & Home Theatre Systems, Inc

One of the biggest problems facing department stores and small retailers is retail crime. From shoplifting to internal theft, fraud and organized crime, merchants, especially during the holidays and especially Christmas, are faced with many challenges when store traffic explodes. This is why businesses must turn to the installation of a video surveillance system in order to prevent crime in retail stores during the holiday seasons.

More customers means increased risk of theft

The increase in the number of buyers during the festive seasons is also accompanied by an increase in risks, such as shoplifting. Organized thieves use tactics such as creating diversions to grab employees' attention while accomplices steal goods. Traders therefore have a vested interest in installing quality CCTV cameras inside and outside their stores. Retailers should also watch out for unusual signs such as large groups of people leaving and entering the store or mall, with buyers dropping off goods in multiple vehicles with placards generally out-of-state registration and potential buyers frequently contacting mobile phones or other handheld computers. Devices. The way you display your goods in your store also plays a huge role in preventing shoplifting. Have visible supervisors on the sales floor, assess daily transactions, regularly review your surveillance videos from CCTV cameras and validate all sales deleted or canceled to mitigate theft.

Temporary workers could pose a threat

Surveys seem to show that workers hired extra for the holidays are not as invested in the business as full-time workers. The temporary nature of their presence in the company seems to encourage them more to theft, and some are even placed by organized gangs to facilitate crimes such as theft and shoplifting.

An increase in stocks makes management more difficult

Trader’s face, to meet the explosion of customer demands and ensure fast deliveries during the holidays, must greatly increase their stocks. We do not always know what to expect and it is difficult to predict what will be necessary. Increasing your inventory should not mean failing to implement the usual inventory controls to avoid losses. Without good inventory management, you create weak spots that could easily be exploited. Staying current with your inventory is essential to reduce shrinkage and internal theft. While it is difficult to do a full inventory, be sure to do a rolling inventory or partial inventory on a daily or weekly basis.

Keep your business secure

Anticipating any security threat means taking preventive measures and knowing what risks you are facing. For traders, the holidays represent a major challenge for the security of the company which must become an absolute priority and perhaps greatly improved by the installation of video surveillance cameras.

What if you want to increase the number of CCTV cameras?

Choosing the right CCTV camera system in Chicago is a decision faced by businesses of all sizes and in all industries. As surveillance solutions evolve and software progresses, CCTV cameras provide businesses with benefits that go beyond expectations. You can in particular multiply the cameras in order to have maximum security in your business and to keep an eye on everything that happens there. How to multiply the cameras?

Upgrade your video surveillance cameras in Chicago.

When it comes to upgrading a complete system of CCTV cameras, it's important to think about your needs first. Depending on the number of CCTV cameras and the type of system you already have, ask yourself if adding cameras will help you achieve your goals. If you have a traditional video surveillance system where everything is wired directly to the DVR, adding a camera can be difficult This is why IP video surveillance camera systems that connect via Ethernet cable to your building network are often used. It is easier to lay and connect the additional cable needed to add cameras. The best system should allow you to record and view video footage from anywhere.

If you decide to add cameras, consider the following considerations.

Ease of adding new hardware

Whether you are planning to expand your business, rent more office space, or extend surveillance coverage in a residential or commercial complex, you will need more CCTV cameras. You then need to make sure that your new hardware can easily be added to your existing infrastructure. IP systems allow the addition of new users, locations and equipment. Anyway, it will be necessary to multiply the wiring.

Available storage and bandwidth

When you plan to add more cameras, you will need to update your storage and bandwidth so as not to limit your video surveillance capabilities. Talk to your CCTV vendor about the network changes required to support your new hardware before adding new cameras. For example, if you opt for a system of 64 multiple IP video surveillance cameras, more bandwidth may be required.

Access and management of surveillance videos

How do you plan to monitor the additional CCTV cameras? Maybe a centralized monitoring management point with experts who monitor live images on CCTV monitors? Remote access on your phone, tablet or PC? The ease of access and management of surveillance sequences must be taken into account before adding other cameras. The best multi-camera video surveillance system should have remote access via mobile devices as a central feature.

Should we opt for a video surveillance system by motion detection?

There are various reasons why you may want to set up a video surveillance system for your business. You may want to provide video surveillance for your business as it grows, whether it's just when you're away or to deter potential thieves with CCTV cameras that record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week which recording option is best for your business and your video surveillance needs? A few questions arise above all.

First of all, you need to check that you have images detailed enough for the use you want to make of them. Suppose you examine the surveillance videos recorded by CCTV cameras that record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or on time, but that all that is visible are a blurred image, without the possibility of recognizing the faces and license plates. In order to capture the details you want from a distance, it is necessary to invest in high definition cameras with optical zoom function.

Besides, you need to check if you don't have any worries about video loss which can be a big problem. If your business is vandalized and your installed CCTV cameras fail to capture such an important event, there is no point in using CCTV. To avoid such disappointments, make sure that your cameras are recording all of the images well and that they have no problem with recording delay, especially if you are using motion detection. Longer recording and more backup space means reducing the bit rate of your videos. Higher bit rates mean better picture and better audio quality, but it also means that the size of your video file will be larger. You can also connect 24 hour streaming cameras to a PC. Cloud storage is also an option for CCTV cameras that record 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Motion detection recording

Motion detection recording is becoming more and more popular among businesses, especially in small and medium businesses that don't have the budget to handle the huge storage needs of 24/7 recording. Aside from if you regularly delete recorded videos after a certain period of time, recording during motion detection can be very economical. Motion detection and recording cameras are mainly installed in low traffic areas such as stairwells, corridors, backyards, backdoors, storage rooms etc.

Security camera installation in Chicago that record when they detect movement in these areas has the advantage of reducing the storage hard drives required. These savings are particularly significant if you have a system with multiple motion-sensing CCTV cameras. For companies who want to store their surveillance videos for at least 30 days and enjoy high video quality while staying on budget from their data storage, motion-based recording is the best option. This is ideal if you have deployed many CCTV cameras. So opting for CCTV cameras that record on motion detection only when necessary, with predefined recording settings is the way to go. For companies that want to store their surveillance videos for at least 30 days and enjoy high video quality while staying within their data storage budget, motion-based recording is the best option. This is ideal if you have deployed many CCTV cameras. So opting for CCTV cameras that record on motion detection only when necessary, with predefined recording settings is the way to go. For companies that want to store their surveillance videos for at least 30 days and enjoy high video quality while staying within their data storage budget, motion-based recording is the best option. This is ideal if you have deployed many CCTV cameras. So opting for CCTV cameras that record on motion detection only when necessary, with predefined recording settings is the way to go. Is ideal if you have deployed many CCTV cameras. So opting for CCTV cameras that record on motion detection only when necessary, with predefined recording settings is the way to go. is ideal if you have deployed many CCTV cameras. So opting for CCTV cameras that record on motion detection only when necessary, with predefined recording settings is the way to go.

Scheduled recording

You can also configure a recording program which will allow you to choose when the CCTV camera will record the images. Recorders now offer a variety of recording options: you can easily configure them using different methods such as a calendar, an alarm, or even when there is a particular sound, unlocking a door etc...

The essential characteristics of an effective video surveillance camera

Investing in CCTV cameras allows business owners to monitor it effectively. Indeed, the cameras have the effect of dissuading the perpetrators of crimes who will be much more reluctant to harm the company. However, not all cameras have the same efficiency, and special attention should be paid to some of their features.

1- High definition resolution

Some cameras have resolutions of 1080p, 1440p and even 4K. The more pixels a video surveillance camera has, the more detailed the image produced. Low resolution cameras will produce blurred images while those with at least 1080p and above will capture images very clearly. For a long time, the reference camera had a resolution of 1080p, but companies today invest heavily in cameras of higher resolution, in particular 4K which makes it possible to recognize faces and license plates.

2- Night vision

Another key feature of corporate video surveillance camera systems is infrared night vision. Since most corporate crimes occur at night, it makes sense to invest in CCTV cameras with night vision capabilities. The best cameras provide long-range night vision so you can get the details you need in the event of an incident, and low light is also essential as most commercial areas are dimly lit. However, good lighting is necessary to ensure that your corporate CCTV cameras can record normally.

3- Motion sensors

Keeping an eye on every corner of your business can be difficult. Certain areas, such as emergency stairs, back aisles, parking lots or even corridors, are rarely used and require you to be able to determine when a person has passed. Motion detectors are therefore an essential asset, as some CCTV cameras can record the image when motion is detected in specific areas.

4- Vandal proof cameras

There is no point in investing in CCTV cameras if they are easy to detach and obstruct. This means that the camera housing can withstand severe shocks and continue to operate. Some features allow you to be notified when someone tries to cut the wires or block the lens. This can be extremely practical, especially when it is possible to move immediately to intercept the vandal.

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