If you’re considering installing a surveillance camera system in your business or neighborhood you’re not alone. After all, we all want to feel safe and protect our families, homes and businesses. Across America surveillance technology is being utilized at an ever-increasing rate to deter criminals and solve crimes. The most famous example of this — the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 — proved that surveillance cameras can be indispensable in helping law enforcement agencies identify and capture criminals.
Burglary Trends in the U.S. According to the FBI
According to the FBI’s Crime in the United States 2018 report:
- Larceny and petty theft accounted for 72.5% of all property crimes
- Property crimes cost Americans a whopping $16.4 billion annually
These are staggering numbers! It’s clear that property crime in America is big business, and we should all protect ourselves against it with all available means. Surveillance cameras and security systems are one of the best tools at our disposal.
Surveillance Cameras Help Solve Crimes
In fact, these systems are so effective, the first action police officers often take when they arrive at a crime scene is to check for surveillance cameras. Unlike live witnesses, camera footage doesn’t lie. It can’t make mistakes or have difficulty remembering exactly what happened. It presents a thorough and
complete account of events. In some cases, surveillance camera evidence will even convince a criminal to plead guilty in court.
Surveillance Cameras Also Help Prevent Crime
There’s little doubt that security cameras and other measures act as prime deterrents for criminals targeting our homes and businesses.
A study published by the UNC Department of Criminology in 2012 found that increased security measures were factors criminals considered when selecting potential targets.
These measures included:
- Outdoor surveillance cameras
- Alarm and access control systems
- Security warning signage
- Uniformed Security presence
In about 60% of cases, criminals indicated that a security system present in a home or business would motivate them to seek a different target altogether, and many would try to determine if a system was present before attempting a crime.
Will Surveillance Cameras Keep Me Safe?
The old adage “you get what you pay for” is true of many things, and security surveillance systems are no exception. We shouldn’t expect to install a single camera at our home or business and have it to be an effective deterrent. Although one camera would help protect its immediate surroundings, to be properly protected it’s best to speak with us, a professional security expert who can design a custom-tailored and professionally managed surveillance program.
Who To Call
National Protective Services, Inc. is a family-owned and operated private security services firm established in 1979. We provide affordable, customizable and comprehensive security solutions along with round-the-clock personalized service for residential communities and business owners. We pride ourselves on maintaining long-term customer relationships, and we will help you design and implement a security program that will deter crime, reduce liability and give you peace of mind.