'CCT Surveillance'

PokerPrincess (1) from Earth -

Call me stupid but I have never heard of CCTV Surveillance. Is this like the security companies use or is it something that is installed in the home for intrusion detection.

I have just never heard this expression before and I would be interested in finding out more details about it.

Is it good. Is it reasonably priced. Would it be good for the homeowner or is it mainly for businesses

Comment #1 Elroy from New York -

CCTV is Closed Circuit Television (ie: non broadcast TV) but it would include wireless cameras.

It is everywhere... stores... street corners... maybe even a "nanny cam" in your bedroom!

Comment #2 zoya from middle of america -

Ahha, i was wondering the same. Yeah these can be very useful to your own benefit but at the same time coud be a nightmare if someone was using it without your knowledge. I guess that is if you were doing something bad! ;) But that is not always the case, for example sometimes a perverted landlord could hide a wireless camera in your bedroom. *shudder*

Comment #3 Sweetness from Earth, the Universe -

Well as far as store survellance is concerned I am all for CCT as many times it has been instrumental in catching robbers and especially those in convenience stores that brutally beat the owners into submission and sometimes even killing them.

I know that many apartment building use this to protect their premises. They have them in the underground parking lots, the main entrance, the back entrance and any other areas of concern such as laundry rooms.

Yes they can be used as an evil thing such as you say landlords in the bedrooms but I would expect that these are few and far between.

One thing that you should be cautioned about is those immitation CCT that you put up and it looks legit but all it really is, is a camera with a red light. It is totally non-functional. If you use one of these in any public area to make people think it is monitored and something happens there you can be charges with deceiving the public and public mischief. So be careful what you are doing if you think this would be a good idea.

I know of several apartment building owners who were charged because they "thought" they could save money and deter people from doing bad things. When the police investigated and found that they were dummies they then charged the Owners.

So BEWARE.

Comment #4 Elroy from New York -

Imagine you enter a public bathroom and there is a lighted sign that says "camera in use". You would feel very uncomfortable even if you knew it was a joke...

Of course if there really was a camera there would be no sign!

Comment #5 zoya from middle of america -

Yeah i believe that CCT does more good than bad. It's definitely a necessarity for any store owner, business offices, parking lots, etc. Even a mother who has a nanny or babysitter should have one that is private, so you can ensure your children are being treated well. That's how come abusive nannies/babysitters have been caught. I would encourage every parent out there to consider doing this!

Comment #6 Conyngham from the windy city -

I wonder how often the cameras are monitored? Logistically it would take a tremendous number of people sitting in a control room somewhere to monitor all cameras along public roads in many cities. I suppose the knowledge that they are up there is enough of a deterrent to merit the cost, even if they are not actually monitored most of the time. In the old days they had cameras with actual video tapes in them, but I suppose today it is all done by wi-fi and the images are saved on a hard-drive somewhere in case they need to be analyzed in the event of a crime.

Comment #7 Plums from the thrush tree -

Right. The film is probaby stored away somewhere for a period of time and then routinely destroyed. I doubt if even a fraction of it gets monitored. Possibly random views take place, but they are token rather than meaningful.

Comment #8 matt from right there!!! -

At Walmart they sometimes look at the cameras. Walmart saves the film for 30 days. The occasionally have someone watching the cameras only to prevent shop lifting. I think that they are good over all though.

Comment #9 Cameron Hoy from Nothern Michigan -

Technically if any place is using any form of CCTV system, they have to have it posted somewhere in there building in "public view" although most businesses tend to make it hard to see. If you suspect you are being unlawfully watched using a Video Surveillance system, I know of a company that has equipment that can determin if there is a wireless camera in the area, or even a wired camera can be detected. They're really good about making sure you walk away happy and can be very helpfull, they helped me design a system for my home where I was repetedly being broken into. There website is www.cu1.com, check it out.

Comment #10 Martin from Kansas -

A very good idea it to put a placard on the back of the bathroom stall doors that says "video camera in use" and have it light up when the door is closed.

Comment #11 Mark from The Heat of the desert -

It is against the law to have cameras in restrooms as well as in dressing rooms of department stores. All businesses that have cameras must have a sign stating such in clear view. If the system also records audio that must be stated as well. Some states do not allow audio unless it is stated clearly with the video sign.

CCTV is like any tool. It is meant for good but can be used for bad as well. Being in the business for 15 years I have seen many good and bad examples. Most of the bad ones ended up costing the person or business allot of money, and, a couple of them jail time. But it is very rare.

Comment #12 sorvo_moi from milky way -

The benefits to the installation of CCTV systems are numerous:

* Reducing potentially insurance premiums upon installation

* Increasing staff productivity

* Identifying criminals

* Monitoring areas you can’t

* Deters theft, malicious mischief and vandalism

* Constant and consistent surveillance 24 hours a day, every day

check out: http:// video-surveillance-guide . com

• www.video-surveillance-guide.com/

Comment #13 lostwiganer (90.196.134.253) -

hi all

just wondering is it a selling point to have cctv installed on your house.

or not.

i live in not so good neighbourhood i.e

3 mugging

2 counts of gbh

3 broken windows

damage to property lots

2 drug dens not 100 yards away

in the last 6 years so decided to sell am thinking of installing cctv is that a selling point or not.

Comment #14 bboy (64.12.116.137) - Fri Jun 20 23:34:22 2008

how about this,

the neighbor across the street from me has a outdoor camera and has it coming across the street that i would say is invasion of privacy, but my local city hall says theirs no law for that

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