Police Monitoring Home Security Cameras

In Palo Alto, Ca, police are offering residents what may seem to be the most ideal level of home security. The Palo Alto police department is allowing home owners with security cameras to link their monitors to the department’s internet monitoring system. The police officers would have a virtual response to an alarm, robbery, break in, or violent incident instead of waiting for a phone call from the resident. What makes this so unique is that while a home owner is away on work or vacation; their house can be monitored by a police officer 24 hours a day and seven days a week. This is great for people who can’t view their security camera image recordings while at work, or while away on vacation on a remote island or location without internet access. Also, a home owner can’t always be monitoring their camera, but a police station could. This would alleviate the amount of stress for a homeowner who was worried about the safety of their house and loved ones.

There will not be a separate officer on duty to view home security cameras. The video footage would be monitored alongside the public cameras set up around town. In addition, the home owner would have to purchase some type of home alarm system because they won’t monitor the footage unless an alarm has gone off. The police department offered this service as a result from the public pleading for adding security. Some residents are concerned about their privacy being invaded. However, this is an opt-in program. If you have a home security camera, you don’t have to be a part of the police department’s system. If you choose to have the extra security provided from the police, there is a fee to join their internet monitoring system. Besides having already purchased a camera, there is a sign up fee and an annual fee.

A lot of residents in this area already own security cameras. It is an affluent area with homes valued at or around $4 million. Home break in alarms go off regularly, and as much as 15 times a day for the area. The police department is offering the service to home owners, but they are strongly encouraging the school district to sign up for the monitoring service. The high school is frequently being vandalized. The school district has expressed concerns of their students’ privacy.

If a home owner decides they want the extra security from the police they will have to consider some posing questions first. Will they be willing to give up some of their privacy? Is the extra cost in their budget and do they feel it’s worth the price? Do they trust that only the police department will view the security footage?

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Security Cams, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

I've got my eye on you

Somerville residents are not happy with the precautions that the city has taken to add extra public safety. The police department has installed security cameras throughout the city in secret locations. The use or location of the cameras was not discussed or open for public debate, and there was an executive decision made by the city to use the cameras. The public has concerns about their civil liberties, and the city is concerned with the public’s safety and security. Residents are concerned that the cameras will be used to target certain individuals. They feel as if they are being spied on, and they aren’t having their privacy respected. Residents are also concerned about who will be watching the security cameras, and who is monitoring the people watching the video footage.

The Boston area has taken a strong interest in using wireless security cameras and having a wireless network of public agencies to protect the city. There are currently 95 cameras installed and the budget was estimated at $4.5 million. Homeland Security gave a grant for the city to budget for the cameras. In the Cambridge area, there was a public outcry after learning of the plan to install security cameras in their city. City officials have since removed the use of cameras from their area because the public was unhappy. Somerville residents are upset that they weren’t given the choice to decide on the use of the cameras. They wished that they were given the same courtesy as Cambridge residents received.

The police in Somerville are defending the use of the cameras. Most of them are used for traffic purposes, and the other cameras are set up along bike paths to patrol public safety. They cameras they are using have a low resolution and can’t clearly capture a person’s face. The police chief explained the tapes from the recorded camera footage would only be stored for two weeks and then taped over. The public can also have access to monitor the footage, or they can pay a small fee to purchase recordings of the tapes. The main purpose of the cameras is to monitor traffic for police and the fire department. The fire chief said the recorded images are helpful because they can route out the fastest way to the scene of an accident or fire.

The residents’ response to the defense of security cameras was to have police patrol the city with more policemen on duty at a time, and to have the city install more lighting throughout the city and bike paths. However, police officers can’t be at every point of the city 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The security cameras provide ongoing protection and images, or evidence, of crimes and traffic accidents. While police officers offer great protection and save lives every day, the cameras add an extra boost of security.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Security Cams, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

Car Accidents Caught on Surveillance

A hit and run car accident occurred in Florida last week. A black truck ran a red light and slammed into a car with three passengers. Some walked away with cuts and bruises, but another passenger in the car was left at the scene in critical condition. No one knows what happened to the person driving the truck because he fled from the scene. Other cars drove by the accident and did not render any aid. You may be wondering how Florida police know all of these details if nobody stopped to give an account of the accident. This horrible hit and run car accident was caught and recorded on a security camera at the corner gas station.

The security camera captured the entire accident. Unfortunately, the way the camera was angled did not provide a picture of the truck’s license plate. Police do know, however, from the video surveillance tape the make, model, and color of the truck. The video has been shown on the news nationwide in hopes of catching the driver and prosecuting him. Florida police are hoping that someone watching the news that saw the video tape will come forward and offer information. The chances of catching the driver in this hit and run accident are higher than most because of the security camera that captured and recorded the footage.

In a different event, a man was injured after being hit by a driver who also fled from the scene. This accident happened in a neighborhood and, a family’s home security camera caught the hit and run. A man walking down the street was hit by a car. His leg was broken from the impact of the car hitting him. He was very lucky though because he only suffered a broken leg and lived through the accident. In this case, police were also lucky to have clear evidence from the family’s security camera.

These are other examples of how great security cameras are in recording evidence. Unfortunately, these examples are tragic but police are hopeful the tapes will help in catching the hit and run driver and provide enough justice for the man who was hit by a car. Security cameras provide clear pictures and can make a huge difference in whether or not someone is prosecuted after committing a crime. They are more reliable than an eye witness accounts especially in the case of a hit and run accident because someone might not know the make or model of the vehicles involved. It can also be hard to remember specific details in an event.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Security Cams, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.

Security Cameras in Schools

School districts throughout the country are updating their standards and policies for safety. It is becoming the norm for districts to install security cameras at all levels of their campuses; elementary, middle, and high school. The cameras are used as an extra means of security and monitoring the campus. School districts are cracking down on bullying, theft, violence, vandalizing, and school shootings. Not only do the security cameras act as a deterrent against students committing crimes, but they also record evidence in the event that a crime was committed.

Last year in Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish School Board, planned to have security cameras as a part of their budget. The school district voted on whether or not to have the cameras installed on their school’s campuses. The vote was unanimous, and both school officials and parents were enthusiastic about the district taking a step to help improve and deter school violence. Each campus had anywhere from five to 25 security cameras installed throughout the elementary, secondary, and high schools. Some principals even used private school funds, separate from the district budget, to purchase more cameras for their campus.

Recently, there was an incident at one of the schools in the St. Tammany Parish School District. At Fontainebleau High School, there was a fight that erupted in the school’s hallway. Two girls were shoving and pushing each other after one of the girls came at the other girl with a curling iron. A crowd of bystanders began to cheer on the fighting girls and created quite a scene in the hallway. While other students were encouraging the violence, some stepped in to try to stop the fight. The principal was able to view the videotape the security camera had recorded and was able to make a decision on who started the pushing and shoving, who cheered on the violence, and who the heroic students were who tried to stop the fight. Not only are bad students caught on camera, but the school can also reward good students who exemplify good behavior.

Cameras in schools make staff, faculty, students, and parents feel safer while class is in session. Having the security cameras also allow school officials to make quick, concise, and authoritative decisions when dealing with troublemakers. Before, if an incident such as bullying or theft occurred on a school campus, it would take days to investigate what had happened and who was involved. School violence will become less frequent with the use of security cameras.

About the Author: Mike Ward is the owner and operator of Security Cams, a leading online provider of wireless security cameras and hidden cameras. For more information about security cameras, please visit www.security-cams.com.