SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY
THE USE OF SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS
Installing, arming, disarming, paying monthly fees, and dealing with false alarms are all things that are tied to monitored security systems which may cause you to wonder if home security systems are worth the inherent hassle. This is a good question to ask as you consider how you can best protect your valuables and your loved ones.
We also discuss with Arif Rajan, Managing Director of ICT (Intelligent Security GCS (Pvt) Ltd.) what is the use of monitored security systems in residential areas.
There are a lot of elements to think about when it comes to surveillance technology in residential areas for home security systems and that includes how the security system could benefit you and your family. Here are a few reasons how that is true.
1. Protects valuables
This is, of course, the benefit most people immediately think of. We likely all know someone who has lost electronics, jewelry, or other high-value items due to a home invasion. The tragedy is compounded when the item is an irreplaceable family heirloom. While using a home safe can help protect irreplaceable items, a home security system has an alarm that can scare off many would-be burglars and can notify the local authorities if someone does attempt a break-in.
2. Deters crime
A 2009 study by Rutgers found that, as the number of home security systems increased in an area, the number of residential robberies decreased in that area, even for people who didn’t have their own security system. Having a security system not only protects you, but helps deter crime and creates a safer neighborhood for everyone.
3. Allows remote access to your home
Modern security systems now allow you to remotely monitor what’s happening in your home from your phone when you’re not there. Depending on your provider, you can monitor security cameras installed throughout your home, as well as control smart thermostats, smart keyless door locks, smart lighting, and other smart devices in every room of your home.
4. Lowers homeowner’s insurance
Yes, you may be paying a monthly fee for your security system, but having the system in your home can lower your homeowner’s insurance by up to 20%. That, combined with instant access to police and emergency responders, makes an alarm system a pretty good deal.
5. Notifies you of fire or gas problems
You can opt to receive notifications if your smoke alarms or carbon monoxide detectors go off when you’re away from home. Depending on the provider, you can even set it up so authorities are instantly notified of these emergencies.
6. Helps keep tabs on kids
This is another great aspect of home automation. If you’re at work, you can use your provider’s mobile app to watch what’s happening in your home via video doorbells and other security cameras, so you’ll know who your teens are inviting over when you’re away. If you have electronic door locks, you can even remotely unlock them to let the kids in after school, so they don’t have to worry about carrying (and potentially losing) a key to the house.
7. Improves electricity management
Many security companies, such as Vivint, offer top quality smart home products like smart locks, video doorbells and smart thermostats, as part of their systems. If you’ve forgotten to change your thermostat before leaving on a trip, these gadgets allow you to control the thermostat on any web-enabled device. Likewise, if you think you left your curling iron plugged in, you can turn it off the outlet right from any of your devices. This works as a great tool to turn lights on and off while you’re on vacation to help give the home the appearance that someone is there.
8. Makes room for peace of mind
The sense of security and comfort you gain with an alarm system is perhaps the greatest benefit of all. Next to being safe, the confidence of feeling safe will help you be a more productive, healthy, and focused person.
Adding a security system to your home gives you an extra layer of defense against any potential intruders. Whether you rent or own, you can enjoy the benefits that come with having a security system.
Explore your options by comparing the best home security systems in the country and find the right provider for your security needs and goals. Dr Ahmad Khokhar
When apartment building residents are safe, they have peace of mind and building managers have happy tenants. This is why safety should always be a top priority at your residential building. Good thing that safeguarding properties has become easier and more cost-effective for New York buildings. In fact, more and more of them are installing and upgrading security technology and New York City burglaries even decreased by 6.1% in 2018.
So where do you begin in securing your complex? An effective residential security strategy integrates several systems to actively protect the building, one of which is a surveillance system. To get the most from surveillance, you must understand what it can do for you and how you can best utilize it.
What are the benefits and best practices of apartment surveillance?
Benefit: Security staff support
Having onsite security guards can help protect your building, but there are of course concerns in employing a live security staff. Guards can be costly, especially if you need them for overnight shifts. There is also the risk of physical altercations, which can lead to liability issues down the line.
Surveillance can give security guards oversight into site activities and can even be enhanced with remote monitoring services to supplement guards or replace them altogether.
Best practice: Proactive monitoring
With remote video monitoring, you can take surveillance from a reactive solution to a proactive one. The services use camera analytics to detect activity based on preset standards, while agents are available 24/7 to monitor that activity in real-time.
This means that when people are where they shouldn’t be or loitering at a time they shouldn’t be, remote video monitoring will pick up on it and alert remote agents. After viewing live surveillance video to analyze the situation, agents can notify your onsite security staff. They can also alert authorities or give verbal warnings through built-in speaker systems.
Benefit: Deters crime
It’s no secret that criminals are less likely to act when strong security measures are in place. Think about it — in choosing a target for vandalism, theft or another crime, they would be less likely to target a building with multiple security cameras installed than one without.
Surveillance can deter crime with its presence alone. To take deterrence a step further, the remote video monitoring service mentioned above can deter crime as it’s happening. When agents trigger alarms or give verbal warnings, criminals are likely to flee the scene.
Best practice: Be strategic
By working with a knowledgeable security partner, you can strategically install cameras for maximum visibility and deterrence. Cameras must be set up to avoid blind spots, especially at entrances, exits, common areas and stairwells.
To deter crime, they must be visible enough for people to see but high enough to be out of reach. And if you choose to use a remote monitoring service, be sure to work closely with the monitoring firm to determine the best course of action for different events.
Benefit: Evidence
Even with cameras strategically set up throughout your building, you can never be 100% sure that a criminal won’t act. You can however, be 100% sure that you will have the footage you need afterwards.
Not only will security tapes protect you as a building owner, but they will also assist law enforcement in dealing with the aftermath of a crime on your property.
Best practice: Manage and maintain
Whether it’s a break-in, a robbery or an assault, it’s critical to have footage of serious incidents that occur at your site. You might need to see faces, license plates or other specific elements to best respond and identify a culprit.
If your system doesn’t have high-resolution video, it might be time for an upgrade. You must also make sure camera angles are correct, timing is perfect and you have enough storage to hold recordings for long periods of time. You can check all of this by properly managing your security system on an ongoing basis.
Arif Rajan, Managing Director of GCS also discuss Surveillance systems in New York and New Jersey
Surveillance can offer several other benefits for apartment buildings, such as appealing to potential tenants and raising rent prices. To learn more about your options for apartment complex surveillance systems, contact us today. We will help you keep occupants safe and protect your building for years to come. Call us for inquiries or browse our website for more services.
