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Get the most out of surveillance

Surveillance is a dirty word in some quarters, but the usefulness of surveillance technology and installations has grown tremendously in the retail industry over the past few years.

Roy Alves, business development manager of Axis Communications, MEA.

It has been a huge boon that camera technology has become both cheaper and better, making it affordable for most companies to cast at least one eye on their operations. But technology can only do so much and many surveillance systems don’t deliver on their promises because of poor installation or sloppy practices. So what can retailers do to get the most out of their equipment?

One size does not fit all

A rose may be a rose may be a rose, but cameras are not quite as uniform. Retailers often make the mistake of thinking one camera fits every scenario. Retailers should use surveillance according to their needs. There are many different types of cameras and each has specific features for specific situations. So it is important to know what you want to do before even starting to shop around.

A simple example is whether the camera will be indoors or outdoors. Perhaps it needs to perform in poor lighting. Maybe the camera is part of the storefront, so it shouldn’t be an eyesore but instead elegant and unobtrusive. These are some aspects worth considering before choosing a surveillance system.

Strategic placement is good

The cliché of a camera is one that sits near the ceiling, peering down like an all-seeing eye. Though this may seem effective, criminals frequently take advantage of such placement. You can have the best camera in the world, but if you can’t see a person’s face it is useless. A common complaint from the police is that camera footage does not show enough to qualify as evidence in court. In some cases lighting or low resolutions have a role to play. But most often the camera is just in a bad spot.

Criminals have taken to wearing hats, hoodies or anything that makes their faces hard to record from above. This has given rise to a trend of placing cameras at eye level. Many retailers avoid doing that, as it may startle customers. But modern camera options include models where the lens detaches from the main body, allowing for discreet placement while the uglier elements are hidden away.

Placement can also be used smartly. A shop does not require countless cameras to cover every square centimetre. Focusing on areas such as the shop entrance and till points can make a big difference in the quality of usable images that will be captured.

Tackle South Africa’s sunshine

If you look around South African shops, we use a lot of glass and polished surfaces. We also have ample sunlight. Combine those and it is a nightmare for cameras.

The shoe fits the other foot as well: low-light conditions such as around dusk also regularly make video unusable.

Fortunately, many modern surveillance cameras feature Wide Dynamic Range. This technology adapts to lighting conditions and extracts maximum detail to great effect. It counteracts glare and gloom, delivering a top image quality.

Visible cameras are good

Surveillance is often used in a retroactive fashion: a crime happens and the footage is used to catch the culprit. But wouldn’t it be better to avoid crime in the first place? Visible cameras are a proven deterrent for those with nefarious motivations. I’m a firm believer that covert cameras are not great. Cameras act as a deterrent.

This is backed by several studies, including a multi-year one concluded in 2011 by the US-based Urban Institute’s Justice Policy Centre. Though that focused on public CCTV systems, it nonetheless revealed ongoing trends in major cities that if someone is looking, criminals are less likely to act.

But even signs indicating that patrons are under surveillance have a tangible effect on deterring the bad guys. Notices indicating video is stored off-site also hinder criminals as they are unable to remove any surveillance footage from the premises.

Use alerts to stay ahead

It’s not hard to fool a surveillance system. We’ve all seen it in movies: a dash of spray paint or a tap with a broom can obscure the camera’s view from whatever is taking place. Retailers respond to this by placing the cameras out of reach – but these are also less likely to capture usable footage.

Criminals know this: attacks on retailers are often preceded several days beforehand by a covert inspection. The would-be robbers scout out a location’s cameras and then attempt to alter them in some way. Ironically a number of criminals are caught because their faces are captured during these pre-crime visits.

Fortunately there is a wide range of tamper-proof technology available for camera systems. A camera can learn a specific scene and look for something that changes. Let’s say someone bumps it off position or puts a box in front of the lens. The camera can note this and automatically send an alert.

Know your needs

Good surveillance starts with deciding what you need. There are many cameras and systems to choose from in the market, but they don’t all do the same job and a camera that can’t deliver is just a paperweight mounted on your wall. More cameras are not as good as smartly placed cameras that complement your environment. Make that your starting point and your surveillance will become a partner in proactive security and, if something bad happens, help to catch the bad guys.

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