Since implementing this strategy the library system has noticed a 45% decrease in theft! Again it is more about design and not only the surveillance equipment you use. Good luck on designing your surveillance system.

The ERT Series DVR has many of the same features as the other stand-alones we carry, with two notable exceptions; support for Mac systems and iPhone remote viewing, as well as real-time live audio streaming to iPhone PDA’s.

3 models are presently offered:

• DVR-ERT1204 – 120FPS 4Channel H.264 Standalone DVR with 1TB SATA, FULL D1 Resolution, VGA/TV-OUT
• DVR-ERT2408 – 240FPS 8Channel H.264 Standalone DVR with 1TB SATA, HALF D1 Resolution, VGA/TV-OUT
• DVR-ERT48016 – 480FPS 16 Channel H.264 Standalone DVR with 1TB SATA, CIF Resolution, VGA/TV-OUT

Common features/capabilities include:

• Internal 1TB HDD / External Storage via NAS, Firewire, USB2.0
• Hexaplex operation
• Multi-Day & Multi-Time Search via DVR
• Multi-Day & Multi-Time Search & Objective Search via CMS
• Operation via USB Mouse, Remote-Controller, Front Buttons
• Record – Auto, Motion, Continuous, Sensor, and “Audio”
• PTZ – Preset & Touring via DVR, CMS, Controller, View via IE, CMS, and PDA & Smart Phone
• CMS Software controls to 128Ch, POP Notification & Smart Search
• System can also be integrated with PC Based system with same interface

PCSurveillance is one of the first companies to offer this application.  As the iPhone has grown in popularity, it was important to develop software to allow our customers to view their systems remotely through their preferred phone. 

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net  GSA Contract Holder GS-07F-0346V

The National Insurance Crime Bureau recently reported that during the first quarter of 2009, that Suspect slip-and-fall accidents rose 77% and that potential bogus workers’ comp calims increased by 71%!  What do these staggering numbers mean?  It seems that people are getting more bold in their attempt to get a “free lunch”.  The big problem is the attitude that is eminating from these individuals and the effect it has on others.  With the current financial desperation, it only makes cheating easier to justify!

So the question is what can you do as a business owner to protect yourself?  Just like anything in life there is no one “silver bullet” that will solve your problems.  It takes a combination of accountability, technology, and culture.

Setting up procedures and policies that force employees to be accountable is key to fight fradualant behavior.  The more people involved in a process, makes a fraudulant claim more difficult.  In most cases the more hoops you have to jump through the less likely someone is to attempt such a feat!

Technology can also be an ally to fight against fraudulant behavior.  Having a professionally installed access control and surveillance system can not only detur crime, but help in prosecuting criminals.  Key areas to watch are parking lots, entry ways, and any high accident areas.  Remember 4 out of every 10 BWC claims are fraudulant.  These claims cost a business over $7,000 just in initial costs!  This does not include your time, lawyer’s fees, and on going increases in workmans’ comp insurance!

Changing a companies culture is hard, but it does not cost you anything!  But if the wrong culture exists , it will not only cost you money, but it could cost you your business.  People in general feed off each other’s emotion and having the wrong attitude within an organization can over time bring down everyone.  Your top performers will leave and your worst nightmare is the group of employees in the middle.  If these employees get dragged down by the “bad apples”, game over!

Fighting fraud in your business is not impossible, but it is an ongoing challenge.  You must take a hololistic and informative approach with your employees.  Good Luck

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

Why do over 75% of these thefts go unreported?  In some cases companies do not want the bad publicity, others don’t want to have a frivolous lawsuit filed against them from an employee.  The company takes the loss and lays off the potential theif.  Most cases are not prosocuted because of  a lack of physical proof to hand over to the authorities.

If companies have the right accountability procedures in place, they can help avoid potential thefts.  Companies should have the following in place to help protect their business:

• Access Control- Making sure that all incoming and exiting employees are tracked throughout a building
• Inventory Controls- Make sure there is a check and balance system in place where multiple employees are involved in inventory control
• Surveillance Cameras- Making sure that key entry and exits have video coverage along with any area with inventory or money
• Company Communication- Communicate to your employees what you have done to stop theft and how it can benefit them through pay raises, increased benefits, and employee saftey
• Pre-Employment Background Checks- Make sure all employees have an employment verification, credit history, BWC claim history, and Criminal record

Following some of these simple ideas can help protect your business from employee theft.  Remember the most important thing to consider is company culture, if other employees know fellow co-workers are stealing, it want be long before others do the same!

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

In the article the author interviews several industry experts and they all agree that most of these secrets leave in a familar briefcase.  “Sometimes, an employee in need of cash tries to profit from information already in his or her hands.  In other cases, they are approached by an outsider with an offer to buy information.”  US Attorny Mr. Roberts says, “People meet each other at trade shows in Las Vegas or Chicago or wherever.  What starts as a discussion about doing business together leads to conversations where information is shared.”

With the proper access controls, IT security, and surveillance system in place your corporation may be able to help avoid such a situation.  If employees understand that every entrance/exit, parking lot, hallway, and server room are under surveillance along with card swipes, they will be less likely to take company information without being caught.  Today emails can be traced, and many companies store all emails on seperate servers along with disabling certain incoming and outgoing attachments.

Surveillance systems today can monitor a persons movement from the arriving at the parking lot until seated at their desk.  With the increased popularity of IP Megapixel Cameras you can tell if someone is wearing makeup or not!  These cameras are able to watch a wide view at the same time they can zoom in and see your smile!  With this ability you might even see your employee carring an authorized flash drive with your companies most valuable information.

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

However here are Three Tips that will save you some money upfront, allow you to have a surveillance system installed today, and allow for future expansion when your business improves.

1. Surveillance System-  Choose a surveillance system that is networkable, meaning that if you add another machine it can communicate seamlessly.  If you want a 16 channel DVR, settle for an 8 channel system today and put cameras in the highest priority areas.  If you choose a smaller sized system in the beginning, make sure it is easily expandable.  Hybrid DVR’s are an excellent option allowing for analog cameras today, and IP cameras in the future.  If you currently have a surveillance system, consider just replacing the system itself and not the cameras.  A new surveillance system alone will make a huge difference in quality and performance.

2. Cameras- Choosing the correct cameras is another way to keep inital surveilance costs in check.  Use cameras that have a lower level resoultion, no LED’s (usually cost more, if you have well lit areas you will need them), and OEM brands rather than name brands.  Also stick with analog cameras vs IP.

3. Installation- DIY, that’s right do-it-yourself.  Most surveillance equipment suppliers can help walk you through an installation.  Explain to them what you are doing and make sure you have the right equipment for the project.  Make sure you ask your supplier if they offer technical support when you are setting up your system.  You can save 25-40% when you do-it-yourself! 

The biggest impact you will see is when your new surveillance system is installed.  Employees will notice and take note of the new equipment immediatly.  I would encourage you to talk with your employees about this before you have it installed.  Give them the business reasons and have them understand that every dollar that the business loses, is a potential dollar that could be seen in raises, increased benefits, and bonus’s.  If you handle it correctly your top performers will see it as a benefit, while others may just move on.

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

Technology is one of the ways restaurant owners are combating this problem.  DVR’s (Digital Video Recorders) offer a way for owners to monitor their restaruant from afar and to review past incidents.  Video surveillance systems have come a long way!  Not to long ago you might have a VCR recording for short periods of time.  However today video surveillance systems can record video for several months!

Once a surveillance system is installed in a restaurant application, most owners see a payback within 1 year in increased profit and reduced product costs.  I don’t want to paint the picture that everyone who works at a restaurant steals!  However it only takes 1 bad apple to ruin the bunch!  And if that 1 person gets caught on video stealing, the word spreads like wildfire!  Today owners install video surveillance cameras in the freezer, cooler, entry ways, kids play land, cash register, pick up window, pay window, break room, office, drive thru lane, and parking lot areas.  Owners are concerned about internal theft, but what about customers trying to get a “free lunch”.  Customers who “slip” and fall inside or outside of the buildng?  Customers who back into something or someone, but it was not there fault!

Not everyone is looking for the “free lunch”, but as an owner you have to protect your investment.  In today’s economy there is not a better option than installing a quality video surveillance system!  Would companies like McDonalds, Wendys, Culvers, Taco Bell, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks, Subway, and others install surveillance systems if they did not work?  Protect yourself and your assets, no “free lunch”!

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

You can’t forget, criminals are lazy, they look for the easiest way to make money.  At the slightest obstacle they quit and move on to the next “opportunity”.  Something as simple as a sign or fake cameras can make a difference!  Don’t get me wrong, I am not encouraging people to fake having a surveillance system!  Nothing beats being able to catch a criminal “red handed” stealing on video and using the evidence to prosecute. 

Don’t be lazy like a criminal, protect your business!  You don’t have to buy a $20,000 surveillance system.  Surveillance systems come in all shapes and sizes, and properly designed can fit within your budget.  First think through the most vulnerable points in your business; windows, doors, and other access points criminals might look to penetrate.  If you are looking for the minimum surveillance system, you can purchase a 4 channel dvr system for less than $1,000 that will protect your main entry points.  If you think that you business is being “cased” by potential thieves, make sure to purchase signage to make sure that all who enter your building know that they are under video surveillance.

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net

Arecont has made the multi-megapixel IP Camera affordable to the mainstream CCTV customer.  With it’s cost effective parallel image processing, MegaVideo processes over 6 billion images per second in JPEG and over 80 billion operations per second in H.264.  They offer the wolrd’s fastest multi-megapixel (9MP, 5MP, 3MP, 2MP and 1.3MP) network cameras supporting full-motion video frame rates.  Arecont’s line of H.264 high definition cameras have the flexibility of multiple frame rates and resolutions for a variety of applications.

One of their most popular and functional cameras is the AV8185 180 degree View.  This 8MP camera includes the following Key Features:

·         8 Mpixel 180° H.264 IP Camera

·         H.264 (MPEG 4, Part 10) and JPEG compression

·         Over 80 billion operations per second

·         22fps@6400×1200 resolution (4 x 2 MP sensors @1600×1200)

·         0.2 lux @ F2.0

·         Substitute up to twenty-four analog cameras

·         Up to four regions of interest

·         Image cropping

Ryan Temple is the Director of Operations for PCSurveillance.net.  PCSurveillance has been serving integrators and manufacturing customized Surveillance Systems throughout the US since 2002.  You can read more of Ryan’s articles at http://blog.pcsurveillance.net/  Ryan can be reached at ryan@pcsurveillance.net