Ip Cameras Surveillance in Convenience Stores

Copyright (c) 2009 Wes Fernley

Every single day, the news has a new story on a convenience store being robbed. However, the success rate at catching these criminals is quite high thanks to video surveillance. The camera is able to catch the act, show the face of the criminal, and even show what they are wearing. This just shows how a simple security camera can catch such a terrible crime. This also explains why IP cameras, which are digital and allow for remote access, are growing in popularity. The store manager or store owner can log into the camera's network from their home computer and see what's going on in the store.

Benefits of IP Cameras in Convenience Store Surveillance

- Easy installation - Installation is a lot easier with IP Cameras. They are digital and can even come wireless. What is also great about them is the fact that they can be re-configured to fit the needs of the store. And store monitoring can be done at any time because of the remote access capability.

- Captures details - Stores rely on the cashier and any witnesses in the store to identify the thief. The high-resolution images taken by the IP camera make distinguishing features much easier.

- Preventing theft - By making the cameras visible, it is less likely that theft will occur. This is true for both petty thieves and employees.

Risks associated with IP Camera Surveillance of Convenience Stores

It is important to remember that there are risks associated with IP cameras, just like there are risks with every other investment that you make. These risks include:

- Power outages - Power outages are inevitable. This will cause the surveillance system to shut off. Although the camera may be wireless and it stays on, the actual hardware responsible for the recording may be shut off. Using a battery backup can help eliminate this risk.

- Tampering - During a theft, a thief may try to obscure their face. However, they don't realize that it is not the camera that is storing the footage. The footage is being recorded elsewhere.

- Privacy - The cameras should only be placed in public areas. This means keeping the cameras out of bathrooms and other areas such as break rooms that are considered private.

Configuring your Convenience Store IP Camera

Since all convenience stores are different, the configuration is different from store to store. There are certain aspects that have to be considered in IP camera configuration for it to be the most effective. These aspects are:

- What is the biggest security threat?

- Is the neighborhood safe?

- What systems are currently in place?

- What are your hours?

- Have you been robbed before?

- Can the cashier see the entire store?

Setup of Your Convenience Store IP Cameras

- Make sure all spaces are covered. This includes the sales floor and the register area.

- Entrances and exists should also be covered by cameras. If there is a gas pump area, there should be cameras ear the pumps.

- There should be cameras near the cash registers to monitor cashier activity and to deter a robbery. If a robbery takes place, it is caught on tape.

- It is ideal to place cameras around the store's perimeter if the neighborhood is rough. This more or less provides eyes on the outside of the store.