Security is a concern for everybody, whether for personal or professional reasons. If the risk of burglary often worries your mind, implementing a good burglar deterrent should be at the top of your priorities. Owners of commercial businesses, in particular, should take caution of being a victim of burglaries since there is not always someone around to protect your property, especially if you don’t run a 24-hour operation.
One of the best burglar deterrent systems is using video surveillance. Security cameras can be your eyes when you’re not around, as well as regulate the workplace behavior of your employees. If your business gets burglarized, it can be costly for you. The burglar will likely take money, steal other possessions, and possibly even cause property damage.
Just seeing cameras on the property can be a deterrent itself, making potential bad guys think twice about entering your business.
This guide will explain and answer why video surveillance is one of the best burglar deterrents.
What Is a Burglar Deterrent?
A burglar deterrent is a security measure that business owners or homeowners can take to protect their people, valuables, and property from potential criminals. These deterrents are great investments, particularly for commercial institutions, and there are many from which to choose from. Some of the most popular options include:
- Alarm systems. The loud noise draws attention and scares off intruders.
- Motion Sensors. They can let you know when people are in your property that shouldn’t be there.
- Dogs. A barking dog can let burglars know that even though there may not be anyone in the building, they will be greeted by a guard dog.
- Window locks. If the windows are locked, the criminals may be forced to break them to enter, which is another way of drawing unwelcome attention to the situation.
- Signs. This can be one of the most simple, but effective, security methods. A sign alerting them about an alarm system can deter burglars who know the police may not be far behind.
- Video Surveillance. The most popular burglar deterrent of all is video surveillance. This is one of the few methods that allow you to see the appearance of the burglars.
Most businesses have goods susceptible to stealing, not to mention the cash in the registers or safe boxes. Investing capital in a burglar deterrent pays off in the long run by preventing intruders from breaking into your building.
7 Pros and Cons of Video Surveillance as a Burglar Deterrent
As with anything in life, there are both pros and cons of using video surveillance as a burglar deterrent, which you should take into account when deciding on what kind of security measures to take with your business.
5 Pros of Video Surveillance
With advances in technology, video surveillance is better than it has ever been in the past. Burglars are aware of the new updated features, which increases their fear of committing illegal activities. These are some of the biggest advantages to using video surveillance:
- 1. Wireless Wi-Fi capabilities allow you to communicate with the surveillance system remotely and watch the footage live. If you catch thieves on camera while they’re in action, there is a higher chance of arresting the suspect by reporting to the authorities in real-time.
- 2. Microphones and speakers are a convenient communication tool for speaking with people at the location when you’re physically away. This type of two-way communication over your surveillance system can be a vital way to protect your business. With this feature, you can alert the burglars that you are watching their every move, which can scare them off in the end.
- 3. Night Vision may be one of the best technological advancements in video surveillance today. Burglaries often happen during business off-hours and nightfall, especially when the lights are dim. Regular security cameras are ineffective in this case, but cameras with night vision capabilities can pick up the movement even in the darkest locations.
- 4. Waterproof, weatherproof, and floodlight features are added for adverse outdoor conditions. Most modern security cameras have these attributes to enhance their durability and efficacy.
- 5. A cluster of cameras can be a good deterrent, particularly in a shopping center or a business park with several properties owning a surveillance system. If potential burglars know there are many cameras around, they would be more likely to skip over that area.
A professional security team can help walk you through the best options for your operations and create the most effective system for your situation.
2 Cons of Video Surveillance
There are some drawbacks of video surveillance that users may experience. The upfront costs of video surveillance may not be the most appealing to businesses tight on capital. Other disadvantages may include:
- 1. Some burglars do not care about any methods of deterrents. Even if you have the most advanced security cameras, some thieves ignore them. There are times when someone is determined to commit the crime, and a surveillance system isn’t enough to stop that criminal. Skilled burglars may conspire plans that out-smart video surveillance systems. Although, hiring a security guard in addition to installing video surveillance could somewhat resolve this issue.
- 2. Security cameras can potentially be abused if in the wrong hands. If you give the wrong employees access to surveillance cameras, they could misuse the burglar deterrent to track or spy on other people.
Video surveillance is a burglar deterrent, as it is the best way to identify a thief. Waterproof, weatherproof, two-way talk, floodlights, and many other features make surveillance cameras one of the best security tools. Nothing is foolproof when it comes to security because some thieves just don’t care how you protect your valuables. If you’re worried enough that you’re looking into burglar deterrents, video surveillance is likely your best option and worth the investment.
Get More Information on Video Surveillance
If you are a business owner, you should at least explore your options when it comes to video surveillance. With the technology in modern systems, they can serve purposes other than being a burglar deterrent. From the two-way communication to night vision capability, a good surveillance system is the best way to keep an eye on your property and valuables when you’re not around.
Installing surveillance cameras in strategic places may show the best results. Some businesses may have poorly planned the placements or installed the wrong type of camera. Contact Mobile Video Guard today to speak with an expert about how you can use surveillance cameras to their fullest potential or any other burglar deterrent questions you might have.
