High CCTV Demand

Brief History on CCTV
The earliest usage of closed circuit television (CCTV) dates back to 1942 when the military in Germany used remote cameras to observe the launch of V2 rockets. Since then it has become common in non-government and military sites.

The banks used them as added security in the 1970’s. Video technology became cheaper in the 1980’s so many different establishments could avail of them. Many retailers such as convenience stores, and gas stations began to use them to prevent and record any possible crime.

Nowadays, CCTV’s are very common in the home, schools and airports; installed as an added security feature to prevent burglars from breaking in or to record any suspicious activities.

Then the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center happened…

And Now…

Demand for CCTV has been on the rise in the recent years due to increased fear over terrorism and the rising crime rates.

The introduction of police-run cameras was prompted by what happened on 9/11 (World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001) that killed nearly 3,000 people. Because of that, New York City has created an impressive system that is designed to identify and catch criminals in the act.

In the past, Americans have been resistant to such measures but according to a recent CBS News/New York Times survey, some 78% of people in the US said that having more surveillance was a “good idea”. These responses came after a private CCTV footage from a nearby shop helped the FBI identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.

From hundreds of hours of footage, the Boston Marathon two bombing suspects were singled out from the vast marathon spectators. That’s the crucial role that CCTV and other surveillance tools played on this crime. The suspects’ movements were followed before and after they allegedly planted the two bombs — bombs that killed three people and wounded 200.

The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, said soon after that the bombings were “a terrible reminder” of why investing in “camera technology” could be necessary to prevent future attacks.

Ray Kelly, the current New York City Police Commissioner, has been outspoken in his support of surveillance cameras. He said on MSNBC television, “The people who complain about it, I would say, are a relatively small number of folks, because the genie is out of the bottle. People realize that everywhere you go now, your picture is taken.”

In the Future…

According to RNCOS’ latest report, by the end of 2014 the global CCTV market will attain around US$23.5 billion, expanding at a CAGR (compound annual growth rate) of around 20.5% since 2012.

These surveillance tools have changed over the years. Back then they used to be large white boxes that could not even zoom in or out or follow objects closely. Nowadays they can be a lot smaller and hidden so as to not be noticed. There have also been advanced features such as higher definition and being able to detect and follow motion everywhere.

On RNCOS’ report, analog CCTV cameras are currently leading the global CCTV market but will change by the end of 2014 with network IP becoming the leading technology. As such, IP SAN (IP Storage Area Network) is being chosen over DVR/NVR (network video recorders) for storage since it offers improved storage capacity, scalability, and retention.

According to RNCOS’ report, the United States is the world’s largest market for security products and services. Increased use of CCTV in the different business or personal sectors, and technological innovations will encourage US-CCTV market growth. The CCTV market will grow at an impressive compound annual rate in the coming few years.

How to “Theft-Proof” Your Mailbox

Your mailbox is as equally important as your home and property when it comes to security. Your mailbox houses a lot of personal information which must be protected at all times. Your credit card bills and other mails/ documents which contain confidential and sensitive information are usually delivered in mailbox.   Aside from burglary, identity theft is actually one of the big concerns in our society nowadays so you must take the necessary steps in ensuring that your mailbox is safe and secured.

In the United States, there are lots of mailbox designs available but most of these are out dated when it comes to security. The mailboxes are capable of receiving and housing mails, but no protection is offered against identity theft. The usual traditional mailboxes are easily damaged and opened, giving way to lost mails and worse, identity theft.

 

To protect yourself from these, you must include your mailbox in your plans for home security. Don’t hesitate to get rid of your traditional mailbox and replace it with something that’s made of solid steel, which is nearly impossible to break into. The top portion of your mailbox should be readily accessible to the mailman, but the bottom side should only be opened by a key. Mailboxes with this design are safer and more secured since thieves won’t have easy access to your mail.

Secure mailboxes can be found in online and brick-and-mortar stores. Invest on these types of mailboxes since these can go a long way in protecting you from identity theft.

And if you want to go the extra mile, you can also invest on security surveillance products such as CCTV cameras. You can place one outside your house and near your mailbox, so as to be able to monitor and record things. If you want to know more about the benefits that security cameras entail, just click here. And if you want to know more how we can be of help with regards to your security needs, do not hesitate to contact us today.