Oftentimes when setting up a CCTV system, concern of whether or not to use hidden surveillance cameras arises. When should you choose to install an unseen camera instead of an out-in-the-open one? You might already know that putting a camera where would-be criminals can see it could serve as a good deterrent against illegal acts, but how should a hidden camera be used? Let’s investigate.
Hidden cameras are most useful in a situation where you wanted to film someone behaving badly, with the intent to identify that person as the wrong do-er. In this scenario, hidden cameras are installed after the fact and identifying who it was is more desirable than preventing further losses. For example, if you are fairly certain that someone has been taking money from the lock box at work, it would be of great use to law enforcement in convicting the person (if they indeed exist) to have a visual representation of them. You might even find it's not just one person!
A good example of a situation in which to make use of a hidden camera is to monitor your home or kids when you're not there. One popular use of this is a "nanny cam". Nanny cams are often put inside objects around the house and are used by parents to spy on baby sitters and to make sure their children are safe in their care. It's good to make note of the fact that this is highly illegal in some countries and certain states in the US. Check with your government before using a camera in this way.
One more every-day (and kind of funny) application of hidden cameras is for catching cheating lovers. In my opinion, if you get to the point where you're spying on your husband or wife with a hidden camera, you shouldn't even be together. But that's just my two cents. This use has nothing to do with security so we’ll leave it at that.
To sumarrize, hidden cameras are used to observe people breaking the law or to observe the natural behavior of someone when nobody else is around. This differs significantly from traditional CCTV setups, which serves to act as a deterrent first and foremost and a method of recording activities in an area second. You wouldn't put a hidden camera in your parking lot so you can see exactly who stole your car, would you? Of course not. You'd want an obvious camera right there on the door to prevent the theft from ever happening.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Friday, September 2, 2011
Where to Place Security Cameras
If you're on a tight budget or are forced to repurpose an old set of cameras not of the PTZ sort (pan, tilt zoom), you are going to be forced to figure out before you begin where to put the cameras and where they should point. It's interesting to understand the fact that the placement of a security camera can help or hurt you in the court of law depending on whether or not the footage captured by it can match the identity a criminal. If it can't, all you're left with is what you probably already are aware of - something definitely happened. Because of this, it's highly important to get these things right the first time.
Be sure nothing is blocking the camera
Nobody should have to tell you this, but it's very important to make sure the camear's field of view is clear. If the camera(s) are not indoors, keep in mind that trees and bushes do in fact become larger over time and even though they weren't blocking the camera's field of view at the time you set it up, that doesn't mean they won't be in a few months.
Get as much in the picture as you can
It's a good idea, scratch that, absolutely necessary to put the camera at an angle that can cover the area in question, like a hallway, front door, parking lot, etc., and as much of the surrounding area as possible. This will add to the amount of time a person of interest is caught on film, which also increases the chances security or law inforcement will be able to identify the individual. It can also catch other valuable information that may not enter the vicinity of where you'd usually think to film, like vehicles and their license plates, other people with the person, or which direction they came from. Sometimes this information can be just as useful as a closeup of their face.
Be close enough to get their face in the picture
This probably seems contrary to the last section, however, getting a clear shot of the criminal's face is one of the next best things to a fingerprint you can have when it comes to forensics. Anyone with CCTV training can tell you this. However, most criminals aren't dumb enough not to keep their faces covered when they know security cameras might be present so covering a lot of area is still a good idea. As an example of having the best of both worlds, consider the cameras at ATMs. They are positioned directly at your face while you're making a transaction, but can also easily see what's behind you and where you came from.
In the end, fixed camera placement is pretty self explantory. The only way you can really screw it up is to not bother looking where the cameras are facing, and it's hard to imagine anyone (or at least anyone who cares) failing to do that. But, then again, things like trees and vines eventually blocking the camera's field of view may not be obvious at the time of installation.
Be sure nothing is blocking the camera
Nobody should have to tell you this, but it's very important to make sure the camear's field of view is clear. If the camera(s) are not indoors, keep in mind that trees and bushes do in fact become larger over time and even though they weren't blocking the camera's field of view at the time you set it up, that doesn't mean they won't be in a few months.
Get as much in the picture as you can
It's a good idea, scratch that, absolutely necessary to put the camera at an angle that can cover the area in question, like a hallway, front door, parking lot, etc., and as much of the surrounding area as possible. This will add to the amount of time a person of interest is caught on film, which also increases the chances security or law inforcement will be able to identify the individual. It can also catch other valuable information that may not enter the vicinity of where you'd usually think to film, like vehicles and their license plates, other people with the person, or which direction they came from. Sometimes this information can be just as useful as a closeup of their face.
Be close enough to get their face in the picture
This probably seems contrary to the last section, however, getting a clear shot of the criminal's face is one of the next best things to a fingerprint you can have when it comes to forensics. Anyone with CCTV training can tell you this. However, most criminals aren't dumb enough not to keep their faces covered when they know security cameras might be present so covering a lot of area is still a good idea. As an example of having the best of both worlds, consider the cameras at ATMs. They are positioned directly at your face while you're making a transaction, but can also easily see what's behind you and where you came from.
In the end, fixed camera placement is pretty self explantory. The only way you can really screw it up is to not bother looking where the cameras are facing, and it's hard to imagine anyone (or at least anyone who cares) failing to do that. But, then again, things like trees and vines eventually blocking the camera's field of view may not be obvious at the time of installation.
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