Need to keep a watchful eye on your business or home?
Need a camera placed inside your business, home, or car?
Questions regarding camera systems are common... the answers vary widely based on the application desired. However, it is important to remember that you get what you pay for in a CCTV system. Often times, a camera system is installed to catch people doing what they are not supposed to be doing or to deter people from doing it in the first place. People who steal, babysitters who mistreat children, spouses who cheat, vandals... they all have been caught and/or successfully prosecuted with the help of a good, quality custom camera system.
All custom CCTV camera systems for our clients are designed, installed, and serviced by our staff of professional CCTV experts. Our systems are designed to meet or exceed federal government-quality CCTV systems, both standard and covert, providing our clients with 100% satisfaction.
To help our clients understand how our camera systems work, we can start by breaking down the camera systems we offer into two categories: Standard CCTV Camera Systems and Hidden (Covert) Camera Systems.
Standard CCTV Camera System
A standard CCTV camera system is one in which the cameras are installed in prominent locations and can be seen by anyone who happens to look up and see the camera, thus providing a deterrent as well as video surveillance. Applications for standard camera systems are usually businesses, schools, and homes where a possibility of prohibited or illegal activity may occur. A standard camera system may:
1. Deter a person from committing a crime or participating in activity that is
prohibited, as they know the behavior will be recorded;
2. Provide evidence of behavior or activity by persons who are denying
involvement in an incident;
3. Capture evidence of a crime being committed;
4. Provide identifying features of the person responsible for a crime, aiding
in the arrest and prosecution of that person;
5. Resolve liability questions in a civil matter.
The cameras in a standard system are placed into "housings", which vary in design. Samples of camera housings can be found at the Pacific Security Systems, Inc., web site listed above.
The next item to consider when designing a standard camera system is the recording unit. All of our standard camera systems are designed to record onto a stand-alone high-capacity DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or PC-based DVR. DVR's are far superior to video cassette recorders in that they can record a tremendous amount of footage in very high-quality format, utilizing a computer hard-drive to store the footage. Depending on the size of the hard-drive in a stand-alone DVR, footage can be maintained for months before the hard-drive begins to re-record over existing footage. With a PC-based DVR, video footage can be immediately moved to a DVD for permanent storage with the click of a button. (It should be noted that a PC-based DVR also can allow the user to securely view the cameras over ANY computer hooked up to the internet).
Prices for standard camera systems vary according to the types and number of cameras, housings, DVR type, and installation fees. Standard camera systems range in price from $2,000 for some home systems to $50,000 for large business systems.
Hidden (Covert) Camera Systems
Often times, when a client comes to us with a problem that requires a more covert approach, a hidden camera system is the answer. Butler & Associates has designed and installed hidden camera systems in many homes and businesses to address the following problems:
Baby-sitter abuse of children;
Pedophile cases;
Infidelity cases;
Doctor-Patient abuse;
Employee Theft cases;
Domestic Violence cases;
Vandalism cases;
Classroom Violence
While the above list contains what we consider to be more common issues, the application of a hidden camera system is not limited to these cases.
Each hidden camera system is designed primarily to blend into the environment where the suspected activity is occurring without being noticed. The goal of each system is to document illicit behavior that a person would not otherwise exhibit in the presence of another adult, spouse, or authority figure.
Hidden camera systems may:
1. Provide evidence of behavior or activity by persons who are denying
specific behavior or activity;
2. Capture evidence of a crime being committed;
3. Provide identifying features of the person responsible for a crime, aiding
in the arrest and prosecution of that person;
4. Resolve liability questions in a civil matter.
The options for camera housings in a hidden system are virtually endless. Teddy Bears, household plants, clocks, smoke detectors, even walls and ceilings have been used to conceal our hidden cameras. Since the options are endless, it is meaningless to show photographs of hidden camera housings. The basic rule is this: if you can imagine it, it most likely can be done.
As with a standard camera system, a hidden camera system utilizes a stand-alone DVR or a PC-based DVR to record the footage from the hidden cameras.
Should you be interested in having a standard or hidden camera system designed and installed, give us a call or send us an email at your convenience to discuss your situation and needs.
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