Smart Alarm Systems and CCTV: Life Saving Technology
In one of our earlier tech updates we discussed the many reasons why your Smart Alarm System is the ultimate life hack. It provides a central interface in which you can monitor and control the life of your home, but what exactly are you monitoring and how exactly can you control it?
Intruder Alert
There were 1,3 million incidences of housebreakings in South Africa, over the 2018/2019 period. That’s an estimated average of 3561 housebreaking incidences, per day.
Connect your CCTV cameras to your app and label them clearly, for example “Street View” or “Main Entrance”, to easily and quickly view the various areas around your home or business. If you notice anything suspicious, or if the view of even one of your cameras is obscured – don’t take any chances by inspecting it yourself – rather contact your security providers and ask them to do a patrol of the property.
Pro Tip * Take your monitoring one step further with image and video verification, by integrating your alarm system’s infrared detectors and outdoor beams with your CCTV surveillance cameras to automatically stream a set of images or video footage direct to your smartphone, when the sensors are triggered.
Protect your Protectors
Dogs have always been our loyal protectors, but they often need protection too. A devastating statistic revealed that over 1000 dogs are poisoned every week in South Africa. Burglars have been known to poison dogs to gain easy access to properties and an alarming 97% of those poisoned, die.
Set up a CCTV camera with a clear view of your fence and your pets, so you can check up on them during the day. If your dog is the victim of malicious poisoning, the photographic evidence provided by your CCTV cameras can assist in the reporting this crime to the police and possibly save another furry friend’s life!
Did You Know? * Poisoning is not the only threat against your pet, read our tips to ensure your pet’s safety for more helpful information.
Avoid Home Alone Disasters
Drugs or alcohol use is 2-3 times more likely in teens left home alone and according to research conducted by UNISA, 49% of teenagers in the average South African home have at some stage experimented with alcohol.
CCTV is definitely not a replacement for adult supervision, however it can be a helpful tool that gives you peace of mind, as you are able to keep an eye on your children even when under the supervision of a caregiver.
Pro Tip* Two-way communication cameras have a built in intercom that allows you to communicate with your children, or anyone in the immediate vicinity.
Busted by the Boss
Integrating your CCTV cameras with your alarm system also allows you to keep an eye on your employees. One of our clients saw the benefit of this within a week of installing a smart alarm system at his Pinetown-based business, when he caught a staff member on CCTV stealing stock. This find led to a drastic reduction is stock losses, and reduced overtime work which saved his business money in the long run.
Pro Tip* Smart Alarm Systems also have the ability to manage your energy consumption by integrating it with your building’s electricity and air-conditioning systems, a functionality that not only reduces your carbon footprint but also saves you in overhead costs.
Whether you’re a devoted dog-mom (or dad), concerned parent or busy business owner, integrating your Smart Alarm System with CCTV comes with many many life-saving benefits. For more information on how to set CCTV up in your home or business, contact us on 031 717 5000.