I often get asked by people checking out security systems for their business for first time, “I’m looking for an electronic security system for my business, should I go with a CCTV system purchased from by local electronics retailer or Big Box Store?”
The simple answer is “No” and here's why:
CCTV cameras and surveillance systems are a good operational management and recording tool, but that’s about it. It's good for ensuring staff are working, correct product is being shipped or received undamaged, and keeping tabs in general on your property.
As a security system, CCTV is not the best solution.
A security system needs to protect your assets, such as valuable inventory and employees, and notify the Police to stop crimes in progress.
"My advice ... don’t buy a CCTV system if you want to protect your assets from theft or deter criminals from entry."
1.) CCTV doesn’t stop the crime - Cameras can only record activity. Unless you’ve got someone watching the camera in the middle of the night, the video recording is not going to do anything to stop the crime from happening. Your property will be stolen, or your building will be damaged, and you won’t know about it until someone opens up the office/site in the morning. At that point you’ll be able to watch the video replay. If your security system doesn’t stop the crime, then you're not protecting your property at all.
2.) CCTV cameras don't capture thieves - So you have video footage of your desk being rifled through - guess what? The guy’s wearing a ski-mask! Robbery is often a planned crime and thieves prefer to conceal their identity. Therefore, the priority for the Police is to respond to crimes in progress. Much lower down the priority list is the need to investigate crimes that have already occurred. Even if the thief’s face is visible, who are they, police won’t know who they are.
3.) CCTV doesn’t deter criminal activity from your location - Thieves are not put off by CCTV cameras. Especially if they are concealing their identity and know that there are no other security protections in place.
The Solution:
If you have a need for CCTV you need a camera surveillance system that gives you all the operational management and recording benefits of a regular CCTV surveillance system with the addition of one crucial feature - VERIFICATION.
Our Sonitrol SonaVision verified security solution allows you to view in real-time, your business operations, fenced compound, or construction site, by sending a live video feed to our 24/7 Central Monitoring Station.
When a burglar attempts to gain entry into your site, in any way, various audio and video alarms are tripped, and the signal is sent instantly to one of our Sonitrol Security Specialists, who verify what is being seen or heard, as a real break-in or theft.
If our Central Monitoring Station confirms criminal activity, we immediately report a crime in progress to the Police.
We work closely with Hundreds of Police departments across Western Canada for many years, so they know us and our Sonitrol brand very well - so they will respond to Sonitrol alarms because they know the criminal activity has been VERIFIED, and that there is a crime in progress when the alarm call comes in.
With over 172,000 criminal apprehensions since 1977, there is no question that Sonitrol works.
Those numbers represent the criminals caught on Sonitrol protected sites, and it's also proof that the police respond to our alarms.
In addition, Sonitrol is notorious amongst professional thieves as risky and therefore most who are familiar with Sonitrol will not even attempt theft on premises with a Sonitrol Security System. There is no way of putting a figure to that, but we know that professional thieves prefer to hit unprotected, or weakly secured buildings and compounds (and many have poor CCTV protection).
When it comes to protecting your property, don’t put a conventional CCTV system in place that is meant for off-site monitoring for operational management. The better solution is our Sonavision system by Sonitrol, a full featured, integrated and VERIFIED electronic security system that really works!
About Sonitrol Western Canada:
We're so confident in our technology and responsive service, that no one else in the industry can match our guarantee. Our unique verified audio and CCTV video business security solutions enable our operators to hear and see what is happening in your business before the criminals gain entry!! We verify the actual source of the alarm, and we get the police to attend the scene immediately. FOR A FREE SECURITY AUDIT, click here, or call 1-866-766-4876.
We are a security company with over 150 offices across North America. Sonitrol Western Canada services clients in:
Sonitrol Western Canada, with its Verified Electronic Security Systems, is committed to providing customers with the most comprehensive security protection. Cooperation in the elimination of false alarms is not only beneficial to the system’s user, but results in better protection of the entire community by allowing law enforcement to use their resources as efficiently as possible.
