SECURITY CAMERAS COULD HAVE AVERTED THREE DEATHS

A Crime Without Electronic Witness

On September 23rd, 2012, several young people stepped outside of Club V.I.P. in East St. Louis to settle a dispute over dance partners. Within minutes, shots were fired, leaving three dead and two wounded.

Security guards were present, but not nearby. Police indicated that without security camera footage, it would be difficult to lay charges. Currently, although three were detained after the shootings, no arrests have been made.

Folks, this is a situation where three young people have lost their lives - Alonzo Phifer, 18; Henry Byrd III, 21; and an unnamed 20-year-old. Two were also wounded. It seems obvious that although no one is blameless in an exchange of fire like this, there needs to be some sort of closure for the families of the victims - and consequences for those who perpetrated the crimes.

Club V.I.P. had no security cameras that we're aware of. In a situation like this, not only could the murders have been deterred by the presence of visible surveillance, but the criminals could have been brought to justice.

Cameras Can Save Lives

When surveillance is obvious and in a visible location, potential criminals might think twice before committing an act which they will never be able to take back. Hot tempers can be quelled by the knowledge that one's actions are being monitored and recorded by a camera. If temper takes control, however, the crime can still be resolved after the fact by pinpointing those responsible and bringing them their due.

In this situation, there are three lives that might have been spared by the presence of visible security. What a horrifying trade-off - a few dollars saved by the club in exchange for three promising young lives. And the club itself will suffer, too - reputation leaves a permanent mark, for better or for worse.

With the installation of security cameras in public and even private locations, prominently displayed, violent crime - the apex of our fears - can be averted. This can help us live our lives in peace, comfort and with a sense of safety. Although much of the time it's easy to think of surveillance as a helpful tool only after something bad has happened, it can be a powerful force for prevention.

Not only are cameras a good idea in public places such as businesses, parks and busy venues - they can also help to ease our minds when placed in and around our homes and neighborhoods. You can help prevent crime in your own backyard and around your place of business, simply by installing the appropriate deterrents!

At Eye Spy Electronics, we provide a wide array of security options, including a large selection of cameras for any environment or context. Our goal is your peace of mind - and we can provide it with the lowest installation costs and great ongoing service. Don't leave your home and business security to chance - take it into your hands today. We can help you get started.

A NEW SOCIAL STRATEGY FOR EYE SPY ELECTRONICS

Over the past several weeks, some of you may have noticed a few changes around the main site. There's been a lot going on behind the scenes, and we'd like to bring you up to speed.

From a content tuneup to an aesthetic makeover, from a new social presence on Facebook to a powerfully renewed LinkedIn company profile, Eye Spy Electronics is undergoing change in its web presence in a huge way.

Fresh Content, Same Great Service

Eye Spy Electronics has been providing effective and dependable security camera and security alarm system services to the greater St. Louis area since 2007. Built on a tradition of trust and superior expertise, Eye Spy is a leader in affordable security solutions for Missouri and surrounding states.

A time came, however, when the minds behind the business decided the company website and web presence as a whole was ready for some renovation - and renovation has come!

In order to maintain an internet presentation as excellent as the security services we provide, Eye Spy has been renewing their commitment to high quality web development and design. Our visitors and clients agree - things are looking great at eyespyelectronics.com. This is all part of our dedication to serve you better than anyone, and to look good while we do it!

Reaching Out: Facebook, LinkedIn and Blogging

In an effort to provide you with the cutting edge of security news and information, we've thrown our security blog into high gear this past month. We look forward to continuing a steady output of great content, bringing you the latest in company news and security education.

That's not all, though. As many of you are aware on a first-hand basis, we've lately brought Facebook and LinkedIn to the playing field. It's high time our social media presence reflected our pride and experience, and we're more than ready to share what we've learned with the world. We want to share our corner of the universe with you.

Whether you're looking to inform yourself in security technology and trends, or looking to refresh your home or business security installation, we want you to be able to locate and engage with us both quickly and easily. We're here to serve you, and we want you to know it.

We sell peace of mind. This is what we live by, and this is what we want to share with you above all. Join us today on our continually growing site, and get to know us a little better. We promise you won't be disappointed!

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.

UNDERSTANDING THE SECURITY CAMERA

All Surveillance Systems Are Not Equal

Deciding to install a security camera system at your home or business is certainly a firm first step, but it is by no means the last one you'll take. There are a variety of surveillance tools available today, and knowing which one suits your need can make all the difference.

Let's have a look at several of the most common types.

Bullet Camera

 

These devices are named for their shape - sometimes as minimal as 2 inches long, their streamlined, cylindrical form says it all. They are generally mounted on ceilings or walls in a fixed position, served by a simple focal lens.

Bullet cameras tend to be inexpensive and of simple installation, but incur serious limitations in terms of image quality and coverage because of their simple construction. This is a good option for the budgeting consumer - any video surveillance is better than none, after all.

Dome Camera

 

So-called for its transparent dome-shaped housing, this camera is most often mounted on a ceiling, but can be placed on a wall as well, depending on what range of view is desired. The dome can be tinted to obscure the camera's known line of sight.

Dome cameras allow for a relatively non-invasive form of surveillance in an indoor setting. They remind the occupants of a home or patrons of a business that the area is being safely monitored without creating an aggressively monitored environment.

PTZ and Speed Dome Cameras

 

These amount to variations on the bullet and dome formats; in both cases, the standard device has been enhanced with the ability to extend its range and zoom by means of motorised adjustments in position and focus.

PTZ is the acronym for pan/tilt/zoom. A bullet camera modified in this way is able to pan left or right, tilt up and down, and zoom in or out. The speed dome camera is a dome setup with spin functionality. In either of these setups, the control can be manual or automated, as in a timed cycle.

PTZ and speed dome cameras are much more advanced than their simple counterparts, and thus carry a heftier tag. It's easy to imagine, though, the advantages they carry over fixed installations in terms of range and quality of coverage.

Covert Camera

 

While a covert camera may not always be radically different from the construction types listed above, it has a very specific purpose: to record without being noticed.

The covert camera can simply be a dome or bullet camera installed discreetly, or it can take the form of a tiny camera, such as a board camera, installed within an obscuring object. The camera within a clock or smoke detector is a good example of this.

It's important to note that while a covert camera may be exactly what you need in a given application, it is illegal in many states to record an individual without their knowledge. Keep this in mind before deciding to install covert surveillance.

Every Camera Has a Home at Eye Spy Electronics

There are more varieties of camera than this article has listed, and we'll follow up on that later this week.

Whether you're looking for an intricate and extensive public installation, or something very simple and budget-oriented for your home, Eye Spy Electronics has the solution for you.

We have dozens of possible variations on the theme, but with our experience and expertise, we'll quickly narrow it down to just the right product for your need. Visit us at our company website to see what we have to offer, or stop by our security forum for some Q&A. We're never too busy to answer your questions.

Remember, folks: your peace of mind is our business. Visit us and receive your free quote today!

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.

ST. LOUIS CRIME STATISTICS AND YOU

Crime by Numbers

There's a reason why so many home and small business owners are turning to security equipment - such as security cameras and alarm systems - in St. Louis. It's not a secret, either: St. Louis has the highest overall crime rate of any city in the USA.

We're going to let the numbers speak for themselves.

St. Louis, of every city in the United States, has the highest rate of violent crime, and the second-highest rate of property crime, after Detroit. Every year, 1,747 individuals fall victim to acts of violence; every year, 7,694 articles of property are damaged or destroyed. All this in a population of just 355,151!

That's one out of every two hundred people being harmed in some way each year, and more than one out of every fifty people losing their property to criminal activity.

41 of us lose our lives each year to murder or nonnegligent manslaughter. 53 of the most vulnerable members of our society endure rape. And a staggering 1055 inhabitants of our home city are beaten, stabbed, shot or otherwise assaulted.

It's not just us who are at risk, though - our very possessions are at the mercy of the criminal without effective security measures.

1,037 of our homes are broken into and looted each year. 1,835 acts of theft are committed against our businesses, and 676 motor vehicles are stolen from their rightful owners.

The numbers are steep, and our position is challenging. With statistics like these, what can we possibly do to protect ourselves, our families and our property?

Solving the Equation

Even the safest neighborhoods are not immune to crime. There is nowhere, in St. Louis or elsewhere, that mankind does not at some point exhibit its dark underbelly. We implement public policing and various policies to prevent and punish the acts of violence and destruction, but we haven't put an end to wrongdoing just yet.

One thing you can do to reduce your chance of becoming a victim is to have a surveillance camera system put into place at your home or business. A criminal who knows that they are being observed and recorded is much less likely to commit an irrevocable act of crime.

US police departments have reported drops in the crime rate of between 17 and 36 percent after the installation of public CCTV systems, particularly when combined with existing law enforcement presence. In a home security context, security cameras build a ring of protective monitoring - something which the would-be criminal sees and takes into account.

When it comes to resolving crimes that do take place, a camera is a vocal witness against those responsible. When harm is done to someone or their property, the camera makes sure that the perpetrator is seen - and, hopefully, captured.

Eye Spy Protects You

Here at Eye Spy Electronics and More, we offer the widest range of cutting edge technology in crime prevention and resolution. We work hand in hand with police agencies when it comes time to pursue an investigation, or litigate against an offender.

Our selection of cameras and home security systems give you the drop on potential crimes. We can help you turn your home and business into bastions of safety in an uncertain world.

From visible property surveillance to hidden indoor cameras, from burglar alarms and monitoring services to mobile camera units, we cover every security need you have. We have equipment designed for every application, and provide installation services as well.

Contact us today to consult with us. We'll gladly give you our advice - and our products and services come at a very affordable rate, too!

Dan Parrington is a freelance content writer for a variety of small businesses across the web. He operates out of his primary business website, The Parrington Review. You can contact him at dan@parringtonreview.com.

HOME SECURITY: TIPS FROM EYE SPY

While a good burglar alarm system is a step in the direction of your personal safety and that of your family and your belongings, first make sure you have tightened security in other ways.

Install strong kick plates on locks. Make sure all windows and doors are always locked. Ensure you have good lighting around the entire perimeter of your residence.

The cost of installing a home security system is about $200.00 to $300.00 but the monthly service charges average $25.00 to $40.00 depending on which alarm company you go with.

I recommend a smaller company. You get lower rates, and when you have a problem, you get a person on the phone not an automated machine.

Here at Eye Spy Electronics, we provide exactly that: small business service with cutting edge technology. Contact us at 1-877-821-4880, or visit us online to see our rates, products and services.

Alternatively, join us in our forum for active discussion of security concerns in the St. Louis area.

REMOTE SURVEILLANCE AND DAYCARE

Easily one of the most important advances in surveillance systems is the advent of remote DVR viewer technology, allowing people to monitor live video camera feeds from outside of a daycare facility using a network or internet connection.

For daycares, and the parents who take their kids to the daycare, this is incredibly important. Some day care centers are using CCTV cameras to allow parents to log in remotely to check on their children.

Allowing parents to login remotely using a DVR viewer application allows the day care to offer this special service to parents which they will certainly appreciate. It gives parents the peace of mind they need to know that their children are safe; when you're having a tough day at work, nothing is better than taking a peek at your child playing with his or her friends and knowing that they are safe.

Stop by our website to see the many CCTV, DVR viewer and other secutiry options we offer, or call us at 1-877-821-4880.

PORTABLE SOLAR SECURITY CAMERAS IN ST. LOUIS

Eye Spy Electronics now offers a tow behind solar security camera unit to the St. Louis area. Please check link for information.

This is a solar powered unit that has battery backup as well as a generator backup. This can be rented or purchased for city events, commercial new builds to protect equipment and property. We do offer a free demo for certain applications.

We also offer a full line of CCTV, Security Camera systems for the St. Louis/ St. Charles Area.

"HIGH CRIME AREA" IN ST. LOUIS TO GET VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM

Every city has their areas of high crime and, for the most part, people tend to avoid them when they can. Police in these areas are also on high alert and tend to patrol these areas more frequently than others. However, the police cannot be everywhere at once which means, unfortunately, that crimes still happen in these areas and more frequently than anybody wants.

However, in one particular neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri that has been denoted as a "high crime area" by local authorities a solution may be coming along that could lower the crime rate in the area and may help put some of the more persistent criminals behind bars.

A video surveillance system is set to be installed in a St. Louis neighborhood as part of attempts to hinder drug dealing and related assaults. Over the course of several weeks, security cameras will be placed along Natural Bridge as well as Lee Avenue in the 21st ward of St. Louis, an area the alderman calls a "freeway of drug activity".

This particular neighborhood in St. Louis saw almost 1,100 crimes last year alone which included over a dozen murders. The area's alderman Antonio French told local radio stations that although the area is primarily known for its drug related problems the deaths are a bigger concern. According to French, "It's really the violent crime that we're most concerned with. We've had more than our fair share of the city's murders happen in our neighborhood."

French also noted that this move towards security cameras was born out of requests from the residents. "In high crime areas like this folks have really been screaming for the cameras," he said. The main focus of the city is most certainly the safety of the citizens and if the citizens want security cameras installed to deter crime, then the city is intent on giving it to them.