PUTTING BURGLARS BEHIND BARS

We've discussed the power of the security camera in keeping our homes and businesses crime-free. Here in St. Louis, there's plenty to worry about when it comes to keeping property and family secure.

It's a sad fact, though, that not all crime can be prevented by surveillance; the dumbest and boldest criminals still insist on breaking into homes, stealing valuables, and damaging property.

The security camera can also be a powerful tool in identifying and bringing criminals to justice, however. When the burglar goes ahead with his burglary, when the carjacker breaks into your vehicle, and when the vandal damages your possessions, a security camera will just keep rolling.

Here are a few recent stories of success with security cameras in catching the crooks of America.

Battery Bandits Caught on Camera

When thieves stole the battery from his 1988 Toyota pickup, a Jefferson County, Alabama man called police. They arrived at his home at 6:30am that Tuesday, November 20th - just a week ago yesterday.

Police wouldn't have known where to start, but the victim was prepared. He provided them with photographic stills taken from his home surveillance system which showed a man and a woman removing the battery from his truck. Now they had something to work with.

Proceeding to a nearby recycling center, police were able to match the photos to security footage there and identify the woman from the stills, who was still wearing the same clothes as she'd been wearing at the break-in.

Arriving at a residence later that day, deputies found Amanda Leigh Chalmers, 34, asleep in her car, and showed her the pictures from the scene of her earlier crime. She admitted her guilt. When she received a text from her boyfriend, who she identified as the man from the stills, police were also able to locate and arrest him.

Michael Waldrop, 36, is charged with unlawful breaking and entering a motor vehicle and third-degree theft of property. Chalmers is charged with receiving stolen property. The two were being held on bail.

Worse Than It Looked

Often, a burglar is more than just a one-time offender; in this case, a man in illegal possession of stolen firearms and with a track record of felonies was brought to heel after picking the wrong house to break into.

Home security cameras at a residence in Sioux City, Iowa, caught Scott Slauter, 38, in the act of entering to remove jewelry and a pistol. The burglar was carrying a .38-caliber handgun as he broke into and searched the house.

Identified from his image on the home security footage, Slauter became the prime suspect in an investigation of the crime. During a search of his home, police located the stolen gun and some ammunition. The jewelry had been sold, but was later tracked down and recovered.

Slauter was carrying three former felony convictions, including robbing and shooting a store clerk, burglary, and an attempted escape from custody during which he overpowered security officers, stole two cars and drove through roadblocks.

As of the 21st, this criminal is now facing federal prison for up to 17 years. If there was ever a case of a known troublemaker being stopped in his tracks by home security cameras, this is it. Sometimes it's not just about a single crime, but a criminal who just won't quit.

Eye Spy Security at Work

It's these kinds of stories that motivate us at Eye Spy Electronics to provide the very best in quality and value for your security needs. We want to prevent crime, certainly, but if we can't - well, we'd like to have a hand in bringing the bad guys down.

We work closely with police in home and business security contexts of all kinds, offering our services and footage as needed to serve both you and your community. When you put us in charge of installing security cameras or monitoring your property, we take the responsibility very seriously.

Call us today for a free quote or consultation. We're ready to make your home or business secure, and we bet you'll be surprised at just how affordable it can be. Don't put your security on hold for another minute: remember, our business is your peace of mind.

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, PT. 2

On Tuesday, we looked at four major varieties of security camera. Today, we're going to examine the different ways in which security cameras interact with their environment - through housing, vision and communication.

Security Cameras Need Homes, Too

The outdoor camera is the hardy cousin of its indoor kin. Also known as "weatherproof", the outdoor camera is built to withstand the wear and tear of rain, wind and snow. This type of equipment is generally waterproof, and sometimes accompanied by a built-in heater and fan to regulate temperature and moisture. The outdoor camera, too, can take the form of any of the four basic camera types as described in our previous post.

Vandal resistant cameras are the toughest of the bunch, usually housed in aluminum (as opposed to plastic) and protected by a locking mechanism. A dome style camera is the preferred variety for vandal resistance, as it is much more difficult to damage by striking. The dome camera is also more resistant to being covered or otherwise obstructed. Finally, even camouflage is sometimes implemented to avoid the vandal's attention to begin with!

How Does Your Security System See You?

Using a varifocal security camera allows for change in zoom and focus, improving quality or breadth of coverage. This type of camera can be adapted to any number of surveillance situations either by manual or remote adjustment; the fixed-lens camera, a cheaper and less complex alternative, cannot be adjusted once it is installed. You get what you pay for: the varifocal security camera can be used and re-used in any number of situations.

Infrared security cameras are also known as night-vision cameras, or day/night cameras. They are capable of viewing and recording in total darkness. An infrared LED emanates light on a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is invisible to the human eye, and captures the image of anything that emits heat. In low light conditions, the image is perfectly clear, and in color; in pitch blackness, the image is black and white.

Communicating with Your Surveillance System

The wired security camera was he first on the scene, and still holds a strong position today. Attached to a power source via one cable, and transmitting its video feed through another, the wired camera boasts the most secure connection of any setup available. Between its reliable feed and stable power source, the wired camera earns its keep admirably.

In contrast to the wired format is the wireless camera, which in turn can be subdivided two ways. The network, or IP, camera is a digital camera that harnesses the internet to transmit its data. The CCTV wireless camera, on the other hand, uses radio bandwidth to transmit audio and video data, often in encrypted form. In some cases, these wireless devices are even battery- or solar-powered, adding to their versatility and cost-effectiveness. Their strength, however, is also their vulnerability: wireless signals can potentially be intercepted by anyone with the right knowledge and equipment.

Bullets, Domes, Lenses and Wires: Finding Your Way Forward

There's not a single variety, as discussed over this post and the last, that Eye Spy Electronics does not offer for sale and installation. But where, you ask, do I start?

That's why we're here. We have over twenty years' experience in security equipment sales, service and custom installation, We're ready to hear you out, and offer our advice. We can help you through the details, one by one.

Contact us today by telephone at 877-8214880, or by email at sales@eyespyelectronics.com. You could also use our Contact form, or visit our security forum to ask questions and find answers.

We're here to provide you with not only the best equipment, but the highest quality support in the industry. Let us help you find the right security system 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.