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.

KEEPING THE HOLIDAYS SECURE

It's the most wonderful time of the year, as the singer tells us. Candy canes and holiday cheer aren't the only things on our minds, though: the festive season is also one of the most difficult in terms of theft and other crime for businesses around America.

While we all wish for better times to come, the chaos of Christmas is the perfect cover for many criminals to make a move on your merchandise. This sort of behavior, unfair and unseasonal, is just the thing to spoil an otherwise perfect holiday season for owners of retailers everywhere.

Need some advice? Well, we don't claim to be the three wise men, but we know the equipment and practise that will give you an edge in your effort to keep the holidays pleasant for everyone.

Security Cameras: Santa's Other Little Helpers

When it comes to security in your place of business, it takes the right tools to keep material losses to a minimum, and profits at their best. We've discussed a wide variety of cameras in previous posts, but the two most suited to an average indoor business context are the bullet camera and the dome camera.

Dome cameras are very likely the most effective piece of equipment, and the most popular, in retail. Not only are they fairly unobtrusive - for the sake of those folks who are just there to shop - but they are also recognisable enough for the potential shoplifter to see and fear. They're also an economic choice when money is tight: a few can be used to cover a wide area simply because it is so difficult to tell in which direction they are pointed, and the criminal may choose not to take their chances.

An equally effective choice is the bullet camera. In a smaller format, this technology is perfect for use as a highly visible form of crime deterrence and loss prevention. Its presence is clearly felt, and its field of view is obvious. You'll need to cover every area - particularly problem areas - with these cameras, but cutting corners usually isn't the best strategy in any case.

Working with Your Security Cameras

Cameras alone are typically only part of an overall strategy. Staff should be alert to suspicious behavior at all times, and aware of the environment in which they work. For especially high-value merchandise, it's not a bad idea to include paid security staff of one kind or another. For the most part, though, making sure that you and your employees are active observers will go a long way together with security cameras.

Keep your work environment clear and well organised, and try to arrange the facility internally so as to facilitate an open field of vision for both cameras and staff. In a very busy time of year like Christmas, don't hesitate to bring in extra staff, or to implement a security camera system if you haven't before.

Eye Spy Electronics is here to help you meet the challenges of the holiday season, and to thrive through the intensity of it all. Give us a call today at 877-821-4880, an email at sales@eyespyelectronics.com, or visit us online. We're available year round, and ready to support you in any need. Ask us about our free consultations.

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.

BUILDING A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION

The Loss Prevention Foundation (LPF) is an international leader in educating and certifying retail loss prevention and retail asset protection professionals. LPF’s mission is to advance the retail loss prevention and asset protection profession by providing relevant, convenient and challenging educational resources. LPF is responsible for administering the industry’s only internationally sanctioned LP credentials: LPQualified (LPQ) and LPCertified (LPC). Its' accompanying courses and exams are focused at measuring individual industry knowledge and elevating the image of our profession. With 24/7 online educational resources and professional membership program, the LPF is able to educate our industry like no other organization of its kind, in the world.

Always start your project with great and quality security cameras. At Eye Spy Electronics, we provide the equipment you need to do so.

Remember that security is not only for St. Louis, it is for all the retailers across the United States.

Hire qualified employees!

Join and read a blog, join great groups.

Small Business Security is Key

Small business owners have a lot of things they need to worry about, especially in today's economy. Anybody who has ever tried to run a small business knows that creating a profitable business is hard and can even be fairly expensive. Because of the woes pressed on many small business owners, why should they become the victim of theft or even feel the need to worry about it?

It has been noted that property crimes have been declining recently but 1 out of every 8 small businesses falls victim to theft or burglary. Small businesses face and even greater threat to their safety due to the fact that they are more likely to be a target. Many thieves target small businesses as opposed to larger ones because they perceive small businesses to be easier to rip off.

Businesses, big and small, already do a lot to prevent internal theft with background conviction checks, past employment verification and employee education but to get a true sense of complete security the only way to go seems to be a security camera system. Security cameras have proven to be a strong deterrent to criminal activity surrounding businesses where they are set, both with internal and external crimes.

Most people think twice about committing a crime when a visible security camera is noticed. The fact that there could be concrete, physical evidence of their crime is something most criminals do not think twice about messing with. Employees are also less likely to commit employee theft or vandalism if they perceive that they will be caught.

However, even though a lot of criminals will pass your business up if it has security cameras installed, there are the bold ones out there who could care less about your security camera system and will rob you blind without a second thought, security camera system or not. The positive side to this is that if a criminal is dumb enough to commit a crime in view of a fully functional security camera system it makes it a whole lot easier to identify the person and even makes it easier to recover your stolen property.

The best thing about a small business security camera system is that they come in a wide range of styles, models, packages and prices. Small business owners can get a very basic security camera system installed for $1,000. But if you want top notch equipment then you can get that too, for a higher price mind you. An average security camera system will run you anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000 and can be a CCTV or IP Security Camera System allowing you to view your security camera feed anywhere you have internet access.

Bullet Security Cameras and Dome Security Cameras, two of the most popular types, can start as low as $80 for a black and white camera and $150 for a full color camera. Lenses come in a variety of different sizes ranging from 2.5mm to 500mm and most lenses can be changed at will with little or no problem whatsoever. For people who need to cover varying angles but don't want or need multiple cameras, a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera is perfect as it allows users to remotely move the camera to view any and all viewing angles.

Protection is key for any business owner, especially small business owners who may be having to be careful financial as it is. The last thing they need to worry about is trying to replace expensive equipment that has been stolen. Improve your business security now before it is too late by getting a security camera system that has the potential to deter and even catch criminals that are trying to rip you off.

---

For more Missouri Small Business Security Camera systems and news, visit Eye Spy Electronics, St. Louis' premiere security camera professionals.