The development of the use of video camera surveillance as a means of protection and a resource for law enforcement has caused the investment and installation of such systems a profitable and necessary. This popularity brings competition into the market for the necessary equipment and manpower needed to utilize the system. Also, the automated system had cut down on the manpower aspect while still serving the purpose of safety and protection as well as still being a very useful tool for law enforcement. Granted, the advent of video surveillance did reduce the uses of human security guards in large part, the security guard area came up to the level of the camera by learning how to use it to do an even better job with this tool included.

The number of surveillance cameras necessary and the placement of the cameras are among the top factors to consider when installing camera video surveillance to protect a business location. The standardization of the technology gives a larger number of cameras for a lower place than in the past. Purchasing, for instance, a six camera surveillance package will cost less than $10,000 and provides better technology than what was available 20 years ago. This gives the business owner greater flexibility in what to choose as a system of protection for their particular surveillance and security needs.

The placement of surveillance camera system is crucial to the effective use of the entire system. The size of your business location will go a long way toward determining what the camera placement should be. If the purpose of the system is to provide security for your employees and products on-site, the camera placement must include coverage of all entrances and exits. There should be coverage indoors of areas that contain high value products or large amounts of cash. For instance, in a distribution warehouse with 4 docking bays, a front door and a back door for employees, and an office where payroll is kept, there should be seven cameras. One for each truck bay, one for each doorway and one inside the office (though that one should be a hidden camera). An eighth and ninth camera can be placed in the holding area of the warehouse—one on either side—to keep a loose eye on product.

In a retail setting, such as a convenience store and a mall clothing store, there is a much higher need for several wireless surveillance cameras covering the majority of the shopping space and any stockrooms or storage areas and access ways. In a convenience store setup, cameras covering fuel pumps are also very important in catching drive offs. Using video camera surveillance to help lessen loss prevention is a useful tool in that endeavor. This gives a Loss Prevention Detective or other security type personnel the ‘eyes’ they need to watch the entire storefront.

The use of video camera surveillance in the everyday protection and investigation of daily business activities is a strong market and is becoming even more highly technical by using camera’s that are connected to a computer net work and can be accessed from any internet-capable computer with the right username and password. These advances have brought a superior experience to the business owner in the protection of their facility, and their ability to help law enforcement to help solve crimes as they occur.