Using CCTV Systems in Your Business

A good CCTV security system can help ensure that your business is safeguarded from many different types of threats. If you’re looking at CCTV systems with an eye to installing a surveillance camera in your public space, there are a number of things you should know about the use of CCTV systems and security camera use on your business property.

Security Systems for Shoplifting Loss Prevention

A surveillance camera can prevent loss from shoplifting in two different ways. First, a visible security camera can scare off many would-be shoplifters who would much rather not be seen on camera. They’ll avoid areas and stores that have an obvious CCTV security system. To get the most deterrent value out of your CCTV systems, choose bullet cameras and place them in plain sight.

Secondly, a well-placed surveillance camera allows you to view areas that aren’t in the line of sight from the register or other stations in the store. You can record video from your surveillance camera as well, which allows you to pinpoint shoplifting incidents you might have missed when they happened. That gives you the option of keeping a closer eye on specific people when they’re in your store.

Surveillance Camera to Monitor Employees

You may also choose to set up a CCTV system to monitor your employees at work. There are a number of reasons why you might choose to watch your employees covertly, and each of them requires a slightly different security camera layout. You can use a surveillance camera at the checkout to catch incidents where employees may be stealing from the register, or monitor the work floor to keep an eye on employee performance. If you do choose to use a surveillance camera and CCTV system to monitor your employees, it’s important that you check the laws regarding the use of surveillance in the workplace in your state. In general, you’re prohibited from placing surveillance cameras in areas where employees have a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” such as in restrooms. In some states, you may also be required to inform employees that you’ll be monitoring the premises remotely.

Providing Security and Safety for Staff and Customers

One of the most important uses for a security camera on your business premises is to bolster security and safety for your staff and customers. If employees park their vehicles out of sight of the building, for example, a security camera on the employee parking lot can prevent car theft and vandalism while your employees are working. In high-risk areas, you can also make a point of monitoring the parking area after dark when employees leave to go to their cars.

CCTV systems provide many benefits for businesses that use them appropriately. Make sure you understand the laws governing the use of security and surveillance cameras before you install them, and that you’re clear in your reasons for needing a CCTV camera system for your business.