A string of commercial burglaries in Santa Barbara this May came to an abrupt halt when a recent prison parolee was arrested after tripping the surveillance systems at three stores he allegedly victimized. The suspect, 44-year-old Brian Christopher Schotz, had been released from prison in April after serving time for several previous commercial burglaries. Police were already looking for him when two alarms at two different stores went off within a half hour of each other, followed by a call from a business owner reporting that his remote live-feed camera was recording a burglary in progress. Schotz was arrested in the act, and was initially booked on suspicion for four commercial burglaries. Later, six additional charges were filed in connection with burglaries since his release from prison.
Burglaries like this plague nearly one in 10 small business owners, making it critical for you to maintain strong security precautions.
Here are three of the most important security systems you need to protect your business from intruders.
Motion Detectors.
Motion detection technology lays the foundation for an effective business security system, giving your monitoring center an early warning and activating your surveillance cameras when a potential intrusion is detected. Several varieties of motion sensors are common in security systems. Passive motion sensors detect energy sources such as heat. However, heat can come from animals and weather patterns as well as humans, creating the risk of false alarms. Because of this, most businesses don’t rely on passive sensors alone.
Security Camera Systems.
For maximum effectiveness, you should opt for a motion detector that is included in a security camera system; so when motion is detected, camera surveillance starts recording. Today’s most advanced security camera systems use HD or 4K Ultra HD resolution for crystal-clear surveillance footage. This enables cameras to pick up small details which can be crucial for identifying suspects, such as the color of a suspect’s eyes or the number on the license plate of a suspicious vehicle.
Since burglars often prefer to strike in the dark, today’s cutting-edge cameras also feature advanced night vision capability. Specialized nocturnal cameras supplement ambient light with infrared light from LED bulbs, which cannot be detected by the human eye, but illuminates the camera’s view sufficiently to capture details even in low-light conditions.
Access Control Systems.
While motion sensors and security camera systems help you keep burglars out, access control systems give you control over who gets in. In some situations, you can do this by issuing each worker a key, but this isn’t always practical. A better solution is using an electronic device that lets you assign key cards or PIN numbers to your workers. Some access control systems have advanced features that let you restrict where workers can enter and revoke entry privileges when a worker is terminated. You can use an electronic system to monitor who enters your premises or detect an attempt at unauthorized entry.
Today’s access control system technology includes video doorbells that let you see who’s trying to enter your premises. You can remotely communicate with visitors and choose who to let in.
Keep Your Business Safe.
Motion detectors form your first line of defense against burglars. Security cameras activate when motion is detected, helping you determine if a burglary is in progress or not. Access control systems let you control who enters and leaves your facility, and helps you track who comes and goes. These three technologies provide an essential foundation for any effective small business security system, keeping intruders out and keeping your premises safe.
