Check out the way a drug store (pharmacy) in New York lets shoppers know they are being filmed. I like the text they run under the screen.
I’ve been a fan of screens like this in-store for ages but have not used text to provide context. Seeing it as I did some months back – the text makes sense. Providing safety and savings … video recording in progress. I bet they have this because the text coupled with the screen achieves more than the screen by itself.
I’d forgotten I had the photo and now I’ve found it again I’m placing text like this for under our in-store security screens.
Newsagents who have a security system but no screen in-store – I’d urge you to place a screes so customers can see you are filming them. The more people feel they are likely to be caught the less likely they are to try and steal from you.
Click on the image for a larger version to see the text.
I’m going to install a CCTV system (haven’t had one to date as we are a small country town) but I’d like some ideas from the rest of you on brands, number of cameras, resolution, screen or just record, remote access etc Ideally I’d like a DIY solution, but any ideas welcome.
THanks
Vicki , we spentt $6000 about 6 years ago on a set up . My paraents just installed one in their shop after a few breakins at night and they purchased it off ebay for under $600 and the quality is way better than mine and at the end of the day it does everything mine does
We also have a “cheapie” system provided by our computer guru, it records and saves for 4 weeks or so, not fantastic quality BUT, the survelliance of the back alley where deliveries are made for a number of businesses and where the louts often try to get on the roof of a row of shops has paid for itself over and over, because our timings of movements of the gangs of two and three (like cowards, they only work in packs lol) can tie in wth other external cameras on the main street. We can cut copies for the detectives at any time. Internally, I lose very little from the shop in the form of shoplifting. The most recent was a very well-dressed lady who wanted Limelight, my staff found the last two for her and she eventually brought one to the counter to buy. But she hid the other in her briefcase first. Another customer saw her and told us. Fancy that – being so broke you have to steal a copy of “Limelight” magazine !!!! I almost felt sorry for her.
The other useful thing has been the fact that a monitor in the office down the back is running all the time, and now and again we can bring up something that may have happened at the front counter as a training device, or a way to work out who the person is that belongs to a Lotto membership card left behind.
We have one camera outside the back of the store, and four within. We do not have a screen showing anything to the customers, I would have one if you can.
Be sure to use your computer system too as this is an excellent resource for cutting employee theft. Employee theft costs newsagents more than shopper theft in my experience.
Our next step is to put a camera above each till so that you can 100% identify what type of note was put in the till ,you know the old story oh I gave you a $50 note. Our current set up does not give a good enough view of it to be 100% sure in a case of the wrong notes .
Shauns,
Being able to identify cash handled at the POS has no doubt saved us hundreds if not thousands over the past 5 years. Claims of giving more than they actually did, or not receiving change – I’d say more than 9 times out 10 the customer gets it wrong.
be suprised how many people change their story about what note they handed over when you say that you will just duck out the back and check the camera recording, happens all the time.
Thanks for the responses.
I’m thinking of doing it DIY with a kit from the internet, it all seems straight forward to install, but I’m trying to decide what resolution cameras to use? I think this seems to be the biggest deciding factor in terms of quality of the images. Shauns, you mentioned your parents had a good one, what were its specifications?
Vicki sorry no idea .
Vicki the better the resolution the better. Remember, the images and vision may be required for evidence in court and poor resolution can mean no evidence.
DO NOT SKIMP ON RESOLUTION. This means camera quality, recording ability and storage space. There is little point in getting a system if you can’t clearly see what is happening.
Thanks Mark and Jarryd, that was the direction my thoughts were going too.
Shauns, no probs thanks anyway