Installing a CCTV system onto a home or property is becoming more and more prevalent and a popular way to protect homes against intruders. From comprehensive systems which connect to an interior television for complete surveillance, to the high-tech cameras which have infrared capabilities and a huge amount of memory storage, there are options for almost every property owner.

Not only do these camera systems offer the homeowners peace of mind, it has also been proven to work in the amount of cases which are publicised, where a burglar has been caught on home surveillance cameras and subsequently prosecuted.

Surveillance statistics highlight security value of spy cameras and other devices

Statistics have found a surprising fall in crime in the UK over the course of 2012, with 8% less crimes being committed last year; some of the lowest figures in recent memory.

The government research which was released on Thursday found that, despite predictions that the economic downturn would encourage a higher level of law-breaking and criminal activity, crime has fallen, making Britain is a marginally safer place. One of the factors of this report which stunned most people was the lower rate of property crime, with many speculating that the higher levels of security that people are choosing to install are having a real effect on the number of burglaries and cases of vandalism which occur.

This is a direct contradiction to the beliefs of many criminologists, who state that property crime is one of the first figures to rise during such times of economic volatility.

Many people across the country, disturbed by all-too-common accounts of burglary and intrusion, have taken to installing CCTV cameras and complex covert spy gadgets across their property to put off criminals from targeting their home and to catch and hopefully prosecute anyone who attempts to break in or damage their property. The installations, which can be as basic or extensive as the homeowner desires, are becoming more popular in many residential areas as neighbours club together to look out for one another and create a community spirit that has been missing for the last few decades.

Home security on the exterior of a house can involve many different spy cameras and other devices used to detect the presence of unwanted intruders. From fitting a video peephole viewer which magnifies the faces of those at the front door, to fixing a full CCTV system to the outside of the house in order to capture every inch of the property from different angles, there are many different approaches which people can take, from the basic to the complex.

For the interior of the house, many homeowners choose to fit alarm systems which can be triggered by sensors. Motion-activated alarms can be fitted to a wall or simply stood on a hard surface, masquerading as a clock, an image on the wall or even a light switch. These hidden spy cameras help to catch out those who are sneaking around at night unwanted, and they don't spoil the aesthetic of the home. These types of cameras can also be fixed to the interior of a car, so that if the car should be stolen, the camera can be activated to immediately track the culprit.

It is these innovations that are being attributed to the fall in crime, and experts are encouraging more people to revolutionise their home security by adding these types of gadgets, in order to see criminal activity fall even further.

Wireless CCTV launch 4G Live Video streaming mobile surveillance products

WCCTV, the manufacturer of portable, redeployable mobile surveillance solutions, has announced that it is the first to launch a 4G range of rapidly deployable solutions.

David Gilbertson, Managing Director of Wireless CCTV said, "I am delighted that we continue to maintain our market leading status as a provider of mobile surveillance solutions. It is great to be able to provide both existing and new customers with portable security systems, which will provide live video streaming at such an increased rate. The benefits of WCCTV portable systems increasingly outweigh fixed installations for many applications."

4G live video transmission is currently available across the whole of the WCCTV Dome and Tower product range as well as the 2 camera covert Micro system. Additional products will be 4G enabled in the near future and all existing 3G customers will be able to upgrade their products in the coming months.

The Wireless CCTV systems have been designed to operate on all 4G networks globally. WCCTV will be showcasing its 4G live video streaming products at Security and Policing, ISC West, Railtex and IFSEC over the coming weeks.

WCCTV was formed in the UK in 2001. The company is a market leading supplier of mobile surveillance products for Local and Central Governments, Police, Law Enforcement, Construction, Utility and Traffic organisations within the UK and Europe. It has won awards from the UK Home Office and a Queens Award for Enterprise: Innovation from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2009.

WCCTV launched in the US in 2011.

Yale Digital Lock

The Yale Keyless Digital Lock is now available without a nightlatch and in two new finishes - Polished Brass and Satin Nickel. The Yale Keyless Digital Lock - for timber doors - allows consumers to access and secure their home using a personalised PIN code, with no need for a traditional key.

The lock's PIN code can be set via a keypad to any 4 to 12 digit number of the user's choice and reprogrammed at any time. For added convenience, users can also set up a separate visitor code to provide access for family, friends or tradesmen.

From this month, locksmiths can offer the Yale Keyless Digital lock in two new finishes to coordinate with consumers' decor.

Dave Herbert, Head of Marketing for Yale, said: "We want locksmiths to have the largest armoury possible to ensure they can meet the requirements of all consumers whatever their chosen lock style is.

"We've expanded our offer so the popular Yale Keyless Digital Lock will appeal to those who want to coordinate the product with existing locks throughout their property."

Asec range

Asec, a security product brand which is sold exclusively through Aldridge Security, the leading distributors of security products is launching a brand new anti-snap range of cylinders and door handles.2012 saw the national media highlight the rise of 'lock snapping' burglaries across the country. Criminals using the 'lock snapping' technique apply excessive force and snap the lock cylinder in two. With this increase there has been an industry response to help combat the growing problem.

The new Asec Kite anti-snap range includes cylinders offering a TS 007 1 Star rating, which will give protection and reassurance to end users. The cylinders which are anti-snap, anti-bump, anti-pick and anti-drill are compliant with the BS Kitemark to guarantee quality and safety.

In addition to the cylinders the range includes security door handles which have a TS 007 2 Star rating. When combining the cylinders and door furniture the Star rating increases to 3 Star providing the ultimate protection and ensuring the highest security.

Ainsley Hawkins, Commercial Director of Aldridge Security explains that the addition of the Kite range to the Asec brand will offer customers a quality solution at a price which is competitive to everyone: "It was important for us to produce a product that meets the highest market requirements yet remains both high quality and price sensitive."

The Euro cylinders, which are available in Key & Turn, Half Euro and Key & Key, are compliant to the British Standard BS EN 1303:2005, to offer greater flexibility and increased keying alike options, non Kitemarked Rim & Screw in cylinders are also available.

The British Standard gives the Kite range extra security to help prevent 'lock snapping' and 'lock bumping' as Ainsley explains: "We are extremely excited to be able to offer our Customers both a 1 Star and combined 3 Star solution under the new Asec Kite range of products.

The cylinders provide the highest grade of durability as well as the greatest corrosion and temperature resistance. In addition they are Grade 1 fire resistant making the cylinders ideal for use on fire doors."

While none of the experts is predicting growth in the door and window industry, there are growing opportunities for locksmiths in the security market.  Alan Bell of ERA, part of grouphomesafe, talks about some of the trends and opportunities offered to locksmiths in the retro-fit area.

The classic theory is that property crime rises faster in times of economic strife and, although at the beginning of the year, government statistics showed a surprise 8% fall in crime last year, those working closely with crime prevention bodies are still predicting an increase in crime as a result of cuts in government benefits.  There are also leading academics who say that there is still a strong relationship between crime and the economy, on the basis that the overall level of property crime largely reflects the size of the market for stolen or illicit goods, which in time of recession expands. 

While the threat of property crime is always there, awareness tends to vary according to the amount of high-profile media coverage we see. Typical of this was the flurry of media interest in 2012 when an edition of BBC TV Yorkshire’s Inside Out highlighted the situation in West Yorkshire which has the highest burglary rate in the UK. The programme discussed the ease with which criminals can snap a standard Euro cylinder. 

The story, which revealed the extent to which criminals were sharing their ‘expertise’ in snapping cylinder locks, was taken up by print and broadcast media across the country.  The nature of this type of crime, and the style and level of press coverage, can have a direct impact on the sale of security products as the public becomes aware of new threats.

Whether in reality levels of crime have fallen or will rise, there is certainly an increased awareness amongst the general public of security issues, fuelled by police initiatives, insurance requirements and, of course, media coverage.  For the locksmith industry, this awareness, coupled with tightened household budgets creates an area of opportunity.  While householders looking to increase the security of their property may not have the money to spare for new doors they can be open to solutions that make their existing doors more secure.  

The security industry made great strides in 2012 in developing standards.  For retro-fit situations, we saw the introduction of the new Technical Specification 007 (TS 007), produced by the Door & Hardware Federation and the Glass and Glazing Federation which was designed specifically to address the vulnerability of lock cylinders.

Meeting these standards, ERA introduced a number of products, including the Lockguard handle, which meets the standard’s two-star rating and the High Security handle, uniquely designed to protect the cylinder from attack.  Offering the best protection against cylinder bumping or snapping is the Vectis Plus, which does away completely with the cylinder and meets all the requirements of PAS 23/24 and Secured by Design with a five-lever lock operation.  It is products such as these that signal the opportunities in the retro-fit market.  It will require a degree of customer re-education and we shouldn’t just rely on media scare stories to increase awareness of new products. 

The great opportunity for locksmiths called in to repair or replace existing locks is to offer their
customers enhanced levels of security. Like-for-like replacement of the traditional mortice lock/nightlatch may be the easy option, but it is far from the best solution.  Security technology has moved on to such a degree that we can now offer customers cylinder-free solutions such as the Vectis Plus, the new British Standard Kitemarked Fortress MPL, high-security handles and anti-bump cylinders – a whole range of solutions which will increase add value to the locksmith’s offer by delivering heightened levels of security to their customers.

Security technology moves on all the time.  The market has already seen the introduction of keyless technology which is firmly established in the commercial sector and in multi-occupancy dwellings.  In reality, in the domestic sector, this technology is unlikely to have a significant impact in the foreseeable future.  Going forward, there will be a closer tie-in between electronics and locking systems and the next stage is likely to see the development of electronic fobs for remote locking of doors and windows.  Already firmly established in the automotive sector, this is likely to be less of a culture shock for the average householder than keyless technology.

For the immediate future, however, the emphasis in the market will be on offering enhanced levels of security to overcome issues such as cylinder bumping, snapping or drilling.  In addition to the products we already offer, ERA will continue to introduce new products aimed at the retro-fit market which will enable locksmiths to continue to offer their customers looking to upgrade the security of their homes an affordable, effective solutions.

ABUS CCTV RANGE HAS PERFORMANCE “DESIGNED IN”

June 4, 2013

The lingering myth that CCTV is somehow ineffective in fighting crime was laid to
rest in the months following the UK riots of 2011. By February 2012 a total of
3,000 people had been successfully prosecuted and the officer in charge of the
operation, Detective Chief Superintendent Greany, has stated that 2,200 of
those prosecutions would not have been possible without video evidence.

It’s not only in such extreme circumstances that CCTV is effective. To take just one
example, Hambleton District Council, along with Ryedale, Leeds, Kirklees and
Hull, claims CCTV has played a part in more than 15,000 arrests over the past three years
(source: Yorkshire Post).

But it’s not justthe police who can benefit from a quality CCTV system. A new wave of CCTV
cameras now available specifically for home and small office use are now
putting high-end technology in the hands of home owners and businesses.

These ‘plug & play’ kits operate straight out of the box without the need for costly
installations making them ideal for the home user. ABUS TVAC16000, with its
wireless ‘plug & play’ weatherproof camera, can be fitted in any location,
allowing you to monitor your home, office, warehouse or holiday home, even via
your mobile phone, iPad or laptop.

The camera is pre-synced to a 7” LCD colour monitor with intuitive touchscreen controls, and ABUS’
bespoke Android and Apple apps mean you can monitor what’s happening in your
home or office, 24 hours a day, wherever you are in the world.

With encrypted transmission the TVAC16000 records to an SD card. The superb level of picture
quality is a far cry from the fuzzy CCTV video of old, massively increasing the
chances of being able to observe, recognise and identify perpetrators.

The Home Office advice on CCTV usages states that “Performance has to be designed in and cannot
be taken for granted”.

 With its new line of CCTV systems, ABUS has “designed in” an impressive range of high-end
security features – and absolutely nothing has been taken for granted. Anyone
who’s serious about their personal and business security should take a close
look at what the ABUS CCTV range has to offer. 
In addition think how these out of the box security solutions can help
you manage your own retail footfall.

Keep homes secure in worst burglary month with Mul-T-Lock

Mul-T-Lock is working closely with its dealers across the UK and Ireland to focus on home security following Government statistics revealing November as being the worst month of the year for break-ins.

Police data obtained by a freedom of information request reveals that one in ten domestic burglaries take place in November and that a break-in takes place every two minutes during the month. Analysis of police data reveals that ground floor and basement flats have the highest risk of burglary and are 48 per cent more likely to be burgled than other types of property.

Official figures reveal the busiest hour for burglars to operate is between midnight and 1am with 7 per cent being committed during this time. During the day, 31 per cent of burglaries take place between 11am and 5pm whilst homes are unnocupied.

Says Steve Ross, Managing Director of Mul-T-Lock: "The winter period has always seen an increase in crime with the reduced daylight hours and dark nights covering burglar activity, but these new figures provide a real opportunity to show an extra duty of care and deliver the necessary help and advice to ensure homes are safe and secure.

'We are working to support our network of dealers across the UK and Ireland to ensure they have the necessary support services and products to review security for homeowners. Even simple measures like upgrading the locking cylinders installed can make a huge difference both to security levels and to homeowner reassurance, and further reduce the chances of falling victim to this horrible crime."  

Mul-T-Lock offers a complete range of home security solutions, including the patented Break Secure XP cylinder that was the first to achieve BSi TS007 3* accreditation as a cylinder only solution to provide the ultimate protection from cylinder manipulation attack.

All Mul-T-Lock products can also be keyed alike to offer the added benefit of providing homeowners with the opportunity to operate all locks, including outbuildings from one patent protected key. Any extra copies can only be created with homeowner's permission, for complete peace of mind.