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1. Theft by employees
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Problem:
“Our staff work on the front line dealing with members of the public
who are often traumatized or under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Over the last few years the number of violent episodes has increased
dramatically. Friday and Saturday nights often resemble a war-zone
and recently there have been attacks in the staff car park.
No wonder staff morale is low and staff retention rates even lower.
To re-build a high-performing team and attract and retain good staff,
we must act now…” |
Solution:
Unruly friends have been waiting in the Accident & Emergency
department for several hours and start to cause trouble.
Feeling threatened, a nurse pushes a panic button on a pendant
around her neck and seconds later an authoritative voice booms
out of the speaker. After realizing that the site is under constant
surveillance, the disturbance quickly subsides and staff return to
normal duties. |
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2. Staff Fraud
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Problem:
“One store is consistently under-performing in stock count
accuracy and average gross margin KPI’s. The discrepancies
coincide with the arrival of several new staff members but we
can’t pinpoint the specific individual. We need to stop these
losses now and prevent future losses…” |
Solution:
A check out operator buys a bottle of whiskey for a friend by
scanning a barcode for sweets instead of the real barcode.
The regional manager now has remote access to the store’s
CCTV footage that is synchronized with transactional data from
the POS system. This enables the identification of the specific
check out operator. The check out operator is confronted with
proof that they defrauded the retailer. Presented with such
definitive evidence the admission of guilt is immediate. |
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3. Burglary
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Problem:
"Burglars target laptop computers and despite insisting that
employees lock them away at the end of the day, they still go
missing. The cost, time and logistics involved in repairing
damage caused by intruders and the cost of replacing the laptops
(not to mention the hidden cost of lost data) is driving us crazy.
Initially it was ‘just one of those things’ but now it’s so frequent
we must do something about it…” |
Solution:
Looking at the detector-activated images, the Central Station
Operator has a crystal-clear view of the potential burglar heading
for the back entrance. The police are called and just before the
break in begins, lights come on and a clear voice announces that
every movement is being recorded and the police are on their
way. The burglar jumps the fence only to be apprehended.
The number of incidents drop dramatically. |
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4. Vandalism
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Problem:
“Every Monday morning when I pull into the school grounds
I brace myself for the damage that has inevitably occurred over
the weekend. I am relieved when it’s only a few smashed
windows, but recently we’ve had several fires and last
weekend an equipment building was broken into and completely
destroyed. The situation is now so chronic that money we
need for library books and sporting equipment is being
re-directed to the huge repair bills...”
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Solution:
As the first of three hooded figures climb the fence to enter the
schoolyard the Central Station Operator jumps into action and
calls the police. Once the police are notified, the Operator zooms
in to get a clear image of the ring leader before issuing an audio
challenge. A look of terror washes across their faces as the group
is paralyzed by the realization that they are caught on camera.
As they gather their wits to run, a police van pulls in and the
group is arrested.
The school is no longer a soft target and word soon gets around.
Money can now be spent on education rather than repairing
damage. |
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5. Lack of protection for workers
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Problem:
“We’ve had to consider every means of squeezing more
profitability from our business recently. We extended our hours
and customers have responded well. However we can only
afford to roster on the bare minimum of staff and they tell me
it doesn’t feel safe working late at night by themselves.
Some are so concerned they call in sick, causing major
disruption to our business…” |
Solution:
Every hour a voice comes over the loudspeaker announcing the
time and that the premises are under constant video surveillance.
At first customers are surprised but then go back to the business
of shopping.
The Central Station Operator does a virtual tour around the
shop using the conspicuously mounted cameras to make sure
that all is well. Combined with the prominent monitors and the
‘request for assistance’ button mounted under the counter,
Shop Assistants now feel more secure and are reassured that
their safety is genuinely being looked after. |
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6. Threats to critical infrastructure
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Problem:
“The frequency of after hours losses around the sites is
increasing. We’ve had everything from a drum of cable to a box
of insulators stolen recently. This petty theft is bad enough,
but of course nowadays we also have to be vigilant against the
possibility of being the target of an extremist group. We really
need to be thinking about some proactive security measures to
protect all our assets…” |
Solution:
A group of intruders cut a hole in the fence that surrounds the
remote station in the hills. Once inside the compound,
the intruders head toward the main equipment building.
The Central Station Operator has been observing the intruders
since they entered the compound. After calling the police,
the Operator surprises the group by advising them that their
movements are being recorded and the police are on their way.
After a few moments of panic the group sprint back to their van
and leave without having had a chance to execute the plan. |
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7. Attacks on 'at risk' staff
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Problem:
“We operate on many sites but tools and stock constantly
disappear from one site in particular. It causes real disruption to
our business. We think it’s an inside job but don’t know who.
As a result of these ongoing losses, the already slim operating
margins from this site have now turned negative. This has got
to stop!...” |
Solution:
Knowing that an item was on site on Monday at 5 pm but gone
by Wednesday at 11 am, the Central Station Operator conducts
a systematic search for activity in the area where the item went
missing. A clearly identifiable figure is seen removing the object
and walking towards the car park. The incriminating footage is
handed to the local manager who then confronts the offender.
The offender has no option but to admit guilt and face the
consequences. |
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8. Graffiti
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Problem:
“Incapacitated trains mean missed schedules. On-time
performance is one of our Key Performance Indicators. If we
miss our KPI’s we inconvenience passengers and incur fines
that compromise the whole operation. The main cause of delay
is trains being attacked with graffiti and petty vandalism in the
holding yards. Local kids see them as fair game and several
times a month whole carriages, inside and out, are hit. There’s
got to be something we can do to stop this on going problem…” |
Solution:
It’s late evening and the holding yard is virtually empty.
A group of local kids decide to add some excitement to their
night by spraying a few more carriages.
As one of them jumps the fence a voice booms out across the
holding yard. The kids are startled by the voice and terrified when
they realize they’ve been identified by the new CCTV system.
Seconds later the kids sprint away without causing any damage.
This scenario is replayed several times over the following weeks
until eventually word spreads that the holding yards are ‘too hard’
and no further incidents are reported. |
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9. Hold-ups
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Problem:
“We must have a reputation for being easy targets because hold
ups at our stores have reached an all time high. The cumulative
effect of trauma to our staff, disruption to store trading and the
administrative pain of insurance claims make each incident
extremely costly to our business. We can’t keep going like this…” |
Solution:
The shop assistant discretely pushes the hidden Alert button
when she sees people with balaclavas enter the shop.
The Central Station Operator assesses the situation and
immediately calls the police to site. The offenders are
apprehended as soon as they exit the store. After news of the
failed hold up makes the local radio and newspaper no further
incidents occur. |
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10. Public disorder
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Problem:
“Staff turnover is at an all-time high and no wonder with all the
‘unruly customer’ problems we have. The young people we
employ are not equipped to deal with fighting, threats and abuse
as customers spill out of the pub after closing time. Families no
longer feel safe coming here and late night takings are down.
The loss of customers and the cost of constant recruitment and
training is extremely detrimental to our business…” |
Solution:
Staff who fear for their safety because of drunk patrons push
a suspicion button located under the counter.
Within seconds a voice comes over the loudspeaker alerting
all patrons that video is installed and activities are being
recorded to ensure safety. Troublesome patrons leave
immediately and normality returns. Employees are assured
that potential confrontations can be diffused before they start.
Retention rates are stable and late night customer numbers
return to previous levels. |
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11. Stock damage
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Problem:
“Every weekend we deal with car paint scratches and smashed
side mirrors or windows. We don’t want to erect a high fence
around the yard as we want potential customers to browse after
hours. But if we don’t think of something soon we’ll be forced to
turn this place into a fortress…” |
Solution:
Leaving a trail of destruction as they go the noisy group enter the
car yard with a plan to break and scratch whatever they can find.
Upon setting foot in the car yard the outdoor detector triggers
a call to the Central Station and the Operator issues a voice
challenge to the offenders. Not knowing how they’ve been
discovered, but knowing they’ve been caught on camera the
group sprint down the road to easier targets.
There was no time to cause damage and it’s business as usual
the following morning. |
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12. Access control
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Problem:
“We must be open for collections and deliveries 24 hours a day
and need appropriate access control levels to our site for the
many companies and drivers we deal with.
Our current system is simple but because of recent significant
stock discrepancies we have to supervise the loading and
unloading of trucks. But we don’t want to employ a full time
person just to supervise…” |
Solution:
The truck arrives at the gate and the driver pushes the button on
the intercom. The Central Station Operator identifies the driver,
disarms the alarm system, turns on the lights and opens the gate.
For the next 30 minutes the Operator observes and records the
driver’s actions as he drops off his load and picks up the next
consignment. On completion the Operator escorts the driver off
the site and locks up the site again.
The few stock discrepancies now reported are easily resolved by
a search of the relevant video footage. |
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13. OH&S compliance
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Problem:
“Our sites are spread across the countryside and our repair teams
are on call 24x7. Health & Safety regulations require procedures
for the monitoring of lone workers to ensure their safety, which
we comply with by sending two staff to even the most trivial job.
In these litigious times there’s no way we can cut corners on
Health & Safety, but we’d love to find a compliance method that
reduces labor costs and increases our productivity…” |
Solution:
An equipment alarm goes off late at night at a rural site.
The control room Operator calls the technician who,
from experience, is able to isolate the fault to a single component
failure. On arrival at the site he is greeted by the voice of the
Operator again who enables access to the facility and observes
the technician’s movements via the CCTV cameras. Twenty
minutes later the technician departs. The call-out cost is now
halved and Health & Safety requirements are met. |
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14. Construction site theft
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Problem:
“We always have several projects on the go in varying degrees
of completion and at various construction sites across town.
Despite site foremen following strict procedures to secure each
site every night, the cumulative losses of plant and materials is
a massive drain on productivity and profitability. Thieves think
any construction site is a soft target and will contain goods that
are easy to sell. Margins in this industry are cut throat enough
without donating valuable plant and materials to local criminals!..” |
Solution:
It’s 3 a.m. and a van pulls alongside the temporary fencing
of the construction site. Before the bolt-cutters cut through the
gate padlock, the Central Station Operator has the would-be
intruders in his sights. He issues a loud, clear audio warning.
The thieves panic, drop their tools and sprint back to the van to
escape. This scenario is repeated across each of the sites over
the following weeks as opportunistic and planned robberies are
all prevented. |
