Preventing Crime After Dark: How CCTV Cameras Can Keep Your Business Safe at Night
Did you know that the 2021 Commercial Victimisation Survey (CVS) estimated that 38% of business premises in the Wholesale and retail sector in England and Wales had been a victim of crime? Theft is the most common type of crime with 27%
Often with theft, the hours of darkness are where a large percentage of incidences take place. Criminals will scope out the premises weeks or even months in advance to understand the daily operations and any weak points in security. They will then return at night, when they are less likely to be detected, to capacities on these weak points in security and conduct the crime.
CCTV (closed-circuit television) is an extremely effective solution for deterring these criminals. Not only do they serve as prevention measures but in the event of theft, CCTV can capture crucial evidence that will help support insurance claims and any police investigations that take place.
It’s now more important than ever to ensure that your business is protected around the clock.
How CCTV Cameras Work at Night
Over the years, there has been a significant advancement in CCTV camera technology enabling clear video capture at night. This is achieved by the camera’s ability to capture infrared light, also known as thermal radiation. This means that CCTV cameras do not use flash to capture an image during the night.
Some of the most common types of CCTV that can include infrared/night vision include:
- Dome CCTV
- Cameras Bullet
- CCTV Cameras
- C-Mount CCTV Cameras
- Wireless CCTV Cameras
- High Definition (HD) CCTV Cameras
Constraints of CCTV Cameras for Nighttime Surveillance
Using infrared to capture images at night can have its limitations. First of all, you lose the ability to capture the true colour, whilst some CCTV cameras may provide thermal imaging, this is only detecting temperature rather than the actual colour you would see during the daytime. Often thermal imaging will be bright in colour and contain lots of green, blue, orange and purple.
At nighttime, another prevalent problem with CCTV cameras is the screen turning white or displaying white areas. This is caused by the reflection of infrared light into the camera lens, particularly if the angle of view is very wide making it very challenging to capture a clear image.
Benefits of CCTV Cameras for Nighttime Security
As mentioned previously, a large percentage of theft will be conducted at night, this means it’s extremely important that your commercial premise is being monitored around the clock. One of the key selling points of CCTV cameras is their presence, having multiple cameras around the perimeter of the premises will deter criminals and often lead to them targetting other locations which are potentially more vulnerable.
Secondly, CCTV cameras that operate during the night offer an extremely cost-effective solution for around-the-clock monitoring. When the day finishes and everyone heads home, you will still be able to check in on the premises remotely. Not only is this great for peace of mind but it also means you don’t need to pay a security company for a guard.
Finally, around-the-clock surveillance helps to collect crucial information for any investigations following the theft. A night vision CCTV camera will help capture breach points, individual details and any registration associated with vehicles used, this can make or break information for the investigation.
Conclusion: Can CCTV Cameras Can Keep Your Business Safe at Night
To summarise, CCTV (closed-circuit television) should be a crucial part of your prevention/security strategy for your business. Theft is extremely common in a commercial setting, it’s not more important than ever to ensure your business is protected.
For those looking to invest in CCTV, make sure to take the time to ensure your system is suited to your business needs. Businesses susceptible to nighttime theft are strongly advised to consider night vision cameras as an effective solution.