Home » A Brief History of Video Surveillance

A Brief History of Video Surveillance

Posted by Amy Hite on Oct 3, 2012

The security industry as we now know it began with the implementation of alarm-based entry-detection sensors. Once tripped, the sensors would set off an alarm, and the surveillance company would subsequently alert the police to the potential threat. Typically, by the time the police arrive at the location, a costly amount of damage would have already been done and the criminal would be long gone.

The Onset of Video Surveillance

With the increased prevalence of video surveillance came the addition of analog video cameras to those alarms. Analog cameras recorded onto tapes had a tendency to fill up and wear out quickly due to overuse. The introduction of motion-only recording alleviated these problems to a certain extent, but surveillance was still primarily used as a record to review after an incident rather than a proactive tool to prevent crime.

The Digital Age

With the invention of digital technology, more footage could be recorded, the images were clearer, and the ease of review skyrocketed. More video cameras were installed in public places and digital video surveillance cameras continued to become more and more technologically advanced. Despite technological advances, these systems relied on sensors to alert them of security breaches. The security industry remained primarily reactive.

Stealth Monitoring has taken the next logical and technological step with proactive live video monitoring and full security system design and installation. Real-time video monitoring watches for and takes action on suspicious behavior outside buildings at entrances, gates, back alleys, and parking lots. Proactive surveillance enables police to be contacted and dispatched before criminals break into buildings and cause damage or loss. As a result, police can catch suspects while they’re still on the property. Web-based technology makes communication between property managers, monitoring personnel, and local police as efficient as possible.

Stealth Monitoring is a leader in proactive live surveillance with over 9,000 video cameras watched nationwide. Real-time video monitoring can detect and deter crime, while reducing security guard and other expenses. A Stealth operator can see unusual activity, activate a speaker warning to deter the criminals, and call the local police.

Please contact Stealth today for more information to protect your commercial property. Visit our web site to see actual videos of criminals being apprehended.