Security Camera Video

Port Forwarding for the Network DVR

2010-10-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

A computer must have an IP (Internet Protocol) address to allow it to communicate with other computers. An IP address is a 32 bit number that identifies the location of your computer on a network. It looks something like 192.168.0.1.

A NAT (network address translation) router coordinates traffic between the local network and the Internet. A single, unique IP address is used to represent a group of computers. NAT was invented by Cisco.

A LAN (Local Area Network) uses IP addresses internally. Most of the network traffic in a LAN is local, so it doesn't travel outside the internal network. For this local communication, NAT is not required. Usually any computer in a LAN must use Network Address Translation to communicate outside of the local network.

Port Forwarding

When an Internet communication transaction is initiated by a computer inside a LAN, the NAT router directs the communication to the Internet, but if an Internet communication transaction is initiated from outside the LAN, the NAT router may not have the information necessary to direct the transaction to the correct computer. This is where "port forwarding" becomes relevant. The router can be configured such that any communication received on a certain port will automatically be routed to the assigned computer.

Accessing the Network DVR

The result is that in order to access a network DVR from inside the local network, one enters the DVR's IP address into the browser address window. If the DVR has been configured for a port other than 80 (80 is the default port for HTTP), for example "8484", then the IP address will be followed by ":8484". The DVR in the picture would have the address "http://192.168.0.4:8484". However, to access the DVR from outside the local area network, one will use the address of the NAT router, and if port forwarding has been properly configured, the communication will be routed to the DVR. In this case the DVR in the picture would have the address "http://XXX.YYY.Z.N:8484".

Static and Dynamic IP Addresses

A static IP address is a number that is assigned to a computer by an Internet service provider (ISP) for a permanent address on the Internet. It would be more simple if every computer that connected to the Internet had its own static IP address, but when the Internet was first developed, the architects didn't anticipate the need for billions of IP addresses. Consequently, Internet service providers limit the number of static IP addresses they allocate. Most customers receive a temporary IP address which may change frequently. The temporary IP address is called a dynamic IP address.

This can create a problem for accessing a DVR with a customer who has a dynamic IP address. It would be comparable to having a phone number that changed. If one called that phone number, it would go to the wrong customer. The simplest solution is to request a static IP address from the ISP. An alternative solution is to register with DYNDNS.org so that a web address can be assigned to your network. Many NAT routers can be configured to automatically notify the DYNDNS.org system when the IP changes, so that the web address stays current with your dynamic IP address.

Slow Economy Spurring Investment in Video Security

2010-08-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

Security investments are logically linked to the level of need. The most obvious rationale for the increase is related to the War against Terror, but also contributing is a perceived crime wave threat (real or not) from an economy in depression, and an increase from industrial applications whose enthusiasm for video security is at least partly because of the reduced cost of the technology over the last two decades.

Crime vs. Video Security
During our recent economic recession, both businesses and individuals have anticipated a crime wave from organized criminal gangs, but to date, the wave has not materialized in most regions of the U.S.

The level of property crime is still high. According to National Retail Federation's (NRF) Organized Retail Crime survey, 92% of companies report that they were victims of organized retail crime during the past year.

Shoplifting has risen dramatically in recent months. The value of goods lost by retailers was more than $36 billion. The profile of the average shoplifter has become much more "middle class" during this period.

The FBI reports a burglary occurs in the U.S. every 14 seconds with a total loss of over $17 billion annually. Police report that the average burglar is, on average, inside a property for less than 2 minutes.

Even though statistics do not yet indicate an increase in property crime, that does not mean that this phenomena will not occur.

“Every recession since the late ’50s has been associated with an increase in crime and, in particular, property crime and robbery, which would be most responsive to changes in economic conditions,” said Richard Rosenfeld, Sociologist at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.

“The unfortunate economic events of the past year have played an intricate role in how criminals continue to rip off the retail industry,” said Joe LaRocca, NRF Senior Asset Protection Advisor. “Organized retail crime rings have realized that tough economic times present new business opportunities by stealing valuable items from retailers and turning around to sell the merchandise to consumers looking for bargains.”

"One-third of retailers believe that more than 50 percent of “new in box” merchandise sold through online auction sites is stolen or fraudulently obtained”. According to Joe La Rocca, loss prevention advisor for the NRF. "It shows the need for focusing continued efforts on enacting laws to limit these types of crimes and educating the public about purchasing bargain items from questionable sources."

Industry Increases Investment in Video Security

Industry, especially "heavy" industries have implemented video security for many years. The value is found in real-time monitoring and from its use in forensic investigation after accidents (Examples of Industrial Monitoring).

Cities and States are similarly equipping public facilities like roadways with cameras, enabling more efficient management.

Dummy Cameras - How Smart Are They?

2010-02-28T09:50:00.000-08:00

By Roy Stephenson

Believe it or not, a customer called our technical support line the other day and insisted that his Dummy Camera was not working. This was a real person with a real issue, which begs the question. How smart are Dummy Cameras?

Closed Circuit Television Systems (CCTV) offer a very effective, highly visible deterrent to crime. The site of a Security Camera is sometimes enough to send would be criminals scurrying off to look for an easier location to rip-off.

So is a Dummy Camera as effective at preventing crime as a real Security Camera? Used in the correct application, the answer is yes. A high quality Dummy Camera installed in a noticeable location can offer an effective deterrent to crime.

Now before you run out and buy some Dummy Cameras and place them all over your building, there are some very important issues that you might want to take into consideration.

Consider the fact that, not only do CCTV Cameras provide a deterrent; the video recordings from CCTV systems can provide indisputable evidence of any number of illegal activities including robbery, shoplifting, muggings, assaults or even murder.

Video from a Dummy Camera has never been presented as evidence in a Court of Law. A Dummy Camera can not help you solve a crime after it has occurred and I can assure you that no one has ever caught a shoplifter with a Dummy Camera.

Another very important consideration that is often overlooked with Dummy Cameras relates to personal liability and lawsuits (clarification). There is something that lawyers like to call "Implied Security". This simply means that if anyone, including your employees, customers, tenants or even just a passer by, see a Security Camera, they can have a reasonable expectation that the area is secure and that someone is watching that camera.

For example, if a woman was raped in your parking lot, surrounded by Dummy Cameras, you could be held partially liable. This is of course, if the woman felt reasonably sure that she was safe in your parking lot because of the Security Cameras.

Beware, that "Implied Security" can apply to Broken Cameras as well as Dummy Cameras. If you have a CCTV Security System which includes some broken down cameras, you might want to get them fixed.

As an inexpensive theft deterrent, a Dummy Camera can be a wise investment, but it will never provide you with the protection and peace of mind that are an inherent benefit of owning a complete CCTV system.

Roy Stephenson is a Security Consultant with over 21 Years Experience Designing and Installing High End Integrated Security Systems. He is currently the VP of Marketing at www.Security-Kits.Com

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Robbers Steal Drugs from Alabama (Mobile) Pharmacy

2009-10-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

MOBILE, Ala. -- Police released this video showing a robbery at the Deuel Drug Store on Spring Hill Avenue on August 10. The robbers took drugs (Morphine and Oxycotin) from the store.

It is perhaps appropriate that the store is called "Deuel Drug", since the owner chased the bad guys out of the store with his own gun, a "duel" worthy of Clint Eastwood.

Police said that the robbers used a white Chevrolet Cobalt, shown parked outside in this video, which was found later in the parking lot of a nearby restaurant.

Police asked that anyone who has information about this robbery should call: 251-208-7211.

Burglar Caught of Home Video Security System

2009-07-24T07:29:00.000-07:00

Fall River, Massachussets - A burglar was videoed committing a home burglary on July 22. The man has not yet been apprehended. He stole an undisclosed amount of jewelry and cash. Police are very confident of a quick arrest and prosecution since they have the video of the man performing the crime.

Crooks Use Excavator to Steal ATM from Supermarket

2009-07-13T07:44:00.000-07:00

Newtownbutler, Co Fermanagh, Ireland - - An excavator was used to destroy a SuperValu supermarket and steal an ATM recently.

Declan McCabe, owner of the supermarket, said police were called at 4.30 AM. Police were notified that thieves were removing the ATM from the shop, however, he said police did not arrive until 12 hours later. The ATM was estimated to contain about $125,000.

Locals were very concerned when the thieves set fire to the excavator only a few feet from a gas station.

The police later arrested three men in connection with the incident.

Large Gang Steals 2 ATM Machines

2009-07-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

A large organized gang of 15-20 guys, some with AK47s, brake into this bank, and steal two ATM machines.

What is Video Analytics?

2009-07-08T06:14:00.000-07:00

Digital and Internet technologies have made it easier to utilize video security systems. The newest frontier in video surveillance is content analysis software, also known as "video analytics".

Advanced software programs now assist human monitors of security cameras at airports or other high profile public venues. Automated interpretation of raw data can help the human monitor by finding the suspicious amid a haystack of data. But there are practical limits to what a computer can be expected to accomplish.

Tom Meservy of the University of Arizona is working on video analytics software that is designed to decode the motions of a person's body during an interview. This type of analysis can allow video cameras at security checkpoints to determine suspicious individuals. Telltale behaviors often mount while people are waiting in line, Meservy said.

Systems like these are at the leading edge of the technology, but less complex software is finding its way into mainstream security applications. The most basic of these techniques is motion detection. Instead of having a human sit in front of a bank of monitors 24 hours a day, software can now send an alert based on a programmed condition. Studies have shown human operators can only stay sufficiently alert for about 20 minutes watching mostly eventless images.

For example, a person climbing over the fence could trigger such an alert, and the software can detect that whatever is climbing over the fence is of sufficient mass, so that cats and birds don't cause false alarms. Any surveillance system must have adequate camera resolution for human operators or analytical software to be successful. No matter how good the software: garbage in = garbage out.

The system can send detailed alarms over the Internet, SMS messages to cell phones, turn on or increase the sample rate of a video recorder, or trigger an existing general alarm system, depending on the urgency of the event.

Night Vision Technology: Military vs. Civilian

2009-07-04T08:31:00.001-07:00

Anyone who watches CNN has probably seen video footage from the military's use of Night Vision technology. Night vision used by the military in recent years processes very low light levels, especially in the near-infrared (IR) or ultraviolet light bands, to produce an image.

Night vision devices were introduced during the Second World War, initially for use by the pilots of airplanes. The technology has significantly advanced in the ability to amplify light. Initial devices could amplify light by 1000 times, but current technology can amplify light by more than 50,000 times.

One important difference between military and most civilian night vision systems is the concept of passive versus active. Military night-vision systems use passive techniques. Active night-vision systems project IR light that is not visible to the naked eye, but if one were wearing night vision goggles, it would be like looking at a beacon. This would be counter-productive for military applications. On the battlefield, a soldier utilizing an active IR source is called a target.

Security cameras, and most other non-military night vision systems, utilize an IR Illuminator that projects a beam of near-infrared light. This beam reflects off objects back to the lens of the night vision sensor. The most common IR Illuminators used in security cameras today are banks of IR LEDs. With an active IR system, the range will be proportionate to the magnitude of the emitted IR light. Because active infrared night vision systems produce high levels of infrared light, the resulting images are typically higher resolution than passive vision technologies.

Man in Disguise Robs Cedarburg, Wisconsin Bank

2009-07-01T06:17:00.000-07:00

Cedarburg, Wisconsin - Cedarburg police Tuesday night released surveillance video from Monday's bank robbery of Commerce State Bank. A man wearing a disguise, including sunglasses and a fake beard, entered the bank and forced three employees and one bank customer into a back room before exiting with an unknown amount of money. An elderly woman refused to cooperate with the robber, walked out of the bank, and called the police.

The man used a fake bomb (the red item seen in the video on the floor) and a pistol to intimidate the bank employees. He escaped in an employee's car, abandoning it in the parking lot of a nearby apartment complex.

What is H.264?

2009-06-30T10:56:00.000-07:00

Video signals can require enormous capacity (How Large are Video Data Files?) for transport and storage. For these reasons, it is often desired to "compress" the signals to reduce the signal's size. With a well designed computer program, the compression can be achieved with little distortion.

The satellite TV companies, "The Dish Network", and "DirecTV", were pioneers in the use of signal compression. These companies have used a standard called MPEG-2 (MPEG is short for the "Motion Pictures Expert Group").

Compression has also been applied to audio signals. For example "MP3" is actually an abbreviation for "MPEG Audio layer 3", which is part of an Audio/Video compression program.

MPEG-4 is one of the newer compression methods, designed specifically for efficient video signal compression. MPEG-4 was originally developed for transporting video signals over the Internet, but has found wide success with HDTV signals as well. DivX is an example of an MPEG-4 encoder.

Sony was the first company to commercially introduce H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10), a more advanced revision of the MPEG-4. Blue-Ray DVDs, for example, use the H.264 standard for storage. This standard has also gained rapid acceptance in the security camera industry. H.264 is 2-3 times more efficient than the MPEG-2 standard.

Do Surveillance Cameras Deter Crime?

2009-06-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

Closed-Circuit TV cameras (CCTV) are being installed in record numbers by cities, businesses, and individuals. These cameras can make us feel more safe, but do they really deter criminals?

We have all seen the news reports about the 2005 London Terrorist bombings of the subways. Without the camera systems, where officials were able to track the movements of the perpetrators, it is very likely that it would have taken much longer to solve those crimes.

It has been demonstrated many times that camera recording can be used to solve crimes. The Chicago Police Department estimates that the web of cameras installed in their city has been an important tool, resulting in more than 1,200 arrests since 2006. The Dallas Police Department has reported more than 1,700 arrests in a similar period from their camera system.

Video Analytics is the use of computers to monitor security cameras. If we believed Hollywood, camera systems with this kind of artificial intelligence can have almost mystical power. The truth is that for most applications, analytics can be of some value, especially in less busy environments. Video Analytic systems are currently being installed in Chicago by IBM. "That's really going to just throw our camera network into hyperdrive," said Kevin Smith, a spokesman with the Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC). "Ultimately I think what this software might be able to do is simply recognize suspicious behavior and alert our operations people and, at times, our crime detections specialists as to what it sees."

Security cameras can be a deterrent to crime. In a study of convenience stores, CCTV showed impressive results. A sample of 81 stores were studied for 1 year before and 1 year after the installation of CCTV camera security systems. The rate of robbery decreased by 53 percent after the cameras were installed.

The New York City Housing Authority estimates that the CCTV systems have reduced crime by 36% in their public housing. Baltimore (17%), Dallas (11%) and Philadelphia (37%) also report improvement in the rate of crime because of their downtown camera monitoring systems.

Night vision technology, orignally developed for military uses, is now regularly employed for use where ambient light levels are sometimes low. These cameras can deter criminal activity at night. During the day, the cameras operate conventionally, but when light levels drop below a threshold, the camera switches modes.

Many criminals, when faced with a security camera system, will choose easier prey.

How Large are the Video Data Files for Surveillance Cameras?

2009-06-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Data storage accounts for a substantial amount of the total video surveillance installation costs. When designing a system, storage requirements should be carefully considered.

The following table is an estimate for the amount of storage that will be required per minute of recording. The data format is for Quicktime (.mov) video, using the Sorenson compression format. Adjust your result based on the efficiency of the compression algorithm you will be using. H.264 is currently the most efficient video compression system.

Dimensions (pixels)   Frames/Second   Resulting File (MB)

1600x1200                      10                   52

640x480                          24                   20

320x240                          24                    5

320x240                          15                   3.8

160x120                          15                   1.2

160x120                            8                   .86

Thieves Clean Out Home Including Safe

2009-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hamden, Connecticut - These two crooks driving a 4 door Red Acura were taped cleaning out this beautiful house, including furs, electronics and a small safe. They took what they could, and trashed the rest of the house.

Thieves Caught with Hi-Tech Security Cameras

2009-06-27T09:18:00.000-07:00

Vancouver, Washington - Thieves responsible for stealing more than a thousand dollars worth of gasoline were caught on camera this week.

Dan Lee, owner of the gas station, said his surveillance cameras caught two pickup trucks at his family's business in the middle of the night. Two men pretended to clean windows, while a third broke into the pump's control panels.

Lee believes the crooks stole from his station at least two other times before he comprehended that almost 500 gallons of gasoline was missing.

Myrtle Beach Grocery Store Robbed

2009-06-26T05:50:00.000-07:00

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - A robbery at a grocery store, La Tienda Viva Mexico, was perpetrated by four armed men who entered the grocery store with pistols and shotguns and robbed the two clerks and the owner.

One man, 18 year-old Deandre Bishop, was later arrested in Georgia after police released surveillance video to the media. Horry County Police Sgt. Robert Kegler identified 22 year-old Irene Oviedo as assisting Bishop by driving him to Georgia to hide after the robbery. Ms. Oviedo was arrested and charged with Accessory after the Fact to a Felony.

In addition, investigators have identified 19 year-old Akiem Cooper as a third suspect and have charged him with armed robbery and kidnapping. Cooper and others are the object of a police dragnet.

Security Camera Catches Nanny Child Abuse

2009-06-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Tel Aviv, Israel - Police arrested this nanny after a security camera captured the woman abusing the infant twins (age: 18 months). The nanny, Galina Goriatzkin, was hired after a lengthy vetting process. The parents said. "She could be the nicest, most trustworthy woman in the world, as our nanny was, but only after seeing the video do you know what's happening. Galina came to us with references, and when we called to check they told us that she was a good and skilled nanny."

Home Burglary Monitored Live

2009-06-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Boynton Beach, Florida - Jeanne Thomas watched her home burglary from her office. Mrs. Thomas installed the equipment after a prior burglary the year before. Her husband laughed at her effort, and told her she was wasting her time.

The burglars accessed the home through a "doggy door". Jeanne called the police and they arrested the four burglars. One of the burglars confessed to not only this crime, but the earlier burglary as well.

Captain Jack Sparrow Fails to Get His Donut

2009-06-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Lakewood, Washington (Perk Central Coffee) - An after-hours burglar dressed like the character "Captain Jack Sparrow" (Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean) is presented for your entertainment. The video is humorously narrated by coffee shop owner Robert Jones.

Pierce County CrimeStoppers is asking for the public's help to identify the attempted burglar (253-591-5959).

Tipsters could earn a reward of up to $1,000.

$900K Bracelet Stolen from Saks

2009-06-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

New York - Two thieves distract the salesman who was opening a display case, and steal a very expensive bracelet from the Saks Fifth Avenue on 50th Street in Manhattan. The total time for the crime was about 15 seconds.

The bracelet contained 12 square-shaped, canary-yellow diamonds each framed with four smaller diamonds.

Jewelry Thief Gets His Due

2009-06-25T08:45:00.000-07:00

Europe - This guy walks in wearing gloves - that's suspicious. However, typical of Europe, he lacks a gun, but that doesn't mean there's no violence. In the end, he gets his due.

South Korean Border RoboCop

2009-06-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

South Korea- North Korea could face a bad hombre if they choose to confront the South. Built by Samsung, the robot has a camera system complete with artificial intelligence so that it can track potential enemies. And if needed, it has a well aimed gun.

The "Intelligent Surveillance and Guard Robot" uses video and night-vision detection to distinguish between humans, trees, and vehicles. It can see 2.5 miles during the day and about half that at night.

"Until now, technology allowed these robots to conduct monitoring function[s] only. But [now] our robots can detect suspicious moving objects, literally go after them, and can even fire at them," said Sang-Il Han, principal research engineer at Samsung Techwin.

Once the target is within 10 meters, the robot will demand a secret code. If this code is not provided, it could give three possible responses: sound an alarm, fire rubber bullets, or shoot to kill with a K-3 machine gun.

The price per robot is about $200,000 per robot, and sales of over $200 million in the first year are anticipated.

Houston Judge Keys Neighbor's Range Rover

2009-06-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON— Woody Ray Densen, former state district judge from Houston, was indicted after a security video caught him scratching his next door neighbor’s car with a key. He repeated the act the next day.

Total damage to the car was estimated at about $3000.

The camera system, equiped with motion detection, automatically taped the encounters.

Mr. Densen faces up to two years in state jail if convicted.

Dummy Camera Attorney Statement

2009-03-01T13:03:00.000-08:00

“The concept isn't too much different than other landlord liability cases. If the cameras don't work and tenants of the property do believe them to be real, there could be an issue of reliance. If the tenants rely on the fact that cameras are present in either entering into a lease in the first place or it influences their decisions regarding their use of the premises, the failure to disclose that they are dummy cameras might give rise to liability. It gives a false sense of security."

Alan L. Pepper, Mitchell, Silberberg & Knupp LLP