Neighborhood Watch

I’ve been in the security industry for 33 years (15 years installing and the other 18 in system design & application). Our Neighborhood Watch & Safety Program is the culmination of this experience.

 

With the increase in crime and budget cuts, law enforcement has limited resources and is often forced to regulate its response to certain crimes. Often, violent crimes are prioritized while crimes such as burglary, theft, and vandalism are neglected. The police are not to blame; they are simply forced to manage what resources they have. However, this puts homeowners, HOA’s and residential communities in a compromised position of safety.

So, how do homeowners and HOAs secure their communities, make their streets safe, secure their property, protect their family, and motivate the police to make arrests? It starts with a plan to install neighborhood security cameras. 

Complete Plan to Install Neighborhood Security Cameras

1. Establish Decision Makers

From decades of attempting to generate a consensus among neighbors, we highly recommend you organize your neighborhood efforts by selecting a 1-3 person advisory board. Without this focused group, getting a decision for a neighborhood program for community safety cameras is like herding cats...good luck.

 

Much like an organised HOA, a neighbourhood can group and make intelligent decisions that benefit the entire community more effectively than each homeowner acting on their own. But realistically, nothing will come of the efforts without establishing the decision makers in advance and giving them authority to act for the group.

 

2. Make a Plan

Once the advisory board is selected, its first job is to establish a clear vision of goals for the community. With the goals clearly stated, their next step is to find industry experts who can advise on what effective options for neighborhood video surveillance are available to achieve the community's goals.

 

3. Budget

You know that guy who can get it done for half the price? Well, have you noticed he never actually does it? I have spent 33 years watching "that guy" derail the good intentions of many neighborhood groups. Video surveillance is simple: "you get what you pay for". If you are serious about securing your community, then properly budget for it. What many do not understand is that, as a group, you have buying power! If you organize your community with a common goal, you can afford to secure your streets with reliable, responsive security measures and neighborhood security cameras that work.

 

4. Implementation

Don't worry so much about the technology being used. The solution provider you choose is the key. No matter how much you study, you will never know the pitfalls and application techniques that an experienced security provider knows. Place most of your decision on the provider's experience. They are the ones who have to make the selected technology effective.

 

Below are a few cost-effective solutions with proven track records that have been implemented in many neighborhoods around the country. If you would like a custom design of the plan for neighborhood surveillance cameras, give us a call. Our experienced design experts will be glad to help.

Cost-Effective Solutions for Neighborhood Surveillance 

Entry Point Surveillance

Oftentimes, a cost-effective solution to secure a neighbourhood is to monitor the entry points simply. Below is a good example. There are only two entry points to this neighborhood. The area is remote, so little to no foot traffic enters the area, and when they do, it's through one of the two entry points.

 

By installing a Sentry-Cell unit at each of the entry points, we document all vehicles, their occupants, and license plates at each entry point. The only requirement is continuous power at the entry points. This particular application works well with a Sentry-Cell because the entries are equipped with landscape lighting, which can be used to power the systems.

Mobile Surveillance Trailers

When no power or communication options are readily available, mobile surveillance trailers might be the right answer. They are the most effective deterrence and the only solution that provides live response. The video feeds are monitored live at our monitoring center, when events require, the monitoring representative can broadcast live warning messages and if needed the police are dispatched. Trailers are the most expensive solution, but also the most effective.

 

Below is an actual example of a trailer application. Three strategically positioned trailers provide 100% coverage of the entire neighborhood with live monitoring and dispatch.

Distributed Cloud Cameras

The most cost-effective solution is our cloud-based neighborhood cameras. Selected homes in the neighborhood are equipped with one or two cloud cameras. The cameras are positioned to view the street and walkways. Each camera uses the homeowner's broadband internet connection to feed the video to our cloud surveillance system.

 

The community security cameras located throughout can be accessed as one comprehensive neighborhood-wide video surveillance system. Anyone in the neighborhood with the login credentials can access the system using a browser, computer, or smartphone. The camera feeds can be viewed live, and recorded video clips can be downloaded for storage.

 

 

The strategically located neighborhood security cameras become a comprehensive surveillance system that allows unwanted visitors to be tracked throughout the community. This design is cost-effective but requires select residents to agree to provide the location and broadband connection for the camera. 

 

The upload data is so small that none of the residences with the cloud cameras connected to their broadband service notice any speed change or slowing of the service. If you would like to discuss possible solutions for your community, give us a call, and we'll be glad to help.

 

Benefits of Installing Neighborhood Security Cameras

 

Neighborhood security camera systems help homeowners associations (HOAs) and security teams keep communities safe from a wide range of dangers. Here are some of the benefits of CCTV systems: they can function as a visual deterrent to would-be criminals and help with security investigations by recording high-definition video.

 

Crime reduction

Data shows that neighborhood security cameras can lower crime rates by almost 15% in regions covered by CCTV systems, which suggests that they are quite crucial for keeping private neighborhoods safe. When these surveillance cameras are deployed to watch residential areas, they can immediately spot physical crimes like vandalism and break-ins. It lets the police quickly catch the criminals and limit the damage.

 

Visible obstruction

Studies show that just having visible neighborhood surveillance cameras can stop criminals from doing bad things. Researchers at the University of North Carolina showed that 60% of offenders stay away from areas where they may see CCTV cameras.

 

Real-time responses

Neighborhood CCTV cameras work like security cameras for apartment complexes and condos. They give security workers live footage of all the important places and let them set up immediate alerts that let them know when they see something suspicious. It enables operators to respond to events as they happen quickly, turn on larger security systems, and call local authorities to calm down or look into security breaches.

 

Proof for investigations

You can use HOA community security cameras that are connected to centralized video management systems to store and organize recorded security footage. If a crime is caught on tape, you can then send it to the police as proof. Also, combining motion sensors and other comparable technology lets staff automatically detect suspicious movements and stop things from happening. 

Major Neighborhood Surveillance Cameras

 

Neighborhood security cameras must be set up to watch over important places like main entrances, shared amenities like gyms or clubhouses, and any other places that communities decide are busy. Different kinds of cameras are used in effective neighborhood video surveillance systems to deal with different security issues. Here are some common types of community security cameras:

 

• Dome cameras: They are fixed cameras with a large field of view that are meant to record video close up in places like offices, reception areas, and storage rooms. These gadgets are normally kept in cases on the outside that are hard to break into, but they still need to be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis.
• Bullet cameras: They are also fixed cameras, but with a restricted field of view and great long-range capabilities. They are used to gather footage from a distance in places like parking lots and the edges of buildings. Most bullet cameras feature settings for low light that make them good for outdoor use.
• License plate recognition cameras: They cover parking lots and access roads. They can automatically scan cars that pass by to get information about their license plates. They can help access control systems and find cars that look suspicious.
• Pan-tilt-zoom cameras: PTZ security cameras for neighborhoods can be controlled from a distance so that security professionals can change the angle of view in real time. You can make changes to cameras from smart devices if they are connected to a cloud management system. 

How to Choose the Best Neighborhood Security Cameras

 

There are a number of things to think about when picking the finest neighborhood security camera for a home, such as how much money you have to spend, how easy it is to install, and how it will fit in with the rest of the neighborhood. But there are some things that teams should focus on, like:

 

• Angle: Wide-angle dome security cameras are best for covering vast areas.
• Range: To get footage from a distance, pick long-range bullet security cameras.
• Night vision: For outdoor or nighttime use, use cameras with low-light settings.
• Resolution: Choose a system with at least HD 1080p camera resolution for the best viewing.
• Integrations: Pick cameras that can work with other security devices to make a complete solution. 
• Connectivity: If you want to watch footage via the Internet, think about getting Internet Protocol (IP) cameras.
• Durability: To make sure your camera lasts a long time, look for ones with sturdy cases and built-in anti-vandal capabilities.

FAQs

 

1. What are neighborhood surveillance cameras?

Neighborhood surveillance cameras are security systems that watch over public or communal locations in a neighborhood. They help keep crime down, make things safer, and give proof when it's needed.

2. Can I view neighborhood cameras live?

Yes, some neighborhood cameras let you watch live through applications or community portals. For privacy and safety considerations, only residents or law enforcement officers are normally allowed to enter.

3. How do I find neighborhood cameras near me?

You can ask your neighborhood watch, housing society, or community group. Some communities also exchange information through their council websites or local police programs.

4. How much does it usually cost to put up security cameras in a neighborhood?

The price changes based on how many cameras you need, how good they are, and if they have capabilities like night vision or cloud storage. The neighborhood security cameras cost between $500 to $2,500, which includes installation.

5. Are neighborhood security cameras legal in the USA?

Yes, they are legal as long as you use them responsibly. It is against the law in the USA to capture private areas like neighbors' gardens or windows without their permission.