The original intent of CCTV systems was to provide store owners a measure of protection against shoplifters. This original intent has expanded and CCTV systems now provide multiple other services for business owners. The property that CCTV systems help to protect now includes physical property also.

It is difficult today to enter any store and not see at least one CCTV camera that is part of a CCTV system present. What many people don’t realize is that CCTV cameras are also present outdoors also. These cameras provide 24 hour surveillance of gas pumps, store parking lots, entrances and perimeters to plants and warehouses and the lobbies of public buildings. These outdoor cameras provide physical property protection for the building owners.

Cameras that are mounted out in the natural environment can come in all size and shape. Some cameras are self contained in their own housing. Some are contained in an environmental housing. These environmental housings can be rectangular or inside of a dome. A smoked glass or a glazed cover protects many cameras mounted inside of a dome. The smoked glass or glazing permits the camera to see out but the person on the ground to not be able to see inside. The cameras mounted inside the dome are often mounted on heads that have the ability to pan and tilt. Additionally these cameras are equipped with zoom lenses that have a telephoto capability. This head permits the camera to scan the entire area around the dome. If an intruder is detected, the automatic scan can be halted and the camera positioned manually. The telephoto lens can be zoomed in on the intruder and identification made.

CCTV camera housings are often subjects of vandalism or outright destruction. Vandals attempt to damage the camera and housing. Trespassers who are intent on robbery try to disable them to deny the security personnel the opportunity to intervene in the robbery. To combat this several manufacturers provide ballistic rated housings. These housings are built to absorb and withstand a bullet fired from a gun and continue working, providing the images of the area that they are trained on. While these housings are more expensive initially cameras that are located in vandal prevalent areas that have ballistic rated housings do not have to be replaced as often as those in non ballistic rated housings.

The utilization of security cameras to secure physical property, warehouses, truck parking areas, plants and parking lots provides the owner of the property the assurance that the property is always being looked after. The property owner does not have to pay a security staff to patrol the premises. This reduction in staff will pay for itself in a short time thus increasing the profit margin of the company. Additional savings may arise from a lowered insurance rate due to the CCTV system that is in place.

With the growth and prevalence of the Internet, there no longer is a need for a security guard to be onsite to monitor the CCTV system. Through the use of the Internet and motion detection, a camera viewing a plant can transmit the images to a central station when motion is detected. The operators at the central station can notify the proper law enforcement offices if trespass is detected. Interior cameras in stores still protect against shoplifting. Exteriors of the building or plant are now likewise protected by CCTV systems. This protection is affordable, reliable and accurate. CCTV systems will, in future years become more prevalent and more and more businesses and even cities and towns will utilize this technology.