Covert Applications for Every Organization

3 SIMPLE STEPS to find the right Covert Solution for your needs.

Covert surveillance systems have long been employed by professionals in the law enforcement and private investigation field, the armed forces, and the media industry, to name a few. And covert devices have endless capabilities for nearly any commonplace business or home - including personal use for nanny cams, retail businesses employing hidden cameras to nab shoplifters, corporate businesses keeping an eye on employees, and public facilities ensuring the safety of their property.

Historically, potential users of hidden cameras have expressed concerns regarding the legal issues associated with covert video surveillance. Although there are some stringent laws relating to the misuse of video surveillance, the legal courts have come a long way in setting precedent. In fact, footage recorded with the use of covert video systems is completely legal, admissible as evidence in U.S. courts of law, and often provides undeniable proof against lawbreakers.

Enforcing the Law: Using Covert Surveillance to Protect and Serve

The law enforcement industry has leveraged covert surveillance equipment for decades, primarily to capture video evidence of drug producers, prostitutes, and other known criminals in the act. And as technology advances allow for smaller and less detectable covert gear, body-worn cameras have become a safer and more common use for undercover situations. Live video feeds transmitted from the Hidden Cameras worn by an undercover officer allow backup forces to respond immediately in the event that the undercover officer runs into trouble. This also enables backup officers to apprehend the criminals without revealing the true identity of the undercover officer, so that he can remain in the field.

Hidden Cameras are commonly affixed to the dashboard of patrol vehicles, primarily to record the pursuit and apprehension of lawbreakers. Hidden cameras are strategically positioned in the back seat of police cars as well, and have captured many unsolicited confessions. After an apprehension, police sometimes place two criminals in the back seat of their vehicle, and leave them alone for 20 to 30 minutes. The criminals will inevitably talk with each other during this time, often revealing very important facts about the case or providing incriminating confessions that would be difficult to obtain thru traditional interrogation tactics.

Covert surveillance systems are of key importance for environmental and child protection services as well. Wildlife rangers and environmental protection groups patrol many remote areas simultaneously with Hidden Cameras triggered by motion detection to capture illegal dumping or misuse of protected land. Likewise, groups such as the International Justice Mission, working to protect children from illegal child labor or prostitution rings use covert surveillance systems to capture this illegal activity. Unfortunately, this video evidence is often the only means to persuade governments of smaller countries to take action against these horrific acts.

Finally, covert surveillance equipment is increasingly leveraged by our military as well. ROVs, or remote operating vehicles, are commonly outfitted with miniature cameras to remotely observe dangerous areas before entering or conducting a strike. Additionally, NannyCam Security Solutions has sold many covert solutions to members of our military (or their concerned parents) to mount on the end of rifles, allowing soldiers to see around corners - preventing hostile and potentially deadly encounters with enemy forces.

In the Market for Security: Safeguarding Your Retail Business with Covert Video

While law enforcement, protection agencies, and the military often depend on Hidden Cameras for protection and prevention of illegal activity, these systems are not meant for these industries alone. In a retail business environment, covert surveillance systems allow store owners to monitor the activities of their employees, catch shoplifters in the act, and monitor high-value products or sensitive areas of their stores.

"Funneling" is a strategy commonly used to capture criminal activity on Hidden Cameras. In convenience stores, visible cameras are placed throughout the store where they are normally warranted, purposely leaving secluded areas uncovered and unwatched by the traditional security system. This works to give the impression to employees and criminals alike that these areas are places where they can conduct illegal activities without being caught. Strategically placed Hidden Cameras in these areas will not only capture the criminal activity, but more importantly identify the dishonest employees, that would otherwise remain on as a cancer within the organization. Importantly, this video evidence will satisfy the needs of the HR team and/or legal council to support immediate dismissal.

For Merlin Friesenhahn, who owns several convenience stores, covert video was the answer to his security needs. He routinely stations several visible cameras at the gas pumps outside, in order to dissuade customers from driving off without paying for their gasoline. Merlin also uses visible and Hidden Cameras at strategic locations throughout his stores, including the front and back entrances, and near the cooler. But it is the hidden cameras aimed at his three cash registers that are the most important. "Those cameras are pointed down so that I can watch the employees as they handle the cash, and make sure they're not stealing from the store," Friesenhahn says. "Most of my theft problems come from within, so it's nice to know I can get a real sense of what's happening in my stores."

Not long ago, Friesenhahn opened a new convenience store, and became suspicious that a trusted store manager was stealing from the safe every night. Merlin installed a traditional 4-camera system at the store, and the store manager was under the perception that he had everything under control - knowing the camera coverage and location of the DVR. Unbeknownst to him, Merlin had also installed Hidden Cameras in the beer coolers, the food prep areas, watching the cash registers, and one strategically placed above the safe area - with a clear view of the 4-camera system and DVR. This not only caught the store manager red-handed taking money from the safe, but actually turning off the traditional video system prior to doing so. Without a covert backup, Merlin could have lost thousands of dollars before he could identify the problem, as the store manager had complete control of both the money and the books, and it would have been very difficult to detect and prove that he was stealing from the business.

Additionally, as burglars have become more and more savvy to video security, shop owners increasingly turn to vandal-proof cameras as a solution. While this will prevent tampering and destruction, it will not prevent the criminal from spray painting the lens or cutting the wires of the camera and/or system. The addition of Hidden Cameras is the perfect solution to capture criminal activity after the traditional security measures are disabled.

Getting Down to Business: Using Covert Surveillance in the Workplace

There are countless uses for covert surveillance in the corporate environment. Hidden cameras are commonly employed to protect intellectual property, watch over high-value items and warehouse areas, provide an added element of personal security, and monitor employee behavior and productivity. The mere mention that hidden cameras are installed somewhere on business premises often dissuades employees from conducting themselves improperly during business hours.

Employee productivity is a huge concern for many small and large businesses. A recent Accenture study found that 72 percent of American companies interviewed say boosting workforce productivity is of key importance, while only 9 percent of those surveyed say they are satisfied with their employees' productivity. Dips in worker productivity can be a result of any number of distractions, including employees spending their work hours on personal phone calls, surfing the Internet, or other non-productive activity. It is accepted that people will act differently when they know they are being watched. Hidden Cameras can be employed to observe an employee's true behavior and work habits, and empower the employer to identify and address any problems that would otherwise become a distraction in the workplace.

Covert systems also aid business managers in determining whether employees are delivering acceptable levels of customer service to their clients and the public. NannyCam Security Solutions has worked with one very large and well-known retail chain (who wishes to remain anonymous) to measure service provided for car repair. By installing Hidden Cameras under vehicle hoods prior to the service, this company was able to monitor the activity of their employees, and ensure that the company was delivering to expectations.

Covert video can be particularly effective in business environments requiring higher levels of security. Virtually all banking institutions install visible cameras to deter crime and capture physical evidence should a robbery occur. However, many banks have found it necessary to have a few extra cameras stationed throughout the premises, particularly those that customers and even employees are not aware of. In addition to the visible cameras aimed at bank tellers' stations, bank administrators often install Hidden Cameras that capture a glimpse of each customer's face during a transaction. And some banks are now fitting covert pinhole cameras into the chained-down penholders at each teller station as an added security element.

Protecting Your Home with Covert Video Systems

Homeowners have found covert surveillance very useful for a growing number of applications - keeping a watchful eye on the babysitter is just the beginning. From juvenile delinquency to child abuse by siblings other family members, Hidden Cameras have the ability to discreetly examine an area where people don't believe they are being watched, which affords homeowners the ability to see what's going on inside and outside their homes while they are away.

Because covert systems have the capability to work both indoors and outdoors, homeowners often use these cameras to catch vandals in the act of damaging their homes, yards, vehicles and mailboxes. Homeowners who have experienced vandalism often feel they have little recourse. Many who take action by installing traditional, visible surveillance cameras often spend exorbitant amounts of money only to find that these cameras only redirect vandals to another area that is out of the cameras' range. By incorporating Hidden Cameras -- often in birdfeeders, utility boxes, outdoor lights and tiki torches -- homeowners are able to catch vandals red-handed. In fact, the simple act of stating that your home is under covert surveillance may deter many lawbreakers. And being able to supply police with video evidence provides law enforcement officers with irrefutable evidence that a crime has been committed, and empowers them to take action.

Three Simple Steps to Find the Right Covert Solution for Your Needs

While some covert surveillance equipment can be incredibly high-tech and somewhat complex, many solutions are very user-friendly, and in many cases the user needs only to place a complete and self-contained covert security system in the preferred environment. Standard or custom-designed covert systems can also be easily integrated in to an existing security system. When considering Hidden Cameras for these or any application, answering the following three questions will make finding the right solution easy.

1. How will you power your cameras?

The first concern for any covert security solution, is determining an effective source to power both the camera and recording device. Integrating a covert camera into an existing system will typically require that the user pull cabling to transfer the video signal and deliver power to the camera. This solution has its advantages, providing a permanent source of power for longer surveillance periods and a reliable means of transferring the captured video back to the video recorder. However, wires will typically need to be concealed or disguised in such applications. Hidden Cameras hidden within common fixtures, such as a wall clock or thermostat, can often draw power from that device or from a local wall outlet, providing a permanent solution as well. Once the equipment is plugged in, and cameras are positioned appropriately, customers can begin the surveillance process immediately, without need to conceal existing wiring.

For covert applications requiring extreme discretion, where wiring would appear unnatural, or where external power is not available, users must turn to battery-operated solutions. Typical examples include body-worn covert, outdoor, remote, or temporary surveillance operations. Although battery-powered devices can only operate for a limited the period of time, the use of motion detection can be employed to minimize power consumption and maximize the utilization of storage capacity of these covert systems.

2. How will you extract the video?

There are a number of means to record data captured by your covert surveillance system, including wired and wireless applications, and self-contained solutions with micro recording devices. Wired applications provide a permanent and reliable means of transferring video back to the video recorder, but again requires additional cabling, which must typically be disguised. This is a relatively easy solution for common appliances such as speaker cameras, motion detectors, or utility boxes, that are affixed to a wall and already require wiring for power.

Wireless solutions are most practical for devices that cannot be hardwired, where video cables cannot be exposed, and perfect for applications that require quick and/or temporary installation. Typical wireless devices include tissue boxes, flowers, calculators, cell phones, and body worn covert gear. Limitations to wireless include range and quality of the transmitter / receiver pair, and wireless does introduce a potential to lose critical evidence, as transmitted signals aren't always dependable. Another common concern with wireless is the ability of others to capture transmitted video, which is why users commonly turn to local covert recording devices.

Micro DVRs eliminate concerns of losing transmitted video signals, do not need cables, and are a great option for surveillance needs that require capture and replay for instant feedback. Primary limitations include battery life and storage capacity, but most micro DVRs offer up to 4 hours recording time of full motion video. However, if a micro DVR is discovered and lost or destroyed, users run the risk of losing both a valuable piece of surveillance equipment and more importantly, the video evidence!

Latest technologies, including the World's Smallest Micro DVR recently developed by NannyCam Security Solutions, now enable the integration of both concealed video cameras and miniature capture devices in even the smallest of objects. Cameras and micro DVRs concealed together are far less detectable, and eliminate concerns of other detecting or stealing video transmissions.

3. Which Covert Security Vendor should you choose?

In the rapidly growing security industry, it is increasingly difficult to identify the surveillance supplier that best suits your needs. As every application is different and potentially requires a different solution, customers should take in to consideration their specific needs and pay particular attention to the following key differentiators.

Customers should first examine a vendor's experience and expertise in the field - specifically serving law enforcement professionals, who require latest technology and dependability for their covert solutions. Vendors with this level of experience are often most equipped to design a solution that meets your specific needs. Customers should also make sure that their chosen vendor offers a wide selection of surveillance products and the ability to customize - as many applications are unique and require that new solutions are developed.

An ideal vendor will develop and offer technologies new to the surveillance industry, delivering the latest advances in size, weight, concealability, and ultimately, effectiveness. A well-established vendor will leverage its size and scale to offer high quality product at an affordable cost. Additionally, speed of delivery should be considered, as the need for covert surveillance equipment is often triggered by events that happen quickly and over a short period of time.

Finally, and perhaps most important, is the security vendor's ability to provide you with a high level of support, both before purchase in finding the right solution, and after purchase to assist with installation and any technical challenges. Best of breed companies offer money back guarantees, product warranties, have a team dedicated to providing lifetime technical support, and are well established - providing the assurance that they will be in business and able to assist you if a problem does arise in the future.