Video Surveillance Camera Use is on the Rise

September 21, 2013
by Zoe Hudson
Technology

Editor's note: This article was written by an industry professional and guest contributor. The views and opinions in this article are of the author and do not reflect the views of PInow. Before conducting video surveillance, be sure to check the laws in your state. If you are interested in becoming a guest contributor, send an email to [email protected].

video-surveillance-camera-use-is-on-the-rise Video surveillance continues to rise in frequency and numbers across the globe. Government agencies, institutional organizations and privately-owned corporations are increasing the use of surveillance cameras, and the use of video cameras in private investigations is on the upswing as well.

A new study by IMS Research finds that tremendous growth is forecast for the wireless infrastructure market in place to support video surveillance applications. With demand for low-priced video surveillance systems coming from China and India, IMS expects revenues to soar to $705 million by 2017. That's a 160 percent increase from the nearly $275 million recorded in 2011.

In the US, video surveillance work is taking shape in a stunning amount of video security cameras in the streets, and low-cost tech gadgets and tools in the hands of private investigators for their surveillance work. As an example of the video camera saturated urban centers in the US now, CNN reports that there are about 4,000 video surveillance security cameras and license plate readers south of Canal Street in Lower Manhattan, NYC. It's part of the overall Lower Manhattan Security Initiative (LMSI), which calculates the number of feeds from open public security cameras, as well as private cameras. These are monitored by the New York police department regularly 24-7.

For private investigations, video is still a key element in most cases. Armed with small HD video cameras, many private detectives use various covert observation techniques to learn about their subjects.

Video Surveillance for PIs

Video surveillance work by private investigators initially involves background searches, skip tracing, smart online searching and experienced detective work. Once a plan is set to use video surveillance, the target's actions and activities are monitored via HD video. One PI firm offered up a look at how a typical video surveillance might be set up:

1. Use date and time stamps

The initial steps should include authenticating your video with a date and time stamp as a starting point. It's essential to know dates and times when using video surveillance.

2. Think like a film director

Use the video to show the location and position of the surveillance, to capture footage that shows entry and exit roads, busy street intersections and more. Having the coordinates of the stakeout position helps with the video construct.

3. Wait and wait

For location video surveillance, this could be the hardest part of the role of the private investigator. Staged surveillance operations may involve a different video set up, but waiting for the target to emerge from a house or building can take a lot of waiting. Vigilance is key.

4. Follow the target

Be prepared to follow in car, by foot, taxis, subways trains or other transportation. Do what it takes to get the video you need, making sure to maintain a steady hand and a professional look.

5. Go unnoticed

Video surveillance is only as good as the lack of detection. Once the target is aware of a pursuing video camera, the person will likely go to great lengths to maneuver out of the situation.

Video Surveillance Laws

PIs should keep in mind that video surveillance and video security camera laws vary by state. Always make sure you check with the laws in your county and state before taking on a surveillance case.

About the Author

Zoe Hudson has a background in law enforcement and weapons. She teaches gun safety courses and enjoys writing about this and other topics.

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This article was written by an industry guest contributor. If you are interested in submitting a guest post or have an article suggestion, send an email to [email protected].