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AFS Revolution Camera Special – Sale Extended
Wireless Indoor Camera with Night Vision
- Up to 720p resolution HD video
- IR illumination for viewing in low-light conditions
- Configurable Video Motion Detection (VMD)
- PIR motion detection enhancement
- WiFi and Ethernet network connections
- Easy setup using WPS push button configuration
- Access live video and saved clips on Alarm.com or on your mobile device (iOS and Android)*
Limited quantities available
Sale ends Friday February 21st. Orders must be placed by 4pm est.
*Requires an American Fire & Security Alarm.com account to access camera
For more information call (937) 262-7937 or visit our web site today!
Purchase by Year-end and Deduct up to $500,000
Purchase your security equipment by Year-end and Deduct up to $500,000
Under Section 179 of the IRS tax code, you can deduct the full amount of equipment purchased / leased up to $500,000 from your company’s gross revenue if done by Dec. 31, 2013. Without congressional action, this benefit will decrease to $25,000 in 2014.*
To better help you take advantage of this, American Fire & Security has partnered with the industry’s leading security equipment financing companies to provide leasing options as more companies recognize the benefits of reducing capital expenditures and shifting security to an operating expense. Take this opportunity to:
- Add or upgrade your camera system
- Add or upgrade to biometric readers
- Integrate video management into your alarm or access control system
To learn more reply to this email or contact us at (877) 237-8918 today!
*Every entity’s tax situation is different. We recommend consulting with an accountant or legal counsel before taking any action.
Looking for a better image on your analog CCTV System?
One of the biggest complaints I hear when discussing a CCTV system upgrade with a client is image quality when replaying stored CCTV video footage. Until recently there wasn’t too much that could be done about the image quality without upgrading our clients to megapixel cameras. The upgrade to megapixel cameras can be a costly to small business. However, we can now service and install high megapixel full HD 720p or 1080p quality digital images over standard coaxial cable. This means we can reuse your existing coax cable infrastructure to efficiently upgrade your analog CCTV system to megapixel digital performance without the need to design and deploy an IP network. In other words….there is finally a cost effective solution to upgrading your business camera system!
Exactly what is a HD CCTV Camera?
HD CCTV cameras deliver video via the SMTPE 292M format, which is based on the HD TV that broadcast stations adopted for the consumer market in 2009. Using this format, HD CCTV is able to deliver resolutions of around 2.1 megapixels at 1,080p and 1.3 megapixels at 720p. This basically means if you ever have the need to zoom in on an image it will not seem as pixilated or distorted as your images in your standard analog CCTV system.
What are the benefits to upgrading your business analog CCTV system to a HD CCTV system?
- We can reduce the camera count significantly thereby reducing the overall installation, cabling, hardware and maintenance costs– so while HD system components can be a little more expensive, often the installed system will be cheaper. Note – by keeping the same camera count as an analog system you will significantly increase the coverage which in turn will create more evidential quality evidence and in turn secure more convictions.
- Because of the fact that the video feed travels on its own line with no compression, HD CCTV delivers a megapixel quality video without requiring IT network bandwidth, dropping packets, or reduced resolution from compression.
- There’s no latency, meaning that the video runs smoothly without any jitteriness or skipping and there’s no delay between when commands are sent to a Point-Tilt-Zoom camera and when the camera responds.
- New installation advantage of a HD CCTV solution is that each camera requires just a single CAT5 connection for the power, video, data, (and optional heating and alarm inputs and outputs) which will offer inherent installation savings, and this also means that the whole system can be protected up by a single UPS at a single point.
For more information on how to upgrade your business security camera system to an HD CCTV system contact American Fire & Security today at (937) 262-7937 or toll free at (877) 237-8918.
Stay Safe!
The Security Girl
AFS Revoluton – An Award Winning Alarm System
The AFS Revolution, manufactured by 2GIG Technologies, was chosen as the best alarm equipment and the overall winner at The Electronic Security Expo 2012!!
How can I prevent copper thieves from wreaking havoc on my business?
As a business owner every part of your business is something that you have worked hard for and take great pride in. With that being said, then why do you wait until it’s too late to protect your most valued possessions?
Dave, a small business owner from Cincinnati Ohio, just asked me the same question after thieves wreaked havoc on his business by taking all of the wire, copper, and air conditioning unit from the fenced in area in the back of his building. Lucky for Dave one of his employees caught the thieves and they were taken into police custody. However, the damage had already been done to his business as well as several other business in the area and now these business will be spending thousands of dollars to fix, replace or repair what it only took minutes for someone to destroy.
The would be copper thieves are not just hitting small business either. They are also targeting churches, hotels, farms and schools. In the recent past, one Alabama church had its air conditioning units stolen twice in 10 days. Each time, thieves got about $300 worth of copper, and the church had to pay more than $3,000 for replacements. A church in Detroit, Michigan, spent more than $50,000 to replace heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) units damaged by copper thieves.
At this point your probably asking yourself how you can prevent or detour this from happening to your business right? Well there are several solutions.
1) If your business has an outside storage area like Dave’s make sure that the area is well light. I know that seems obvious, but most thieves think if there is a risk of them being caught they will move on to another business that they may not be caught as easily.
2) Make sure that the exterior of your building has a security camera system. If thieves should wreak havoc on your business you need to make sure you have something of forensic evidence to give to the authorities.
3) Have your alarm company install a motion sensor on your air conditioning unit so if it is being tampered with an alarm will sound and the police will be dispatched right away. Plus the would be thieves are likely to leave without your air conditioner if the alarm sounds instead of trying to continue stealing it.
4) Make sure your tools, ladders and step stools are placed inside the building each night. You don’t want to make it easier for the thieves to have access to your assets.
If you would like to talk more about protecting your business from would be thieves wreaking havoc on your business talk to your safety coordinator or call American Fire & Security at 877-237-8918.
Stay Safe!
The Security Girl
The destruction left behind by copper thieves.
When a Flash Mob Becomes a Flash Rob
Flash Mob’s are trending across the country. They started as spontaneous gatherings of people organized by Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites. They were originally designed to engage in dance performances, pillow fights and other public displays with the intention of being funny and harmless. However, in recent months there have been reports across the country of a different kind of flash mobs, or rather flash robs, being organized to commit robberies and fights.
Flash robs are organized like flash mobs, however the group selects a time and place and enter the store in droves taking what they want and leaving before security or police can catch them. Generally they are in and out in about 60 seconds. To see a video of what flash rob looks like please click on the link.
Of 129 retailers surveyed by the National Retail Federation, nearly 95 percent said they were victimized by organized criminals in the past year and 85 percent said the problem has worsened over the past three years
What you can do about it:
1) Monitor social media sites to see if a “heist” is being planned in your area. If so report it to the police.
2) Make sure you train your employees on how to react in this situation so they are prepared.
3) When you see unusually large gatherings of people inside or directly outside of the stores associates should report to store management or Loss Prevention.
4) Make sure that your companies video surveillance system is properly working. If it’s been a while since you have upgraded your video surveillance system you should upgrade it to high def or digital video. It could provide valuable forensic evidence for the police in the event of a crime.
If a flash rob has occurred:
1) Try to take a mental note of each offender, including their physical description and clothing. Immediately following the incident, document your observation.
2) Write down a description of any property stolen, damaged or other pertinent information about company loss. Immediately following the incident, document your observation.
3) Video of the event can assist in the documentation process and should be readily available for your local police department. Of course, if there are any company protocols regarding the release of the footage make sure those guidelines are followed as well.
If you would like to talk more about protecting your business from a flash rob talk to your safety coordinator or call American Fire & Securityat 877-237-8918.
Stay Safe!
The Security Girl
Why does your business needs video surveillance?
When I talk to most small / medium sized businesses like yours I often get asked why does my business need video surveillance or why should I upgrade my current video surveillance system?
Sure your basic video surveillance system will just record the day to day activities in your business and in the event of a burglary or accident it will be there to hopefully catch the face or any other distinctive features of your suspect.
However, modern video surveillance systems can do so much more than just be there to catch what’s going on and hope that it’s there later when you need it. Plus with a modern video surveillance system you don’t have to worry about changing the tapes anymore!
With the ever changing technology in business security the uses and possibilities are endless and having a video surveillance system will save you and your business time and money.
In a 2008 report from The American Management Association, Almost half (48%) of the companies surveyed use video monitoring to counter theft, violence and sabotage. Only 7% use video surveillance to track employees’ on-the-job performance. Most employers notify employees of anti-theft video surveillance (78%) and performance-related video monitoring (89%). However, over the past few years business have changed how they are using video surveillance.
Here are some benefits/uses of video surveillance for your business.
- Increase overall security and safety – Security cameras positioned throughout a business help to prevent crimes and break-ins.
- Improve worker productivity – The presence of surveillance cameras on the premises can improve communication between departments or buildings, allowing for heightened productivity.
- Prevent dishonest claims – In instances where employees or visitors falsely attest to injuring themselves on your property, visual evidence from the facility’s security cameras can disprove such assertions, saving the hospital from pricey unwarranted insurance claims.
- Resolve employee disputes – Employee disputes are easily resolved when clear visual proof is available. Surveillance cameras can shed light on incidents in question.
- Continuous real-time monitoring – IP surveillance allows authorized employees to monitor critical areas continuously, in real time, from their personal computers.
- Digital storage – Business that choose to install IP-based video surveillance systems can take advantage of the benefits of digital storage. IP systems enable the user to store recorded footage digitally on network servers, hard-drives or NVRs, where the surveillance video is easily accessible to authorized users, and offers improved searching capabilities.
- Visual evidence for investigations – Surveillance cameras can provide invaluable visual evidence for investigations of criminal activity and other specific events that have taken place within or around facilities.
- Remote video monitoring – Remote monitoring is an extremely helpful tool. IP surveillance allows your employees to view security camera footage remotely from any PC with network access. Multiple sites can even communicate over the same network with all of the camera views accessible online via the Internet.
- Prevent theft – Prominently placed security cameras can help deter potential thieves and identify those who do steal.
- Improve image – The presence of a security system shows your customers that you care about their security and can improve their shopping experience.
- Safety – Not only do cameras help you maintain safety around your business, they also discourage misbehavior. Conspicuously placed cameras have been shown to reduce threats of violence and vandalism drastically.
- Visitor monitoring – One problem many business continually struggle with is proper access control for visitors. Security cameras at entrance doors can help your administrative staff monitor visitors and make sure they are properly signed in.
- Crowd control – Large crowds can get testy. It takes a strong security effort to maintain order so the spirit of an event isn’t overshadowed by violence and disruptive behavior. A video surveillance network can play a significant role by providing security workers with clear views of the action, and the ability to focus in on specific scenes and individuals.
- Safe entry and exit – When a hefty mass of people gets together for an event, entrances and exits can get bottled up with everyone trying to get to the same place at the same time. Video surveillance around these areas helps in lessening the impact of interruptions and disturbances for those coming and going.
- Building/venue security – Surveillance cameras monitoring restricted access areas can help to ensure that only registered guests and staff members gain entry to specific areas of a facility.
If you don’t have the budget for a full video surveillance makeover for your business; you can always add to/ upgrade your current system. It will make a world of difference! With all the uses for a video surveillance system, can you business afford not to have one?
If you have any questions about the above listed tips feel free to contact us at American Fire & Security at 877-237-8918.
Stay Safe!!
The Security Girl
View of Video Surveillance System from your iPhone
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