This video is an example of not-so-savvy alleged burglars for your entertainment.
The video surveillance system shown was not installed by 3rd Eye Surveillance.

Video Surveillance: Meeting the High-Security Expectations of Student Housing

When parents drop their young adult children off at the college campus, they have a reasonable expectation of the child’s safety, and rightfully so. School violence, whether it is assault, domestic violence, or active shooters, remains a real and significant threat across the nation. Because of this, school administrators are heightening their security focus in student housing facilities with an emphasis on comprehensive commercial video surveillance systems.

The High Cost of School Violence

The true cost of school violence is incalculable. There is no way to measure the loss of human life or the lasting impact of violence in any form. There is also the resulting financial cost. We have all seen it many times when unsafe conditions result in lawsuits that could have been avoided.  College and universities have a huge responsibility of not only providing a quality education, but also a safe housing environment, and are now embracing both of those roles.

The Importance of Video Surveillance Systems For Student Housing

Video surveillance systems aid in significantly enhancing safety in student housing in many ways. Here are just a few examples:

The presence of video surveillance

• Can discourage unruly behaviors
• Is known to decrease incidents of crime
• Can be used in authenticating an identity
• Identify offenders
• Be monitored to identify suspicious activity

Professionally monitored video surveillance systems can help students remain safe in student housing. For more information about enhancing campus security with commercial video surveillance, call 3RD Eye Surveillance today! 972.4.3RD.EYE

This video is an example of not-so-savvy alleged burglars for your entertainment.
The video surveillance system shown was not installed by 3rd Eye Surveillance.

Why Property Management Companies Need to Understand Commercial Video Surveillance

When you think of property management, your first thought may not be video surveillance; but it should be. As a property manager, you wear a lot of hats and need the most powerful and useful tools to be successful.

Property managers are those hired by a landlord, property investor, or owner, to manage daily operations over one or a number of facilities or sites. Typically, their jobs and exact responsibilities vary according to the need of the party which hires them and the type of facilities that are being managed, and can cover many aspects of the business.

Here are just a few of the common responsibilities:

• Screening tenants
• Handling evictions
• Handling complaints or emergencies.
• Property maintenance
• Overseeing vacant properties
• Protecting the property against vandalism

Video Surveillance as a Property Management Tool

The responsibilities in property management are vast, but even property managers can’t be everywhere at once. They need tools that provide immediate insight into the status of the facilities in order to work effectively and proactively. Video surveillance systems provide that insight.

Here are just a few of the ways video surveillance systems can empower property management:

• Monitor the status of the property remotely
• View vacant properties regularly to make sure there is no vandalism
• Monitor “move-outs”
• Verify tenant complaints
• Oversee employees
• Ensure maintenance work is started and completed
• Monitor for safety hazards, code violations, lease violations, etc.

What You Should Know About Video Surveillance Systems

Video surveillance systems are powerful tools, and the more you understand the technology the more effectively you can use them. Here are some important considerations.

Know the system and its capabilities. Different systems can be composed of any number of components with a wide range of capabilities. Evaluate the system and learn what it can and cannot do.

Talk to a professional. Gain insight from a professional about the system and explain what you’d like to accomplish. Most systems are adaptable or expandable. If it does not yet meet your needs, it likely would not take much to add elements to make it most effective.

Find the problems. View surveillance footage from every hour of the day to look for problems such as unexpected glare from windows or other issues. Glare can cause your video footage to be ineffective in providing definitive data or proof should you need it.

Know the laws. It is legal to use video surveillance in places where people do not reasonably expect privacy, such as hallways, but not where they do,  such as restrooms.

Consider video monitoring. Today, you can expect that any number of people have an eye on the facility and not all of those people have good intentions. Video monitoring makes sure that the good guys are always watching and ready to respond.

Tenants and owners expect property managers to maintain security and 3RD Eye Surveillance is here to help with comprehensive video surveillance systems, professional monitoring, and access control. Need more information? Great! Give us a call at 972.4.3RD.EYE

This video is an example of not-so-savvy alleged burglars for your entertainment.
The video surveillance system shown was not installed by 3rd Eye Surveillance.

Video Door Control – It’s More than a Video Doorbell.

If you have a business, you need to think about all of your security options. The great news is– there are many options available today to meet every security need. So what’s the bad part? Trying to figure out what technologies can best suit your purposes! Today we will help by providing some great information about the often misunderstood technology, video door control.

What Is Video Door Control?

Video Door control systems are small audio/visual devices with a keypad that help you control access to any area. This provides a way for you to keep visitors on one side of the door and still see and hear them. Video door control stations provide excellent video and intercom communication and can be used on any door throughout a facility.

What are Some of the Advantages of Using Video Door Control?

Of course, increasing security is the best advantage these systems provide. A visitor can request entry into a facility without you or your staff actually having to open the door to them, avoiding potentially dangerous confrontations. When used throughout the facility, you can create areas where visitors can access, such as a lobby, and areas they can’t such as workspaces. With incidents of things like theft and workplace violence on the rise, limiting and strictly controlling access to every area is a major advantage.  Another advantage is being able to control multiple areas at once, requiring fewer personnel to man doors and providing wider oversight.

Video Door Systems Add to Perceived Value

In addition to adding to the actual safety of all of the individuals at the facility, video door systems add to the perceived value of the services you provide. An upscale look and feel help elevate every aspect of a business.

For more information about video door control, give 3rd Eye a call today! 972.4.3RD.EYE (972-437-3393)

This video is an example of not-so-savvy alleged burglars for your entertainment.
The video surveillance system shown was not installed by 3rd Eye Surveillance.

Quick Facts About Employee Fraud

Make no mistake. Employee fraud is real, and a real problem. According to Static Brain, employee fraud is one of the most significant causes of loss estimated between $20 and $50 billion in the U.S. annually.

Here are some important facts about fraud that every business owner should know.

Types of Fraud:

Larceny: Taking cash or property from the business.

Embezzlement: Theft of cash or property by someone in a position of trust such as a bookkeeper or senior management.

Billing Schemes: Come in various forms including setting up a false vendor account and paying the vendor in order to attain the money fraudulently.

Payroll Schemes: Falsifying time-cards in order to receive undue compensation.

Expense Reimbursement Schemes: Padding expense reports by adding expenses never incurred or not business related.

Time Theft: Using company time to conduct non company business, or be underproductive.

Information Theft: Supplying proprietary information to a competitor.

Employee Theft Statistics

• $50 billion stolen annually from U.S. businesses by employees
• 7% annual revenues lost to theft or fraud
• 75% of employees who have stolen at least once from their employer
• 37% of employees who have stolen at least twice from their employer
• 33% of all business bankruptcies caused by employee theft
• 29% of theft by employees who had ideas stolen at work
• 2 years average time fraud occurs before detected

Important Benefits of Video Surveillance in the Workplace

In addition to improving general security, having video surveillance in the workplace is one of the most effective ways to combat fraud.

Implementing a video surveillance system can help you:

• Improve employee productivity and avoid time theft
• Reduce theft
• Reduce likelihood of embezzlement
• Deter and catch incidents of information theft
• Deter acts of false workman’s comp claims

Video surveillance systems are crucial to business success. They are a cost-effective way to deter, document, and reduce employee fraud. For more information about commercial video surveillance systems, please give us a call today! 972.4.3RD.EYE

This video is an example of not-so-savvy alleged burglars for your entertainment.
The video surveillance system shown was not installed by 3rd Eye Surveillance.

Why Multi-Family Rehab Properties need Video Surveillance and Live Monitoring

When an owner and or property manager decides to overhaul a property, it is no small commitment. It may involve exterior changes like new landscaping and painting or complete overhauls requiring things like flooring, plumbing supplies, new appliances, and heating and air conditioning systems.

Though every rehab project is unique, there are some important risks each have in common. Rehab projects are complex and expensive. One the biggest challenges is that building owners must store a huge amount of revolving and expensive materials, appliances, and supplies used in the process right on site. Sites are often unattended on nights and weekends which make them subject to vandalism and theft. Every incident of theft or vandalism raises the overall cost of the project.

Having effective security coverage throughout the site is critical in ensuring the safety of personnel and the security of materials as well as keeping the cost of the project down.

Top Reasons to Consider Video Surveillance and Live Monitoring for Rehab Properties:

Having a professionally installed camera system just makes sense. Here are just a few of the many reasons.

• Theft Prevention— Rehabs sites have a lot of high value and easily sold materials on the premises and often those items are unattended at night and on weekends, making them a prime target for thieves. It is impossible to be everywhere at once and self-monitor those material sites while performing other duties.
• Vandalism Prevention— Another problem is vandalism. One act of vandalism can stall your project and raise your costs. Video surveillance keeps intruders out and prevents costly damage.
• Improve Safety—Having security cameras covering your supplies as well as in the project area can help ensure workers maintain safe practices.
• Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits—Know exactly what happens on your site and have video proof of events.
• Increase Efficiency— Monitor job site activity to eliminate bottlenecked projects.
• Ensure Swift Emergency Response—Live monitoring ensures that should any events occur, the right help is on the way as swiftly as possible.

Before you start a new rehab project, video surveillance is the first thing Project Managers should consider. Covering the property with the appropriate security camera technology should be the first project on the list so that all of the other tasks run more smoothly. Let 3rd Eye Surveillance help with your surveillance needs.

Contact us at 972.4.3RD.EYE (972-437-3393) for more details.