With the Super bowl on Sunday, Arizona residents will be glued to the TV. However, for one robber, his Sunday will be spent in a jail cell. In Glendale, AZ a thief entered a pizzeria, and took a television and over $300 from the register. Security cameras show the man counting the money from the register, which is where the store’s security cameras are focused. It is always a great idea to have cameras focused on the most valuable items at a location. In this case, the cash register was the perfect spot. In this case the security system did its job.

Police haven not will be identifying the suspect by posting the security footage on TV or the internet. Without a picture law enforcement would have a tough time find the perpetrator. It seems like there is always more news of criminals stealing stuff from hardworking people. Especially with people enduring tough times, theft is more prevalent than ever. It seems prudent to counter the raise in thefts with an increase in security cameras being used in an attempt to protect valuables from theft and damage, in particular money. Remember, the goal of security cameras in a business is to protect yourself, the public, and your customers.

Hidden camera technology is great for home and business security, but the reality television craze of late has allowed users to become more creative with these devices. Citizen journalists, amateur videographers and producers are taking hidden cameras to the streets and documenting day-to-day events in hopes of coming up with something worthwhile that could possible alter public opinion.

Alex Jones, A Texas based media personality who came to fame through his book about “Government Sponsored Terrorism,” and his blog, Jones Report, had his friends working for him to expose corruption in the police state back in 2002. These “spies” would drive around with hidden dashboard cameras ready to capture any police related incidents they might encounter. One friend in particular uncovered an unprecedented amount of corruption amongst officers and broadcast the footage on YouTube.com and other popular sites to expose it.

So far the videos captured have created quite a buzz as they show police performing an illegal search, hounding the driver about certain legal items they found in his car, such as a picture of one of the driver’s friends armed while serving in Iraq which they claimed was evidence enough to search the vehicle for illegal firearms, and treating him with extreme disrespect. The clips have gotten so much media attention that police officers in the Austin, TX area have actually come to recognize the ringleaders in this hidden camera ploy and in order to avoid being further exposed for corruption have backed off quite a bit in terms of the unnecessary “power tripping.”

During tough economic times convenience stores expect a lower sales margin to decrease their profitability. What they may not expect is for the depressed economic state to also affect the trust-worthiness of employees. Consolidated Buying Co. research shows that both employee theft and shoplifting increase during hard economic times. The CBC runs an online training program to help store owners prevent internal theft. The course materials state that 72% of loss is coming from employee theft. Employees are familiar with security procedures, placement of security cameras, and may even have access to the store’s security system. This creates a temptation for the employee to steal from a store, especially during a recession.

The CBC recommends open communication about no sales as one measure to decrease employee theft. Another smart move for convenience store owners is to increase security measures through well hidden security cameras. Self contained models or pinhole cameras can be placed behind the counter. Employees will not be aware of hidden cameras and can therefore not hide dishonest behavior from their view. This is a quick remedy to single out the employees who would steal in any environment and lower the temptation for those who are financially desperate in this economy. By fully protecting himself from employee theft, a store owner creates a more trust-worthy employee pool and decreases loss substantially.

Surveillance cameras, when used strategically, provide a superior layer of preventative security and indisputable evidence when theft occurs. Traditionally, surveillance cameras served as a presence that let thieves know “big brother” was watching, often deterring them from stealing in the first place. However, thieves are wising up and learning how to outsmart the system which has resulted in the increasingly difficult task of catching them in action.

One way to build a stronger surveillance system within your business is to use the traditional surveillance camera in tandem with covert or hidden cameras. As a first level of defense the traditional security camera will deter a person who is less motivated to steal and will catch a clumsy criminal. Surveillance cameras now come with advanced features, many of which give you the option of viewing video footage wirelessly from any location. Additional features may include infrared technology which helps provide proper night surveillance or dome shaped camera designs which are difficult to tamper with.

Covert cameras act as a second layer of defense by covering blind spots, and catching more finely tuned and planned out crimes, especially those from within the business. Covert cameras allow business owners to keep an eye on employees without their knowledge and are designed to fit seamlessly into any setting. Hidden cameras, especially self contained cameras (an object with the recording device built in- no wires, transmitters or receivers) are very difficult to detect, even for the seasoned thief. A cleverly placed wall clock, sprinkler head, or even a minute screw head hidden camera could provide a valuable record of a cash register sleight of hand. By the same token, an exit sign hidden camera could provide surveillance in a stock room or catch valuable merchandise camouflaged with the trash leaving the store.

With the many surveillance devices on the market, the possibilities for combining traditional cameras with non-traditional covert cameras for effective video surveillance are seemingly endless.