For the past few months, the Co-Operative Society has been remotely monitoring eight of its UK stores round-the-clock. In-store CCTV, felt the supermarket chain, wasn't enough to protect employees. Remote surveillance, the Co-Op claims, has helped deter criminals and has made supermarket staff feel much safer.
Remote monitoring technology has already enabled the Co-Op to foil an armed robbery at a store near Sheffield. Three armed robbers broke into the store and demanded the takings, little knowing that their actions were being remotely monitored.
Despite ripping out the in-store VCR, the robbers were still being recorded off-site and monitored through a video and audio link by central station operators who quickly called the police.
Within 90 seconds an armed-response vehicle had arrived, listening all the time to what was happening inside the store, and shortly after the robbers were arrested. By this stage the central station had more than three minutes of audio and video evidence.
The store has been using a Vision Systems ADPRO InSight system, which is remotely monitored by Visual Verification from a central station. Rowtech installed the system.
ADPRO InSight's BiSensors combine a camera, PIR (passive infra-red) sensor and a microphone in one unit. Rowtech has installed BiSensors at various points in Co-Op stores to cover aisles, cash tills and doorways. Central station staff view images from each camera "live" via ISDN lines already used by the retailer for stock reporting. Each installation includes a two-way live audio link between the staff and the central station operators.
The system includes a button which supermarket staff can press to alert the central station. Operators at the central station can remain silent while monitoring events or can use a supermarket's public announcement tannoy to warn the offender he is being watched.
The Co-Op, which initially trialled the system at its Manor Estate store in Sheffield, will introduce remote surveillance to a further 12 stores.
Michael Howarth, chief executive of the Co-Op, says: "A number of offenders have been caught and charged as a result of remote monitoring, but the real benefit is how many criminals and criminal actions it deters."
Howarth adds: "Our staff feel safer and our business is improving. In one store alone the Society has reported a 380% improvement in performance since the regeneration programme started. We can't get [the systems] installed quick enough."
Source
SMT
