Just this past Sunday night through Monday morning, a series of eight armed robberies and carjackings occurred in the South Loop and Northwest Side of Chicago. In each case, the victims were ambushed by two to four people and in some cases beaten and robbed.

This increase in serial incidents have prompted police to ask the public for help.

What can Residents do to Improve their Safety?

Download and Use the Chicago OEMC App

The official safety app of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) became available back in February.

It provides residents with preparedness tips, safety information, alerts, and the CHI Safe Walk. The CHI Walk feature shares your location with a friend or family member when walking or traveling alone. Additionally, it has the option to call the police by pressing only one button.

Download the app here

Collaborate with OEMC by linking Privately-owned Public Cameras.

Chicago property and business owners have the option to link their public cameras to the OEMC network. The main goal for residents to work with OEMC is to accelerate the process of solving crimes. When participating in the program, police are granted access to private public cameras. This minimizes valuable time that is spent calling, downloading, and sending footage from one individual to another.

One example of how communication can be delayed during an emergency is when an association or business has a new employee that doesn’t know the password or how to operate the system.

When something like this happens, we first contact the main account holder to approve the request. Once they approve it, we assist the new employee or walk them through the process of downloading the footage. And lastly, we save and send the footage to the police. This simple process can typically take a few days to complete and delay cases that are time sensitive.

Is Genetec Stratocast Video the Right Option for You?

If you are considering connecting your cameras to OEMC but still feel unsure about how this can help your organization, the experience of these two customers might help.

This is how these clients are using Genetec Stratocast cloud video surveillance to collaborate with Chicago police and manage their systems:

Client #1 – Parking Corporation

Our long time client, a parking corporation, wanted to connect their camera system to the Chicago’s office of Emergency Management & Communication (OEMC). With OEMC connection, police can access camera feed from outdoor cameras during emergencies and after appropriate notification has been given.

We recommended Genetec Stratocast video service as all cameras can be accessed and managed in the cloud.

We upgraded their 1080P HD camera to a 4K camera. The new system was not only compatible with OEMC but provided up to four times higher resolution than the standard 1080 resolution.

Client #2 – Apartment Complex

Another long-time client, an apartment complex, contacted us to replace their old camera system. They wanted the new system to be easier to manage and to have more coverage.

We replaced the old cameras with 4-lens cameras to provide 180 degree coverage.

They also opted to connect their cameras to OEMC. They report that the service makes it easier to manage the system from one central station and has improved communication with police during incidents.

Will Police Have Access to All My Cameras?

It’s important to clarify that police will only have access to cameras that are recording in public areas and will still communicate with the camera owner before accessing footage. This is also an agreement that could be revoked if the owner no longer wants to share access.

What do Property and Business Owners Need to do to Connect their Public Cameras to OEMC?

The most practical solution is Genetec Stratocast Video Surveillance. This is a well-established and reliable cloud solution that many associations, properties, and businesses are already using. Some of these include: The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council, The Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field ballpark, and SSA districts.

Want to implement the use of this technology to help reduce crime in Chicago? Contact us to discuss the process or to get a quote by calling 773-388-1208.

The post Can Public Cameras Connected to OEMC Reduce Crime? appeared first on VinTech Systems.

One day you recognize that your property is in crucial need of security.  You begin by researching a few local companies, reviewing their ratings, and making phone calls. Some companies reply immediately, others a few hours later and some let’s say, too late to consider. Once you’ve identified a few good candidates, you get to the last step of the process: reviewing the proposals. That’s the most critical part of the decision making process.

Being in the service industry, we’ve worked with many customers. We’ve heard numerous stories from clients who regretted not comparing vendors and accepting the first proposal or the lowest bid, which ended up costing them much more in the long run.

When a bargain isn’t always a bargain.

If a contractor’s low bid seems too good to be true, it probably should not be trusted. A contractor may have the lowest initial bid, but they will usually try to make up the difference through hidden charges and fees for materials and service equipment not included on the original bid. “Unexpected” charges can result in property owners paying an amount equal or greater than the highest bid.

So how can you identify the best solution at the best price?

Ask the following three questions:

What are you really quoting here?

Comparing Apples to Apples

A lower price doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best deal. To compare a security system contract efficiently, it’s important to understand what it offers. The key is to evaluate the equipment and services on the same scale. Compare apples to apples. For example, recently a client called us for an estimate on installation of high definition security cameras. We provided a quote with 3 mega-pixel cameras with a wide dynamic range function to block sunlight because we know regular high definition cameras will not capture details if there is excessive sunlight. Our client asked why our price was higher than the other company.  We explained that the other company only offered regular high definition cameras. We suggested that the client ask the other company if they would match with the same or at least similar functionality for the cameras. Without understanding what type of system or equipment they’re comparing, most people will likely choose the lower bid. When quotations offer the same quality on equipment, other variables such as warranty on equipment, warranty on labor and maintenance plans will increase the value.  What is most important to you?

What is the warranty on the equipment and what does the maintenance consist of?

Quality versus Quantity

Companies offer anywhere from 3 months to 2 years’ warranty on the equipment and/or labor. Do not assume either of these will have a warranty unless it is clearly stated on the estimate. Ask about their maintenance plans and the benefits of adding this plan at the time of your installation. Proper maintenance can save you lots of $$$ and time. Learning about these policies will give you a good start in building a relationship with your new security provider.

Do you have a list of references and can I contact them?

Online reviews vs. Personal recommendations

The company you choose to work with needs to be able to respond to your needs promptly. Ask for references, if possible for projects similar to yours. Instead of saying something like: “I heard great things about your security company, how do you like the service?” try this: “I am looking for a security provider and contacted your current company, can you tell me what type of security system you have, how long you’ve been with them and your overall experience? These questions leave room for the client to speak freely. Online reviews are great, but might only be the first impression of a company. Ask for references of long-term clients as they will be able to give you a more comprehensive overall review of the company.

We hope these questions will be helpful with your next security project. Good luck.

The post Reasons not to Sign your Security System Contract appeared first on VinTech Systems.