Every business owner should have a security camera system installed to protect his/her property and assets. CCTV (closed-circuit television) systems are commonly used to provide surveillance. Many corporations monitor the interior and exterior of their property to enhance security.
What are the benefits?
Sensitive/data trash
The number one theft in the United States is identity theft. Some companies do not shred their documents and instead throw them out into trash bins. As a result, the trash bins offer an open invitation to the theft of confidential personal records and use a person’s information to commit identity fraud and/or steal a company’s secret.
If your business faces a camera pointing at your dumpster, sensitive data in the trash will remain protected until the City picks up the trash. Also, the cameras provide peace of mind for employees/customers who visit an establishment. A security camera system runs continuously so in the event a crime is committed, the footage becomes evidence for the police. Some high-end CCTV cameras have the ability to zoom in and provide clear close-ups. Others operate under motion control sensors that allow the camera to follow a movement.
Theft
In high-security facilities, corporations, and establishments, the CCTV system provides a guarded and secure environment for employees and co-workers. Moreover, high-quality security cameras with timestamps and dates provide invaluable detailed information that can be used in court. And security surveillance also deters thieves from breaking into a business.
What are the potential downsides?
Surveillance cameras facing the trash receptacles outside a building tend to be vandalized if placed alone without a backup. And security camera systems that monitor more than one area may become a great expense to maintain. However, most of the downsides fall on the person or people who come across the trash bin who no longer have a right to privacy. Since all security cameras have wide angles, the camera will capture any/all activity within its vicinity.
What is dumpster diving theft in the first place?
Rummaging through trash or private property is trash diving. Many homeless people or very poor individuals search the trash for leftover food or recyclable materials such as bottles and aluminum. These folks are not criminals and are just looking for food and shelter. However, other people who go through the trash are criminals looking to steal someone’s personal information so he/she can open up a line of credit. Other reasons for diving through a business’s trash receptacle are to steal company secrets, trade agreements, and or any vital information about a competitor.
Is rooting through trash/a dumpster illegal?
Rooting through trash and/or its receptacle may or may not be illegal depending on the laws of the state. In Austin, dumpster diving is legal, so long as the person dumpster diving is not trespassing, and the dumpster is not an Austin Municipal dumpster or a State Capitol dumpster.
To get started with a surveillance system for your business, contact TC Tech Systems today.
