Video Monitoring is evolving to become even more preventative with the power of real-time notifications and artificial intelligence. Ahead, two video monitoring case studies highlight the importance of remote monitoring. Though the contexts are different, the challenge is quite similar: both properties were the victim of common theft. In one, a residential property was protected from burglary by Post Alarm. In the other, Pro-Vigil put an end to catalytic converter theft at an American Red Cross facility in Eastern New York. Both offer insight into video monitoring’s proactive potential, whether the security professionals are protecting private or commercial properties.

Pro-Vigil Increase Safety & Awareness for American Red Cross

With a presence in over 27 counties and working with 1,800 volunteers to serve more than 3.6 million people, the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region is a nonprofit organization that provides relief and services to residents experiencing the effects of disasters.

Such a large operation requires warehouses to support the logistics of supplying relief, which increases exposure to security risks. To protect resources and increase situational awareness of the facilities and their surrounding property, the American Red Cross has turned to Pro-Vigil, San Antonio, Texas, for valuable around-the-clock surveillance.

Like many facilities and warehouses across the country, the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region location encountered a rash of property theft. Not surprisingly, the targeted items were the catalytic converters on the vans that the Red Cross uses as mobile blood units.

“Everyone’s heard about catalytic converter theft, and we had a couple stolen out of some of our older vehicles,” says Ed Cubanski, chief operating officer of the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region. “That’s why we looked into installing security cameras and why we signed up for remote video monitoring with Pro-Vigil.”

Cubanski notes that blood collection is a key Red Cross activity — one that provides lifesaving resources to the community.

To better protect the Red Cross facilities in his charge, Cubanski partnered with Pro-Vigil. The security experts at Pro-Vigil worked to create a site plan that provides full coverage of the warehouses and property. Since adopting this fixed solution with remote video monitoring, Cubanski says his facilities have not experienced any further catalytic converter theft, something he credits to the “eye in the sky.”

“Remote video monitoring from Pro-Vigil is like having a helicopter overhead all the time,” Cubanski says. “Using AI (artificial intelligence) and having a team of human experts to validate what the AI has identified has been essential for better securing our Red Cross facility.”

Rather than needlessly sending a person out when the system is tripped, Pro-Vigil can quickly identify whether the event is a threat and act on it as appropriate. Though fencing is a common theft deterrent (that is often easily bypassed), the American Red Cross team opted against it, owing to its imposing and unwelcoming presentation, which could make volunteers uneasy.

Since partnering with Pro-Vigil, Cubanski says that not only has there not been any further catalytic converter theft, but he has also gained a better line-of-sight across multiple properties, increasing his awareness of what’s happening at each location.

“We have a great partnership with Pro-Vigil,” he says. “I'm able to do my job better and now have far superior insights into what’s happening at each of our facilities.”

Post Alarm Prevents Theft at Residential Property in California

Security cameras and alarm systems allow end users to monitor and check in on their property. However, these security measures are only effective in preventing crime if they actively review footage and respond to alerts in real time.

One San Marino, Calif., resident discovered this when he returned home from visiting his children for Thanksgiving. After landing at LAX, he turned his phone back on and found a slew of messages and notifications from his security company and local law enforcement saying their house had been robbed. He returned home to find a burglar had broken in during their flight through a second-story door, ransacked their home, and stolen valuables and cherished items.

Their alarm system was activated once the burglar moved into the main house, and while this notified the security company and law enforcement of the event in progress, there was no measure in place to prevent the break-in and theft. Advanced methods of burglary and trespassing have been on the rise in San Marino and surrounding areas in recent years. Local police believe this home was targeted by an organized burglary ring, like several other nearby properties.

After the break-in, the homeowner decided he needed to update his security measures. A friend of his recommended a live video monitoring solution that would allow for immediate response to potential threats or incidents. The homeowner invited the Arcadia, Calif.-based Post Alarm team to his property to discuss their services and learned that they were beta-testing Night Shield, Post Alarm’s live video monitoring solution.

With Night Shield, monitoring agents are immediately notified of suspicious activity flagged by cameras with advanced analytics. They’re then able to verify a crime in progress, intervening and notifying local law enforcement — often before a break-in can occur. Post Alarm even has its own locally-based central monitoring station, where they keep a watchful eye on their clients’ properties.

“One of the advantages of our video solutions is that they’re just much more affordable than other services that are out there … because we do it all in-house,” says Rob Bado, vice president of sales and marketing, Post Alarm.

The homeowner was interested in upgrading his alarm system and installing Night Shield. Still, there was one challenge: He was traveling again for the holidays in just a few short weeks and wanted to get the security system up and running before he left. This wasn’t an issue for Post Alarm — the installation was prioritized and completed in just two days.

“A significant portion of the installation was replacing the intrusion equipment, the alarm control panel, [and] the keypad,” Bado explains. “Most of the programming of those cameras is done remotely by our in-house technician, so it doesn’t greatly extend the time of the installation.”

With the installation complete, the homeowner and his family left for their holiday ski trip. While on the mountain, they received a call from Post Alarm: Someone, a potential intruder, was on their property while they were away.

With the newly installed Night Shield services, Post Alarm’s dispatchers saw this person from the central monitoring station. They observed them peering into the home’s windows and making their way around to the back of the property. Immediately, they activated the outdoor cameras’ lights, sending a warning to the potential intruder. The person left the property as soon as the lights came on. Break-in averted.

Relieved not to relive the nightmare of another home burglary, the homeowner said of Night Shield, “It did its job; it protected us and did exactly what it was designed to do. The sense of comfort you have knowing someone is watching when you can’t is priceless. It’s so much better knowing you have technology on your side. On top of it, you have someone being alerted when the technology sees something, and that person can call the police instead of you being on vacation and watching your cameras.”

With Night Shield in place, this San Marino family feels comfortable leaving home knowing their property is under watchful protection. “It definitely saved us from being robbed a second time.”