Crime Prevention can come in many forms. Lately, crime prevention has gone high tech. Thanks to new technology, those grainy, hard-to-see images caught on security cameras are a thing of the past. There is better technology that is much cheaper and with better resolution. Michigan’s public institutions of higher education are not only beefing up their police forces, but installing high-resolution surveillance cameras and taking other steps to prevent campus crime. Many of the colleges have mounted surveillance cameras that can pan an entire campus, and, at the same time, zoom in on a single license plate. They have also installed doors that require key cards to enter and regularly updated maps so students know where crime has occurred on campus (Source: Chicago Tribune, August 23, 2009).
Many theme parks across the country have also gone high tech. Theme parks can pose unique security problems; crowds and loud noises make it difficult to communicate with visitors and possible power outages can leave riders stranded. New security technology can allow cameras in a theme park to track someone acting suspiciously. A GPS bracelet can also help assuage the fear of losing one’s child in a crowd.
Homeowners are even going high tech with their crime prevention efforts. Surveillance cameras, once considered a crime prevention tool for use by businesses and local governments, are being installed by homeowners. For instance, in Washington, DC, in March 2009, police received a tip from a homeowner whose surveillance equipment at work alerted him to a problem at home. A motion sensor triggered an email alert, and within moments, the homeowner was watching a man break into his house. The homeowner then alerted police while the crime was taking place and provided the police with a clear image of the burglar.
Whether you have the means of obtaining high-tech equipment or not, crime prevention is important any way you conduct it. First time homeowner Brandon Durflinger requested a security visit from the Fairfax County, VA, police to ensure that he was doing everything possible to protect his home in Falls Church. He received several helpful recommendations (Source: Washington Post, July 18, 2009). Many police departments across the country will send an officer to inspect a home upon request. Some jurisdictions offer programs that help residents take inventory of their valuables, noting the brand, model, and serial number.
Crime prevention can take place in countless ways. Whatever your choice, you are sure to make yourself, your home, and your business safer when you engage in simple safety tips. Download these safety tips and help “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®.”
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