Video surveillance deters vandals © ABUS

Video surveillance deters vandals

Smashed windows, ripped out cables or graffiti on walls are well-known effects of vandalism. However, aggressive vandals know no boundaries, and can even stretch to arson, environmental offences or trespassing. They take out their anger on both public and private property.
According to police statistics, these vandals are usually young people. 30 percent are adolescents and 10 percent are children. When used in the correct educational context, video evidence can promote preventative measures among these groups and even discourage people from pursuing a criminal career.

Vandals and rioters damage corporate property

A company's premises can soon become a target for vandals - not just in remote industrial estates. A broken window caused by kids playing football is the least of your worries. Things start to get really bad when groups of people run riot, for example during demonstrations or after football matches.
Most hypermarkets today are built on greenfield sites which are very inviting for destructive vandals at night as they are rarely patrolled by the police. Some criminals have more nerve, however, and even demolish small shops near train stations or in other vibrant urban areas. Where thieves are unsuccessful and fail to get away with the cash they wanted to steal from banks and shops, they often take out their frustration by damaging either buildings themselves or unprotected security cameras in the vicinity.

Definition of vandalism

Vandalism is the behaviour attributed originally to the Vandals, by the Romans, in respect of culture: ruthless destruction or spoiling of anything beautiful or venerable. The term also includes criminal damage such as graffiti and defacement directed towards any property without permission of the owner. The Vandals, an ancient Germanic people, are associated with senseless destruction as a result of their sack of Rome under King Genseric in 455.

Source: Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandalism; Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.

Vandalism in public areas

The ability to move unrestricted on streets and in public areas is a basic need of all citizens. Unfortunately, however, the anonymity of public spaces allows potential vandals a lot of possibilities. However, vandalism is by no means just an urban phenomenon. Police statistics for 2006 show that vandals often strike in smaller communities and in towns and cities with a population of between 20,000 and 100,000.

Getting revenge on neighbours

Vandalism doesn't stop at your front door. Disputes between neighbours often result in damaged flower beds, demolished summer houses and the like. Take the required precautions by installing video surveillance. It will give you more security by protecting your property from damage, preventing accidents and documenting incidents. Always remember: you may monitor your property, but may never monitor your neighbour's garden or the street in front of your house.

What must you do when making an insurance claim?

What to do with your home insurance. Most insurance companies will check the following:

  • Has your property been deliberately damaged or destroyed?
  • Did the perpetrator illegally break into the insured premises?

Document damage for your insurance company very carefully. Recordings on your ABUS surveillance systems or videos made on your digital camera note every detail and provide evidence. Read more tips on insurance here and find out more about what to do when you make a claim.

ABUS video surveillance products that protect against vandalism

  • To protect against vandals: vandal-proof outdoor dome cameras equipped with internal cable routing and tamper protection.
  • Digital recorders with alarm functions ensure that security or the police is swiftly alerted, and called to the scene.
  • Robust surveillance equipment: protective housing provides long-term protection from violent attack.

Questions & answers

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