How about CCTV watchable by all apt residents via their cable TV?

[Squid]

I was doing residential security which had some CCTV, mostly for recording.

We had some crime, and some crime where the CCTV were of moderate benefit (got grainy pic of guy stealing car).

However, we also had a few 'busy-body' types that were concerned with shady people hanging out and passing through. These residents knew a lot more about the situation than whatever Warm Body happened to be assigned that day. Problem is they were mostly in their apt and not out watching for known Problem People.

I seems to me that it would be helpful if all residents could access CCTV via their own in home Cable TV, and that wouldn't be too hard to rig up. That would give certain residents who WANT to be eyeballing what goes on the ability to do so and do so in safety. I think it would be great deterrent once word got around there might be several residents eyeballing the CCTV in real time, not just a recording being made.

At both sites they only had Warm Body security at certain hours, mostly for parking.

I think it would also be nice for residents to monitor their kids at playground with CCTV.

[Curtis Baillie]

In the 70s I lived in a highrise apt complex in the Cleveland area that had their own video channel. It made for some pretty good drunk viewing. It was fun watching people waiting to get on the elevators.

[Security Chief]

Sounds like a good idea. Use a DTV modulator set to an unused channel and inject the signal into where the CATV is distributed throughout the building.

http://www.summitsource.com/product_...oducts_id=7852

[Condo Guard]

The place where I work had it in the 80s - if someone called you from the main entrance you could turn to the complex's cable channel and see the the car at the call box. Not sure why they gave up on it, except that they did change vendors.

Depending on what state you're in there might be some privacy issues, but generally I'd say its a good idea. We constantly get traffic jams and gate runners at our complex, and the secretaries in the office (who have a video monitor) rarely see or catch any of it. Unless we're on the scene, we usually find out by resident witnesses calling us, and then we have to go review the footage. It'd be nice if somebody called it in when it was happening...

[CameraMan]

It would be significantly cheaper to connect the camera to the internet and just give everyone access to the website.

[Nauticus]

My only issue with this is that it may also effectively reduce the overall usefulness of the CCTV by providing data such as coverage, quality, and number of cameras to a wider group of people.

I'm not accusing the people who live there of anything, but the more people who understand the blind spots and the faults in the CCTV system, the less effective that system would be.

[Condo Guard]

Nauticus brings up a good point that should be considered. You have to weigh the cost with the benefit. I wouldn't allow the residents access to any other cameras, and if you have known trouble making tenants on site, you might want to reconsider.

Without going into too much on a public forum, be careful who has access to your cameras and monitors. We have a bar on site and we know who the people are who deal in "recreational substances." The few cameras we do have are in smoke color or mirrored domes - you can't see the cameras. Amazingly, these people seem to drift off camera or in the blind spots at certain times and with the same individuals. Pretty obvious someone coached them on where the lens is pointed...

[Lawson]

That essentially sums up my take on it. I wouldn't want anyone but security to have access to the camera feed. Most residential properties I have worked on, you have just as many problems with residents and their guests and kids as you do outsiders (if not more).

I wouldn't want Billy to have Jimmy be able to start breaking into cars while he keeps an eye out for security on the CCTV from the comfort of his living room.

[buck]

Compromise. Give them access to a few of the areas but not all. The sensitive and/or better views can be restricted while the general and easily seen areas are monitored by residents.