crime

Most Cyber Attacks Are Inside Jobs

According to IBM Security research, 75% of insider cyber attacks involved malicious intent and 25% involved inadvertent actors. It was also found that the top three industries most under attack are healthcare, manufacturing and financial services, due to the large quantity of personal data, intellectual property, and physical inventory available, as well as massive financial assets, respectively.

Did You Catch An Employee Thief? Should You Prosecute?

There are many factors whether you should prosecute an employee after you have caught them red-handed. Although sometimes the decision is not yours, but simply a matter of your organizations policy or your legal teams decision. When that decision is yours to make or yours to convince others, there are many factors to consider. The time involved for you and your team can be very costly, as preparing for trial, the trial itself, and perhaps fighting or preparing an appeal can appear to outweigh the value of prosecution. You must consider what else is on your agenda to establish whether you can afford your time, or others’ time in your organization.

San Fran’s BART Withholding Surveillance Videos Of Crime To Avoid ‘Stereotypes’

In the last three months, there have been at least three robberies on BART involving groups of teenagers. “I think people are genuinely concerned – they are fearful about the stories that have come out about the recent attacks, the assaults, the thefts,” said Debora Allen, who is a member of the BART Board of Directors. “To release these videos would create a high level of racially insensitive commentary toward the district,” she was told. “And in addition it would create a racial bias in the riders against minorities on the trains.” According to a memo distributed to BART Directors, the agency won’t do a press release on the June 30 theft because it was a “petty crime” that would make BART look “crime ridden.” Furthermore, it would “unfairly affect and characterize riders of color, leading to sweeping generalizations in media reports.” The memo was from BART Assistant General Manager Kerry Hamill.

Police Say Video Surveillance Helps Solve Crime Spree

With recent statements by Reno (NV) Police, arguments made by those against the usage of video surveillance —such as the ACLU— should start to understand that overall, video surveillance is indeed making an impact on crime. Many times, those arguments go along the lines that video surveillance does not decrease crime, only helps to arrest criminals. However, if the use of video surveillance is helping to capture, arrest, and prosecute criminal offenders, then that is removing criminals from repeating crimes and causing injury. Reno Police say the main reason detectives were able to solve this recently case was the quality and amount of surveillance video provided by victims and adjacent businesses.

54% of Federal Video Surveillance Data Goes Unanalyzed

MeriTalk, a public-private partnership focused on improving the outcomes of government IT, announced the results of its new report, The Video Vortex.

The study, based on a survey of 151 Federal decision makers —evenly split between physical security and IT managers— and sponsored by EMC Corporation, looks at video surveillance across Federal IT and the opportunities for agencies to enhance the value of their video data assets.

Few Laws Regulate Police Use of Surveillance Systems

Police across the country are using increasingly sophisticated surveillance systems to monitor daily life in their communities. Ultra-high-definition cameras, software that can read license plates and recognize faces, and systems that can alert police to suspicious behavior have given law enforcement unprecedented access to our everyday activities. Average citizens and privacy advocates say the ability to monitor and record public activity at such an extraordinary level is a threat to personal privacy.

City Police Trying to Expand Eyes on Streets With New Program

City police are trying to expand their eyes on the streets. They’ve started a new program encouraging business owners and homeowners to register their surveillance cameras with the city. That way if a crime is committed in the area, police will know who might have potential evidence.

Are Taxpayer Funded Security Cameras in Downtown Columbia Effective?

After a weekend shooting in downtown Columbia, MO, ABC 17 News reached out to the Columbia Police Department to see if any parts of the incident had been caught on any of the security cameras downtown. The question was never answered. ABC 17 News also asked for a report showing numbers of how many crimes the cameras have helped solve to see if the taxpayer funded security system is effective.

Assessing Safety, Council Pays Another Visit to NYCHA Residents

"Fix the locks! Put up security cameras!" called out Olivia Taylor from a corner of the Breukelen Houses’ Community Center in southeast Brooklyn. Taylor interrupted the crowd’s silent focus on the City Council’s latest public housing hearing, until order was restored with several strikes of the committee chair’s gavel. Taylor was one of several public housing residents, lawmakers, and advocates who gathered at the public housing complex on September 16 for a hearing to discuss the roll out and progress of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s $210.5 million plan to reduce violent crime in public housing.

Rohnert Park CA PD Adds Video Registry to Crime Fighting Toolkit

Rohnert Park, CA, police are encouraging anyone with a security camera to join a new registry. Restaurant owner Isidro Velasco told ABC7 News the best investment he ever made was four security cameras that watch over his restaurant. The database in back of his restaurant records everything the camera sees. The cameras have come in handy when stuff behind the bar went missing. Valasco said he supports a plan by Rohnert Park police for a registry of security cameras to help them fight crime faster.

What Exactly Does ‘Safe Cities’ Mean?

Also known as smart cities and closely linked to the ‘internet of things’, the safe cities concept is broad and nebulous – IFSEC asked a range of security experts what it means to them. The CCTV expert: Simon Adcock, CCTV section chairman, BSIA; MD, Atec Security – – Cities are dynamic, complex environments and securing their prosperity through protecting population, assets and reputation is a major challenge.

City’s Camera Systems Help Police Keep Us Safe [Commentary]

[By Det. Robert Onishi, Renton Police Department] On July 2, a Renton resident who had parked his pickup truck at the Henry Moses Aquatic Center discovered that it had been stolen. He contacted the Renton police and an officer responded and took a report of the theft. This kind of personal violation happens throughout King County every year and as the Renton Police Detective handling auto thefts, I see how traumatic it is to these victims. Fortunately, the City of Renton has taken proactive measures to help deter auto thefts and other crimes and to help catch criminals who victimize the public.

Brentwood, CA’s First Video Surveillance Neighborhood Deters Major Crime

Despite a strong Neighborhood Watch Program and regular police patrols, Mike Hinchcliff’s upscale Brentwood neighborhood was still experiencing a handful of major crimes annually. So, he banded together with fellow neighbors to add a third element of crime prevention. After installing a neighborhood video surveillance system in spring 2013, the Sterling Preserve subdivision at the […]

Moreno Valley, CA, Private Security Cameras Could Join Police Network

Moreno Valley, CA., is looking to expand the reach of its citywide video surveillance camera program. The city already has 260 cameras posted at parks, rooftops, and intersections providing live feeds to police under a program it started two years ago. Now it’s hoping to “deputize” security cameras owned by private businesses, providing police with […]

AGT International Announces The Launch Of Groundbreaking Smart City Platform

AGT International, a global leader in city solutions, announced CityMIND 6.5, a unique solution that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to help cities efficiently manage events and resources across multiple agencies. CityMIND 6.5 is one of the first analytics engines to use data fusion and machine-learning capabilities to correlate, validate, and provide accurate information […]

Lawsuit Filed To Block Release Of SPU Shooting Surveillance Video

Lawyers representing Seattle Pacific University and as many as 30 students or others connected to the June 5 campus shooting filed a lawsuit asking the judge to block the release of surveillance video of the crime scene captured by the school’s security cameras. The unnamed parties are all either victims or witnesses of the shooting. […]

Lack Of Positive ID Delivers Not Guilty Verdict For Armed Robberies Suspect

Alexandra Gough-Hollahan, 18, was found not guilty for two attempted armed robberies that took place in St. John’s, Canada, in December 2013 due to a lack of positive identification. She was accused of using a knife while attempting to hold up an Esso service station in St. John’s and then a Marie’s Mini Mart in Paradise later […]

Cameras Playing Increasing Role In Identifying & Catching Criminals

Almost immediately after the gunfire stopped on Bourbon Street early Sunday morning, the world could catch a glimpse of an unknown gunman pumping off several rounds into the scattering crowd, thanks to a camera perched on a nearby bar’s balcony. As recently as a few years ago, police might have been lucky to get a […]

Bay County Officials Seeking $5,500 Matching Grant For Security Cameras

Bay County, MI, supervisor of buildings and grounds, gestures to where a camera will likely be installed on the Incident Command Center at the Bay County fairgrounds. Aging equipment and recent theft have led county officials to seek funding for new security cameras in two parts of the Bay County Fairgrounds complex. Debra Russell, director […]