Two robberies took place in Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, respectively and almost simultaneously. One of them, however, caused bewilderment. It was an unusual robbery to say the very least as a masked bank robber came and went quickly after robbing the customers and not the bank itself.

The second robbery incident that took place was nothing out of the ordinary, although this does not make the crime less harrowing in any way for the victims. Suntrust Bank, located at North Glebe Road in Arlington, was targeted by robbers. Everyone, however, came out unscathed although investigators still hadn’t revealed the extent, if any, of the loss resulting from the robbery.

The first robbery, on the other hand, and which only took place minutes earlier, continued to puzzle authorities. At approximately 10:45 in the morning, a masked man entered the Suntrust Bank along Kenmore Avenue.
The man carried a shotgun with him and ordered everyone to the ground. He took five purses from bank customers before leaving on foot. The bank hadn’t lost even a single penny in the incident.

The crime did not fail in arousing the people’s anger. One bank customer, Marcia Fox, said, “I know we’re having tough times, but that doesn’t excuse going and robbing people.”

Evidence obtained for the investigation was limited, with customers submitting to fingerprint analyses and surveillance photos taken within the area. The Alexandria Police also used their canine unit in hopes of quickly establishing leads for the case.

Know Who You’re Up Against with Video Surveillance
As proven earlier, having video surveillance equipment installed in your home or office is simply not enough to properly identify a would-be assailant or thief. Here are a number of tips to help you enjoy maximum protection from video surveillance.

Look for an ideal location
The best angle will give you a bird’s eye view of what’s happening in a given area. Video surveillance cameras are best mounted on the wall or ceiling, preferably in a corner.

Use an infrared-capable video surveillance camera
It will allow you to capture sharp and accurate video footage and photos even at night.

Don’t rely on video surveillance alone
While it may serve to deter and help capturing criminals, they are not capable of preventing a crime from taking place. For that, you’ll need extra safety precautions, like an automated alarm system. You may also install sensors to detect and hinder any unnecessary movement.

In Elizabeth City, North Carolina, authorities had begun to operate strategically located surveillance cameras as a way of deterring and apprehending crime.  Footage from the “eyes in the sky” is monitored not only from the cars of city police on patrol but also by police communication officers at the station and volunteers.  According to Police Chief Charles Crudup, the cameras had been effective not only in deterring crime but also in helping them solve several cases. City Councilwoman Volanda Watts, on the other hand, had shared how an Oak Grove resident had called to inform her about a noticeable decrease in noise as well as drug activity in her area.

Make Your Home Safe with a Surveillance Camera
As a private citizen, you may not have the right to install a similar security system for your neighborhood “you’ll have to wait for the local police for that” but you do have the right to protect your loved ones at home with surveillance cameras.

To Be or Not to Be Seen
It’s your choice whether or not to alert others to the presence of surveillance cameras you’ll install in your home. If you install it in a highly visible area, it could be enough to deter break-ins, robberies, or other crimes from taking place. But if you decide to use a covertly installed surveillance camera, you could use any resulting footage for establishing identities of criminals or delinquents that had come to threaten the safety of your loved ones.

To Be or Not to Be Connected
If your surveillance camera is connected to the Internet, you may be able to continue monitoring what’s happening in your home wherever you are.  Of course, this can only work if you’ve a remote network setup. Be aware, however, that allowing online access to your surveillance camera gives hackers greater chances of tapping into your security system and obtaining similar access to footage from your camera.

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As people age, their needs change along with their physical capabilities.  More seniors, for example, will require monitoring than they would when they were in their 20s, 30s, 40s or 50s, even if they are in relatively good health.  If you or a member of your family is a senior, there are gadgets you can use that will help keep them safe and secure.  With an elderly personal alarm, help will be a simple automatic call away.

Elderly personal alarms: how they work
Elderly personal alarms are battery-powered alarms that may either be worn or installed in the home.  In case of an emergency, you simply push a button on the device.  This will either sound off an alert so someone nearby can come and help you or it will send out an alert to a remote location, such as a monitoring center.  The monitoring center can call an emergency number on your behalf or alert someone regarding your condition.

What you can expect
Elderly personal alarm systems are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by a trained staff.  This will ensure that you get help whenever you need it, day or night.  Many services have national coverage, which means you can use the device wherever you are at the moment.

An important thing to remember: always make sure that your personal alarm is loaded with fresh batteries.  This will ensure that you get the help you need when you need it.  Consider professional maintenance as well so any defects or malfunctions are corrected immediately.

What to look for
Consider your needs above all when buying an elderly personal alarm.  Today, you have an excellent array of choices in terms of options on top of the basic features you’ll get upon purchase. Other than a medical alert, the system might also include physical signs monitoring or ambient room temperature monitoring, a very useful feature for bedridden individuals.  Purchase the services that are most important for you and don’t spend money on services you won’t need.

There are also elderly personal alarms that double as security systems.  Some features, for example, offer to monitor intruder alerts, something that can help secure your premises.  There are also others that automatically contact the police in case you find yourself in an emergency or duress situation.

When deciding on an elderly personal alarm, always look for a reliable product and service to back it up.  Remember that it could be your life and health on the line.  A low quality product and an unreliable service could endanger you or your loved one.  Have a representative demonstrate how the service works and check the time it would take for the monitoring center to act after you initially press the emergency button.  Look for an uncomplicated procedure.  The easier it is to use the alarm, the less time you waste.  Check the warranty period as well.

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