Store-wide surveillance

The challenge

What the client needed.

Blind spots across a large retail floor meant that parts of the shop could not be seen from the counter, and there was no way to review incidents after the fact. When stock went missing or a dispute arose at the till, the owner had only staff accounts to rely on.

The store had high shelving, several aisles and more than one entrance, which made it hard to watch from any single point. Staff were being asked to keep an eye on the floor while also serving customers, and neither job was being done well.

What we did

We surveyed the floor during trading hours to see where customers gathered, where staff could not see and where stock was most exposed. Camera positions were chosen to cover every aisle, the entrances and the counter, with overlapping views so that a person could be followed across the floor.

A recorder was installed in a secured location with enough storage to hold footage for a reasonable review period, and a monitor was placed at the counter so staff and customers could see that the floor was covered. Remote viewing was set up on the owner's phone with user accounts for the manager.

• Multi-camera coverage of aisles, entrances and the counter
• Network video recorder in a secured location
• Live monitoring display at the counter
• Remote viewing configured on mobile with user accounts
• Cable runs concealed above ceilings and along shelving
• Power protection for the recorder and switch

The outcome

The store now has full-floor coverage with recorded footage available for review. When something happens, the owner can find the relevant time and camera and see what took place rather than piecing it together from accounts.

The visible monitor at the counter has changed how the floor feels: customers and staff know the area is covered. The owner checks the shop from a phone when away, and the manager can review incidents without waiting for the owner to be on site.