2007 has been a great year for video surveillance - improvements in technology, widespread applications, and predictions for the future of network cameras. Here are some of our most memorable posts:

Parking garages can be dangerous places, especially at night when there aren't many folks around. Finding your car is hard enough, and when you consider the potential threats in these parking structures, it's easy to understand how security cameras could play a critical role when it comes to safety and protection. In Stamford, Conn. for instance, the city has made plans to install security cameras in each of its three downtown parking facilities.

North County, California didn't cut corners when it came to security for its new Sprinter rail line, which is expected to start transporting travelers between Escondido and Oceanside next month. Security cameras will closely monitor all 15 stations along the line, as well as parking lots, rails, and train cars. Video images are sent to 48-screen control room located in the Sprinter operations center in Escondido.

A man broke into Cesar's flowers in San Jose, CA in mid-December, ordering owner Celina Sandoval and her young son to the floor and emptying the cash register. He didn't get away with much cash - but the robbery has had Sandoval scarred ever since

47 light-rail stations in the Sacramento Regional Transit District are now monitored by a combination of fixed megapixel cameras and PTZ security cameras. The new surveillance system provides police and security personnel with real-time video feeds of activity in and around the stations.

Philadelphia is one of a handful of big U.S. cities that has fully committed to widespread video security in the past year. This week, Philadelphia police unveiled a new state of the art surveillance command center which monitors hundreds of security cameras now operating throughout the city.

Here's a unique example of video surveillance in action, courtesy of Florida's Gulfarium Marine Park. The marine park, located on the beachfront of the Gulf of Mexico, hosts marine shows such as the world-famous Top Deck Dolphin Show, and other animal attractions in a facility that includes tanks containing 500,000 gallons of water. Recent security breaches, including an incident where a group of spring breakers snuck into the park after hours to swim with the animals, have caused the park to enhance its level of security. The first step was implementing a video surveillance system to protect the animals, secure park facilities, and also to give trainers and veterinarians deeper insight into the lives of these sea-faring creatures. The surveillance system is comprised of four D-Link DCS-6620G wireless optical zoom network cameras, and three D-Link DCS-3420 wireless day and night IP cameras.

Greece's Egnatia Motorway is a monumental road construction project linking Europe and Asia. Developers have turned to Axis network cameras as a way to provide wireless traffic surveillance to the motorway's most difficult route, a 9 km stretch of varied terrain that runs from the Metsovo interchange to the Peristeri interchange. The Motorway has installed 14 Axis 213 PTZ network cameras to watch traffic and provide video security along this section, which includes two interchanges, six tunnels, and two bridges.

The city of Helsinki plans on acquiring upwards of 150 new surveillance cameras to be installed in public places and sensitive areas over the next couple years. The aim is to increase the overall level of security, allowing citizens to feel safe in all areas of the city. The new surveillance plan calls for fixed security cameras, as well as portable surveillance cameras that can be used for large public events.

In the small town of Sergnano, Italy, which employs just two police offers to protect 3,000 inhabitants, an IP camera system has been deterring and catching criminals-- particularly vandals-- so successfully that the system paid for itself within a year of its implementation. The system covers an area of thirteen square kilometers, which made traditional analog CCTV impossibly expensive. Instead, IndigoVision, the company that installed the system, came up with a combined wired and wireless network for the cameras, facilitating cost-effective IP surveillance of remote areas.

Looking to boost its Security Systems division, Bosch has agreed to purchase Extreme CCTV for $92 million. Extreme CCTV is a provider of sophisticated video surveillance products that include everything from infrared illuminators to products designed to scan and capture license plate numbers. By acquiring CCTV, Bosch aims to extend its position in the continuously growing video surveillance market.

Last Wednesday's tragic shooting at the Crossroads Mall in Omaha, NE had victims and pundits alike asking questions - how and why did this happen? Why wasn't security better prepared? What can be done to make malls safer?

Time is the crucial element of bobsledding (or bobsleighing, as it is called in the UK). Bobsledders hurl themselves down an icy track in a specially calibrated track, trying to beat the clock and outpace their competitors. UK-based video surveillance company Scryron, known for their intelligent digital video systems used by police and courtrooms all over the UK, has teamed with the British Bobsleigh team to use video surveillance equipment to help improve the sledders' race times.

Director Adam Rifkin's new film "Look" opens in limited release on Dec. 14. What makes the film so interesting is that it's shot entirely from the perspective of surveillance cameras. Rifkin got the idea after noticing the number of security cameras monitoring his shopping experience at Target. He decided it to use the film medium as a way to closer examine how video surveillance affects our daily lives.

Each and every time the Olympics Games are in session, we hear quite a bit about the security measures being taken by the host city. In 2008, the Olympics will be held in Beijing, and as always, security is a key concern. When it comes to video security for the 2008 Games, IBM plans on making a big splash with its Smart Surveillance System. This sophisticated computer system will be used to scan video images of Beijing streets in an effort to spot suspicious activity and potential terrorist threats.

Car manufacturing sites can benefit greatly from video surveillance systems for a variety of reasons. Not only do surveillance cameras help to secure these facilities, but they can also protect employees from the potential dangers that exist when working with automated machinery. The KIA Motors production plant in Slovakia, which recently installed a comprehensive surveillance network, presents us with a great example of how a manufacturing facility can benefit from video security.

Drusillas Park, a 15 acre small-animals zoo in the UK, recently added a series of Optex IP cameras to protect its animal tenants, which include meerkats, owls, gibbons, otters, and attractions like a Thomas the Tank Engine train ride.

Edinburgh Castle, the top tourist attraction is Scotland, is replacing its existing analog CCTV cameras with a new, IP-based video surveillance system. Using IndigoVision's IP Video technology, the new system will offer greater flexibility, remote video monitoring, and can be easily upgraded without disrupting the sensitive areas of the castle. What's most interesting is that, along with hosting millions of visitors each year, the Edinburgh Castle also continues to be occupied by the army. The military presence combined with the constant stream of tourists makes it all the more important to have an effective video security system.

Cisco surveillance cameras have a starring role in the TV smash Heroes - not as a shapeshifting or time traveling Hero, but as a form of strict security for Primatech Paper.

Nassau police tested a cutting-edge surveillance system this week at the city's annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. The system, which utilizes AgileMesh wireless technology, allowed the police force to monitor live camera footage from a mobile command truck. 20 cameras, some of which were provided by AgileMesh for the test, monitored and recorded the activities of revelers as the welcomed in the holiday season. Archived footage from the festivities will be reviewed so police can evaluate the effectiveness of the system.

The Delaware Psychiatric Center has installed 200 digital surveillance cameras in response to a series of incidents that exposed security issues in and around the facility. The new system will help to improve security for hospital employees and patients, and will provide important visual evidence in complaint investigations.

Vending machine designers have struggled for years to stay one step ahead of would-be snack food cons; adding features that make pilfering candy and sodas difficult and not worth it for the petty thief. A string of vending machine break-ins and thefts in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania has prompted major action from Coca Cola - who's pulling out all the stops to find two men suspected of major vending machine theft.

The Pittsburgh Police Department is one of several police agencies utilizing cutting-edge technology to scan license plates from roving surveillance cameras on their cruisers. The city has been using the technology for a couple years now and it appears to be paying off. In the past two years, the cameras have helped Pittsburgh police successfully recover 180 stolen cars.

It's more than common - graffiti, street art, vandalism, tagging...Whatever word you choose to assign to it, it's pervasive. Police and law enforcement around the world have been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with graffiti artists for years, only able to follow clues and witness accounts to prosecute street artists - who often slink and spray under the cover of darkness.

The Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse was recently outfitted with a comprehensive security camera system to monitor the day to day activities within the facility. This is no small installation. Areas under surveillance within the courthouse include 20 courtrooms and hearing rooms, prison cells, stairwells, hallways, lobbies, entrances and exits. There are also cameras situated outside the courthouse. All told, the surveillance system consists of 80 digital security cameras which are monitored from a control room in the basement of the courthouse. The wide-reaching system allows security personnel to continuously monitor areas of the facility that physically they couldn't possibly patrol simultaneously.

Remote video monitoring company Westec Interactive has purchased Digital Witness, a subscription-based surveillance company offering services geared for small to medium sized businesses in major U.S. cities. The acquisition will increase Westec's concentration on metropolitan markets and enhance its customer service relations by employing Digital Witness' unique subscription-based model.

Gary Andrews, owner of the Kountry Kitchen located in downtown Durham, NC is still recovering from an October 8 break-in. Coincidentally, Durham had just installed a state-of-the art wireless camera system in its downtown business district. So why didn't the surveillance cameras catch the Kountry Kitchen Krooks? Wireless.

Palo Alto High School installed a new video surveillance system earlier this year, and so far the added visual security has been especially helpful in deterring locker room theft. The system uses fixed-dome security cameras in conjunction with electronic keycard door locks. The cameras monitor the gym locker rooms while the cardkey system prevents unauthorized intruders from entering the facilities.

An important, and seemingly obvious, key to the success of any network camera solution is to avoid blocked, manipulated, or redirected video signals. This is especially critical in surveillance locations where the cameras are susceptible to damage, vandalism or tampering, for instance in schools, prisons, transit stations, and harsh outdoor environments. One way to prevent lost signals in these situations is to employ cameras with weather-proof or vandal-proof housing. And recently, Axis Communications came up with an even more sophisticated solution; an "Active Tampering Alarm" that automatically alerts security staff any time a camera disruption is detected.

Police officials in Montebello, Calif. announced this week the successful installation of a surveillance system aimed at stopping graffiti taggers in their tracks. The new cameras use "Tagger Trap" technology, a sophisticated detection system that recognizes the ultrasonic frequency emitted by spray paint cans. When the act of graffiti is perceived, the cameras zoom in on pre-assigned target areas and send notification to authorities monitoring the scene from the police department.

Pelco recently announced a collaboration with SmartConnect that will result in a new software platform for loss prevention in casinos. The platform enables Endura, Pelco's IP-based video security system, to operate in conjunction with SmartConnect's CasinoVision POS Version 4.1 security software.

Using funds from the Department of Homeland Security, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) will soon upgrade its surveillance equipment at select stations to include video analytics, or "exception detection," as they're calling it. Exception detection systems use sophisticated software to detect suspicious activities such as unattended packages, dubious individuals, and other potential threats.

Surveillance video from a Clearwater, FL security camera could be the turning point in an investigation into a near-fatal accident involving Nick Bollea (son of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan).

Smashing pumpkins is a tradition as old as time itself. When autumn leaves fall, and the season of candy-hoarding and turkey-basting hits full bloom, those bright orange gourds become prime targets for anyone with a strong arm, or a good pair of steel-toed boots. But for a group of young pumpkin punishers in Baltimore, the experience could come back to haunt, thanks to one man's home surveillance system, and the irrefutable video evidence it provided.

Logitech International announced today that it has entered into an agreement to acquire WiLife, creator of an award-winning PC-base video surveillance solution for homes and small offices. The acquisition will allow Logitech to expand its ever-growing presence in the digital home, this time, by offering an affordable, easy-to-install home security option.

Go go gadget cigarette machine. Leave it to the wildly creative folks of Japan to come up with a product this thought-provoking. Kyoto-based vending machine maker Fujitaka Co. has found an entirely different use for facial-recognition technology. The company has developed a cigarette machine equipped with a tiny camera that can analyze facial features to determine if an individual is too young to purchase smokes.

TriMet's MAX light rail service, which transports riders throughout Portland, Oregon, and its surrounding areas, has come under fire because of the delayed installation of security cameras at the Gresham Central Transit Center. Currently, Gresham is the only city in the area that doesn't have security cameras monitoring its MAX line. While plans are in the works to install at least eight cameras at Gresham Central, the area continues to suffer from high crime rates.

The Nashville school system has made plans to equip three schools and an administration building with high-tech security cameras featuring facial-recognition capabilities. The 75,000-student district is the first in the nation to use face-recognition technology. The cameras operate using sophisticated video analytics which allow them to spot unfamiliar faces as well as the faces of specific intruders who have been barred from school grounds.

Intrepid employees at a Wood Village, OR Papa Murphy's restaurant helped end a two-week robbing spree - by fingering the thief after he tried to rob their store again. Thanks to a combination of physical evidence on surveillance cameras, the suspect's license plate number and some quick thinking, Papa Murphy's employees identified Robert James Peart as the thief who had struck their store, as well as several other pizza chains and tanning salons in the days since October 21.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART), which serves riders throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, has big plans for a major video surveillance overhaul aimed at protecting riders from everyday crime as well as the threat of terrorism. State-of-the-art security cameras will be placed in stations, along tracks, in all trains and parking lots, and throughout other BART facilities. While the transit system has an existing surveillance network, the new one will be far more comprehensive and will feature cutting-edge technology including IP cameras and sophisticated software capable of video analytics.

Looking to secure high-crime areas and cut down on gun violence, the city of Philadelphia this week announced plans to dramatically expand its surveillance program. Currently Philly's high-tech crime-fighting program consists of 18 security cameras, but that number will increase substantially with the addition of 250 network cameras. When you consider that the 18-camera system reduced violent crime by 37% in the areas it monitored, it's easy to understand why the city is very enthusiastic about building up its surveillance network.

A handful of McDonald's restaurants in Denmark are now serving up an IP surveillance full-meal deal. The comprehensive network surveillance system, known as CheckView, is being used to heighten security and curb shrinkage - the age-old problem of lost assets. CheckView is an integrated point of sale (POS) and video system that operates using Milestone's XProtect software. The combination of CheckView and XProtect gives McDonald's the ability to take advantage of the most cutting-edge IP surveillance technology.

Network camera giant Axis Communications announced last week the sale of its 1 millionth camera. That milestone is especially noteworthy when you consider that a high percentage of those sales have occurred in the last couple years. And the company has good reason to think it won't be long before its next million, or even 10 million IP network cameras are sold.

Frank Waterhouse had a major victory against the City of Portland when he was acquitted of charges of criminal trespass and disorderly contact. Now, he and three others are suing the Portland Police department for damages, claiming the police violated their constitutional rights when they tried to film a property search in May 2006. See video from Waterhouse's camera inside....

The scene: an El Cheapo convenience store in Charleston, South Carolina. Off-duty police officer and mayoral candidate Omar Brown swings by El Cheapo to grab some snacks - a seemingly normal stop on a normal day off work. Brown never tasted the chemically sweetness of his snack cakes, however. Before he left, he had shot another man, Antonio Rivers, seven times. After the smoke cleared, controversy began to boil over. However, Brown has been cleared of any charges. Why? El Cheapo's comprehensive surveillance system.

A new restaurant is open for business at the Dutch university of Wageningen. Not on the menu, but ever-present at what's being referred to as the "restaurant of the future," is a full-scale network of surveillance cameras designed to monitor the every move of its patrons. What's the purpose of this intrusion? To track diners and study how different factors affect their eating habits. It's a novel idea, and fear not, University staff who eat at the restaurant must first sign a consent form in which they agree to be monitored.

After a recent FBI index release showed St. Louis crime rates to be unacceptably high, the city has made plans to install a network of security cameras that will maintain a closer watch on downtown. The new surveillance system will include eight wireless pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) cameras strategically placed in trouble spots throughout the area. The system is loosely modeled after existing surveillance networks operating in Baltimore and Chicago.

Students at Dartmouth High School in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, are calling for increased security at their high school after a rash of violent assaults and fights - incidents which have landed several students in the hospital.

Last weekend in Long Beach, security cameras operating on a mesh network helped keep the peace during the annual Irish Heritage Festival. While the festival is all about good times, big crowds are often conducive to criminal activity, so the Long Beach police force wasn't taking any chances. With 60 officers on patrol, and security cameras out in the open as well as on top buildings, they did their best to ensure the safety of the festival's participants and revelers.

Stealing from old people is just plain wrong. Thankfully, the three unforgivable crooks who swiped a purse from a helpless 95-year-old lady in Flint last week did not go unseen. That's because the Flint Township is in the process of installing what's known as the Safe City security camera system, a network of surveillance cameras aimed at monitoring the township's commercial strips. Images of the recent purse-snatching were captured by the system and then sent to the police. End result: the three suspects are now in custody.

For most people, a trip to the museum means a chance to gaze upon some truly remarkable works of art. But even the most seemingly innocent group of observers could be conjuring up a Thomas Crowne-like affair. Heists and vandalism are an unfortunate reality in the art world, and due to the priceless nature of these one-of-a-kind works, video security is a vital concern at museums.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has ordered that Blackwater convoys transporting private contractors, supplies and weapons around Iraq be monitored by video surveillance after several controversial incidents involving Blackwater contractors in Iraq.

Ten years after the fatal crash that killed beloved Diana, Princess of Wales and her companion, Dodi Fayed, the cause of Diana's death is still extremely controversial. Many accuse Diana's driver, Henri Paul, of being intoxicated - which explains the deadly crash. Now, surveillance footage from the Paris Ritz-Carlton, where Diana and Fayed were staying, has shed new light on the argument over Paul's sobriety.

One of the great advantages of IP surveillance over traditional analog CCTV is remote video monitoring. IP surveillance allows authorized users to access streaming video feeds via the Internet on any PC with a network connection. In the case of Michigan's Carman-Ainsworth High School, this technology will soon provide the local police department with full access to the school's security cameras at all times.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg made his feelings about video surveillance loud and clear during a press conference in London yesterday. Bloomberg, who's spending part of his London "holiday" observing the city's comprehensive security camera network, is looking to implement a similar system in New York City. Critics claim the cameras are a breach of privacy, but yesterday Bloomberg called such detractors "very naive," noting that everyone he's talked to in London supports the use of technology as a way to enhance security.

This week, at the ASIS International 2007 conference in Las Vegas, Sony unveiled two new network camera models, the SNC-RX530N and SNC-RX570N. The cameras are designed to offer a wider dynamic range along with increased sensitivity.

The graffiti problem in Los Angeles' North Hollywood area is so bad, the city has decided to employ high-tech security cameras that not only monitor specific areas, they also speak to taggers caught in the act.

We've talked quite a bit about how IP surveillance technology has affected home security. New digital systems are far more effective and functional than their analog predecessors, and as the technology continues to improve, digital surveillance equipment has become affordable even to the average homeowner. A recent break-in of a household in Framingham, Mass. demonstrates the effectiveness of digital surveillance in the home.

Two of the greatest things in the world are ice cream and cash. This week in Melbourne, Florida, a cold-hearted thief visited a Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop and walked off with both. The man in question was in the process of purchasing an undisclosed varietal of ice cream when he slyly stuck his mitts into the employee tip jar and scooped out $160 in folding cash. How do we know this? It's all caught on video provided by the shop's surveillance system.

360-degree video surveillance enables users to get comprehensive views of broad areas with a single security camera. This technology is especially popular for large open areas such as casino floors. Now imagine a 360-degree camera that utilizes some of today's more sophisticated surveillance innovations and you'll get an idea of what Sentry, a leader in 360-degree technology, is going for with its latest camera release.

Watching game footage is one of the most important strategies for football teams - it allows them to predict offensive and defensive moves, prepare strategies and anticipate the cohesiveness of their opponent. So important is the footage of opponent games that teams often hire cameramen to film the games for future research. One cameraman, however, may be in trouble for recording too much.

Axis networks cameras were recently installed at the Rose Bowl (no, not the home of the mighty USC Trojans, but rather the stadium that fields England's famed Hampshire County Cricket club). Folks, cricket is a big deal. In fact, it ranks just behind soccer (or futbol) as the second most popular sport in the world. And cricket matches at the Rose Bowl draw large crowds. In order to properly monitor those crowds, and to protect facility and those within it, the stadium's surveillance system has been upgraded with Axis IP cameras and video servers.

Over at The Consumerist, editor Ben Popken describes a situation reoprted by a reader who lost her cell phone while conducting business at a local credit union.

In the wake of the worst school shooting in US history, worries about student and classrooms afety are at an all-time high. Schools around the country have implemented security systems - ranging from the simple to the highly complex - in an effort to make the learning environment as safe as possible.

Parallel parking for the first time is never easy - there's the careful initial alignment, and the tricky backwards steering and fingers-crossed reversing into the spot. Hopefully, if all goes as planned, the maneuver will be over soon. However, we all know that these things don't always go as planned - and sometimes, an attempt at parallel parking ends in a gut-wrenching crunch. This is how driving has been for years - a game of chance - a game that many auto makers are trying to change.

Worries over stocks, bonds, and a sagging housing market have peppered the news of late, and economic forecasts have been gloomy for nearly every industry - except video surveillance. Investment kingpins over at The Motley fool have predicted that the video surveillance market may be in for a boom.

Arkansas football fans won't be the only ones doing the watching when they attend Razorbacks games this fall. As they observe the players on the field, the fans themselves will be closely monitored by a new 60-camera surveillance system recently installed in Razorback Stadium.

Thanks to an innovative new surveillance system, it's going to be a lot easier to keep watch over the old family farm, at least if you live in Finland. ASAN Security Technologies has joined forces with the Finnish Data Processing Centre Ltd. to develop the system which is designed specifically for professional use in farming.

Garland, Texas is taking long strides to ensure that the city's water is safe. The biggest step involves the recent relocation of its Water Operation Center to an unmarked building equipped with a comprehensive video surveillance system.

We're all fans of UPS, right? They deliver our goods. They wear awesome matching outfits that usually involve snazzy brown shorts. What's not to love? Well, just like the rest of us, UPS workers are human and prone to occasional lapses in judgment. And sometimes those lapses are captured in vivid detail by home security cameras.

Celebrity superstar Britney Spears has led a life in the limelight for nearly ten years. In that time, she has had experienced much in the public eye: annulments, marriages, childbirth, nervous breakdowns, public drunkenness, divorce, and most recently a custody battle.

Stealing a security camera is one of the more foolish moves a robber can pull. Turning around and running away is probably a better option. Reason being, the camera itself does not typically store the recorded footage. In the case of IP cameras, video footage is transmitted across a network and stored digitally on a server, hard drive, or network video recorder. While analog surveillance cameras transmit video which is recorded and archived on cassette tapes. Anyone who attempts to tamper with or steal a security camera is going to show up on the recordings, and it's quite possible that someone will even be watching the scene unfold live. A recent incident involving a skate shop in Indianapolis provides us with a good example of how even a stolen camera can stop thieves in their tracks and help turn them in.

Visualize this scenario: You're sitting in bumper to bumper traffic in the Oldsmobile you inherited from your grandpa. The windows are rolled down because the air conditioning gave out years ago. A wall of heat encompasses you, and the cassette deck is jammed, stuck playing on a constant loop the Muppets tape you popped into the player two weeks ago for ironic purposes. You look to your left and to your dismay a Mazda Miata zips by with its top down revealing a lone rider, the driver, who's singing Phil Collins' "Another Day in Paradise" at the top of his lungs. You hear just enough for it to stick in your head, then raise your fist to the roof in a fit of rage. Sound familiar? Wait, are you telling me YOU are one of those people who illegally sneaks into the carpool lane in order to bypass hours of traffic each day? Well my friend, your day of reckoning may be just around the S-curve, thanks to a group of UK scientists who have developed a roadside surveillance camera that can actually calculate the number of people inside a moving vehicle. That's right. Welcome to the slow lane.

While the use of security cameras has increased significantly over the years, and video surveillance equipment is more advanced than ever before, security specialists are still hard at work trying to find ways to make the cameras more intelligent. The goal, essentially, is to create cameras with brains. Right now the focus is on video analytics. IP cameras and video recorders which utilize video analytics are able to spot specific predetermined activity thanks to sophisticated software algorithms. Examples include advanced motion detection, facial or behavioral recognition, people counting, and even spotting situations where an object is left behind, or a car is parked too long in a certain location.

One area that doesn't get much attention is outdoor surveillance. I'm not talking about outside the home or office, but rather, way... way outside, like in the woods, where there's no power, or protection from the elements. Such locations are trouble spots for anyone trying to employ video security for obvious reasons, and until recently, there wasn't really a reasonable way to provide it. Think about the park service, wildlife and game agencies, or ranchers as examples of potential users. There are outdoor video systems on the market, but most still require power. Recently however, Smarter Security unveiled their new Smarter DVR 100 as a way to solve this issue. The Smarter DVR 100 is a self-enclosed unit that's weatherproof and features a camera, recording device and battery power all built in.

One of the major benefits of IP-based surveillance and network cameras is digital storage. Think about a traditional CCTV system. The footage is stored on analog cassettes. To scour though analog surveillance footage for images of a specific incident isn't much different than sorting through a pile of home videos you've kept on VHS. In other words, it's not fun, and will likely result in a headache and hours of lost time. Not to mention, the quality of the images diminishes if tapes are reused. But with digital security cameras, the images are crisp, and combing through footage is usually as simple as a few mouse clicks, which is a great relief, as evidenced by this real-life example involving a convenience store in Ottawa, Kansas.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation currently maintains about 100 traffic cameras along a stretch of I-95 that runs between Greenwich and Branford. The cameras provide information on traffic accidents, congestion, and overall highway conditions. While still images from the cameras are viewable online via the DOT Web site, there are plans to allow first responders to gain access to live streaming images as a way to speed up reaction time and provide emergency personnel with a better idea of the incidents at hand.

74-year-old Jack Wilcox saw a need in his Stockton, Calif. community, and went out and did something about it. The wily elder-statesman succeeded in convincing 55 residents of his cul-de-sac on Lake Union to each contribute $49 towards seven security cameras to protect their neighborhood. Residents will be able to access the camera footage online via their personal computers. According to Wilcox, the neighborhood has experienced a number of break-ins and the time had come to up the level of safety for its residents and their property.

Apartment surveillance cameras are becoming more and more popular - property managers and landlords install cameras to protect the building from vandalism and break-in, and help keep their tenants and their belongings safe. Even better, as IP video becomes a more widespread and realistic surveillance solution, apartment surveillance systems have become more and more complex, capturing more images that were never visible before.

The United Kingdom is no stranger to security cameras. One of the first developed nations to use CCTV and video surveillance in everyday life, the UK has a staggering amount of cameras in public places - one camera for every fourteen people. Most of these cameras are stationary, on sidewalks, roadways, and in public transit stations. Police will unveil a new sort of mobile camera soon, though - one hoped to curtail a common problem.

A series of seemingly unprovoked attacks near downtown Charlottesville, Va. has prompted business owners to seek out an effective form of video security for the popular shopping area. The public's confidence in the Downtown Mall's level of safety has waned due to the widely publicized attacks, each of which featured the same group of youths assaulting innocent pedestrians. Many malls and shopping areas install security cameras to both cut down on theft and also to enhance the overall level of safety by deterring these types of assaults and criminal acts. Surveillance footage can also prove extremely valuable to investigators tracking down suspects involved in incidents after they've been reported.

Red light cameras have become a great fundraising tool for cities and municipalities everywhere. Tickets for light-runners help police forces focus on serious crimes and not minor traffic infractions. Australian police have taken this principle and expanded it to include freeways and byways in New South Wales - this time using cameras designed to capture license plate numbers.

Usually, when parking a car in a lot at a mall, you get the standard security reminder: hide your belongings, lock your car, take your valuables with you. These are thought to be the best way to prevent break-ins, car theft, and expensive repair for things like broken windows. However, a rash of unusual crimes around the Washington, D.C. metro area has made parking lot security officials think twice about the standard precautions.

A bank robber with a classic disguise discovered something last week that most of us learned from Kermit the Frog -- it's not easy being green. James Coldwell, 49, attempted to rob a Manchester bank while wearing an assortment of leafy tree branches and shrubbery duct-taped to his head and body. It's also important to note that Coldwell sports a thick moustache. While such a disguise often works in the cartoons, it failed to fool the bank's security camera system which was able to see past the branches to capture clear images of Coldwell during his sordid operation.

New York City will soon be taking strides towards emulating the vast surveillance network that currently monitors London. With both cities recognized as high-profile terrorist targets, it makes sense that comprehensive video surveillance installations would play a significant role in their security efforts. While London's expansive surveillance network has been criticized by some as a breach of privacy, it has helped to identify suspects involved in a number of terrorist plots including the London subway bombings in 2005 and last month's car bombings. The program proposed by New York's Lower Manhattan Security Initiative, when fully operational, will resemble the sweeping network of cameras and roadblocks which works to detect and track terrorist activity throughout London. It will be the first of its kind in the United States.

The Arden Fair Mall was in desperate need of an upgrade to its existing security system, which featured only 19 security cameras -- not nearly enough to cover the 77-acre mall. Their solution? A $1.5 million security overhaul that includes 128 state-of-the-art digital surveillance cameras. The expansive surveillance system provides coverage of virtually every square inch of the complex, from public areas and parking lots, to loading areas and service corridors.

It's a common problem that plagues restaurants everywhere - employees invite their friends to come in for a meal, but only charge them for half the item, or not at all. It may not seem like a huge issue - what's a sandwich or a cup of coffee here and there? However, the cash starts to add up if three employees each give away several free items a day. So what's a manager to do?

It's been a busy weekend for the Scotland Yard. Two gasoline-and-nail filled car bombs were discovered in Piccadilly Square, one of the busiest neighborhoods in central London. Thankfully the bombs were diffused before any damage was done, but officials are scrambling to find a solution, and some suspects, before the situation escalates.

Are today's surveillance cameras so remarkable that they can actually capture images of spirits walking amongst the living? Sounds like the makings of an M. Night Shyamalan thriller, but a recent report out of New Mexico gives us reason to believe in specter surveillance.

It's the biggest recorded heist in UK history - a staggering £53 million pounds, (about $105 million USD) taken from a sorting and holding depot for retail stores and groceries all across England, even serving the Bank of England. So how did this take place? Money handling and intense security go hand-in-hand, and this depot was no exception. This was an inside job - security guard Emir Hysenaj actually used video surveillance to counter the security of the depot.

The University of Pittsburgh recently unveiled a new multi-million dollar security system designed to significantly increase campus safety. The new system features a bevy of surveillance cameras providing comprehensive coverage of the entire campus. Video feeds from the cameras are transmitted to a new campus communications building loaded with monitors for in depth viewing and analysis. The wide-reaching surveillance coverage gives operators an extensive view of campus life, allowing them to quickly respond if suspicious activity is detected.

Two would-be robbers in Dalian City, China have learned a valuable lesson - never go back to the scene of the crime. As alluring as it may be, there will always be trouble awaiting. These two 21 year olds learned the hard way - they were arrested by the police.

One of the decisions that must be made when installing a video surveillance system is whether to keep the presence of security cameras relatively secret, or blatantly obvious. The thinking behind openly announcing the cameras' existence is that it will work as a stronger deterrent to crime. In other words, criminals are more likely to stop before they start if they know they're on camera. Such is the strategy in Onslow County, North Carolina, where the county's Superior Court building was recently equipped with security cameras that transmit feeds to flat-screen television monitors mounted on the wall for all to see. The Court Security Committee wanted a system that was overt rather than covert.

The Channel Tunnel (commonly called the "Chunnel"), an undersea tunnel connecting England and France, been called one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Completed in 1994, the 50km (31 mile) tunnel is used extensively by freight and passenger trains. Surveillance is an important security tool for ensuring that trains move efficiently and safely.

He said, she said...it's one of the oldest paradoxes of all time. How can two disparate opinions regarding the same issue be resolved? For hundred of years, it was a decision founded on trust, but in recent years, security cameras and video surveillance have been helpful arbiters when these issues arise. Officials at Trimet, Portland OR's public transit bureau, have come to painfully understand this dilemma in the past week.

School buses in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana will have a new flair come September. No, it's not snazzy new seats or a bold departure from the ubiquitous yellow paint job, but a system of video surveillance cameras.

How many times has this happened to you? You pick up the phone to call a friend and your wireless phone picks up your neighbor's conversation instead. You hear a noise on your baby monitor and it turns out to be someone calling the pizza delivery place down the street. A Palatine, IL woman recently discovered that her baby monitor - a new model featuring wireless video and a viewing monitor - was intercepting some very unusual footage...from the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has boldly proposed the idea of requiring the use of video surveillance cameras at military recruiting stations in order to prevent recruiter misconduct. According to the committee, the presence of security cameras is intended more to provide prospective recruits with peace of mind, rather than for trying to catch recruiters acting out of line. Potential recruits along with their friends and families would know that any improper conduct would be recorded, in theory making incidents of wrongdoing less likely to occur.

Retail loss, or shrinkage, is a huge problem for retail stores of all shapes and sizes. A survey conducted in 2005 showed that retailers lost 37.4 billion due to theft over the course of that year. It's quite common for retail stores to utilize video surveillance to effectively prevent instances of shoplifting and theft from both outsiders and employees, however the numbers show that there is certainly room for improvement in the way the surveillance is utilized.

Enter Cisco Systems.

It's hard to believe, but vandals in Bolton, England have targeted the town's prized collection of multi-colored fiberglass elephants. The decorative pachyderm, named Ellie, Elner and Mr. Jackbow, recently fell victim to a series of attacks resulting in a fractured trunk, and cracks to the head and body. The elephant statues were installed in March, replacing the original grey herd that was commissioned in the 1980s. The new elephants were designed by local school children, but only three days after installation, they were removed because of vandalism and attempted theft. In August, the vibrant herd will return to its rightful home on Newborn Street, coinciding with the town's new video surveillance installation.

The city of Moorpark, in Ventura County, Cal. will soon outfit its Metrolink station with six digital cameras aimed at preventing tagging, vandalism, and other crimes in the station as well as its parking areas. The train station has proven to be a popular target for graffiti artists who find its architectural design -- which includes elevated sidewalks, a large blank wall and benches -- irresistible.

Eighteen year old Kelsey Smith has been missing since the evening of Saturday, June 2. Overland Park, KS law enforcement have used the traditional methods of looking for a missing person - canvassing, search parties, and offering rewards. But this time, feed from a surveillance camera inside a Target store may help find Kelsey quicker than before.

In its short, 40-year lifespans, video surveillance technology has brought about many security revolutions. Stores have shifted from man powered security to exclusive camera systems. Cameras are used almost universally in places never thought possible - even 10 years ago. But the cultural implications to security cameras started in 1949, before the age of security cameras, with George Orwell's novel 1984.

Security cameras were recently installed in the Edgar County Courthouse and jail, and the new surveillance systems are already paying off. The purpose of the cameras is to provide building security as well liability protection. For example, in instances where inmates complain of mistreatment, or visitors maintain they were injured on the premises, there will be visual evidence to support or disprove those claims.

One of the biggest concerns many people have when in the market for a video surveillance camera is "How do I know it'll work?" Their concerns aren't completely unfounded - surveillance cameras are great at identification and constant monitoring, but what happens when you have a true emergency on your hands? Security With Advanced Technology has introduced a system it hopes will demonstrate the potential that developing technology has for improving video surveillance.

In traditional surveillance systems, different types of cameras play different types of roles. Wall-mounted and bullet cameras are used for detail shots - getting specific information like facial features on persons of interest, for example. Dome cameras are for getting an overall glance at a store's sales floor or the main area of an office. The Axis 215PTZ network camera, available mid-June, may change all of this forever.

TriMet, the public transportation authority for the Portland, OR metropolitan area, was recently awarded a $560,000 grant from the Transportation Safety Administration for the purpose of improving its CCTV infrastructure on the MAX (Metropolitan Area Express) light rail system.

Legacy Play Village in Lubbock, Tex. has been the victim of several instances of vandalism in the past. In fact, the damage was so bad at one point that the park was forced to close. Three weeks ago, surveillance cameras were installed throughout the park to prevent future incidents and to catch vandals in the act. It hasn't taken long for the surveillance system to pay off. Six people have already been arrested thanks to the new security cameras. The criminals, with ages ranging from 19 to 55, were all charged with criminal trespassing after being caught on camera.

A recent report from Frost & Sullivan North American Video Surveillance Software Markets has predicted that revenue from IP video will grow a staggering 70% in the next seven years - from $139.76 million in 2006 to $826.7 million in 2013. One of the catalysts behind this amazing growth? Schools.

Merseyside police officers will soon utilize a small remote-controlled video surveillance helicopter in order to track criminals and record suspicious activity. The "spy drone" was originally designed for military reconnaissance missions, but its return to the air will help authorities keep a close watch over city streets and high-crime areas.

We've discussed how awesome video surveillance is for protecting almost any environment - from schools to businesses to research environments, it's one of the most surefire ways to protect nearly every type of building. But paradoxically, some areas are so secure and so sensitive that video surveillance isn't just inadequate, it could actually wreak havoc.

Surveillance cameras are playing a key role in the investigation of a hit and run accident that resulted in the death of 17-year-old Tiffany Bottenfield in Welland, Ontario. The incident took place at the intersection of Rosewood and Aqueduct, near the Seaway Mall. A mall supervisor assisted the Niagara Regional Police in scouring through footage from the mall's 33 security cameras searching for the suspects based solely on their physical description.

In a long-delayed move, commuter parking lots in Clarkstown, NY will soon be equipped with CCTV security cameras. The installation will begin this summer. Currently cameras watch over the Nanuet train station, but an additional 8 cameras are set to be installed at the Exit 14 park-and-ride lot along Route 59. The cameras will serve to provide peace-of-mind for drivers concerned about their vehicles as well as their personal safety.

At this year's IFSEC show, 3rdi will showcase an innovative portable surveillance system that allows remote viewing via cell phone. The centerpiece of the system is a small interactive camera that can be placed anywhere. Especially useful for homeowners in search of a cost-effective video surveillance solution, this handy gadget is an intriguing choice due to its small stature and convenient remote monitoring capabilities.

Ports have long been considered some of the weakest entry points into the United States, and one of the biggest challenges facing security officials in the fight against terrorism is port security. Millions of packages enter and leave the country each day through the 100+ ports in the US, which can make establishing security a challenge. The Port of Pittsburgh, the second busiest inland port in the country, has recently received a $2.6 million grant from the Department of Homeland Security to help secure the area.

While investigating the cultural implications of public video surveillance, a group of Canadian high school seniors came across a most interesting scenario: a man taking out his "road rage" on a cyclist - punching him so hard he lost a tooth.

While IP surveillance offers many benefits over analog CCTV, it's common for prospective users to have questions regarding how these new advanced systems affect storage space. With added capabilities such as increased resolution, higher frame rate, scalability, and the continuous recording, streaming, and saving of large amounts of data, IP-based surveillance systems can place a higher strain on storage hardware.

It's becoming more and more common to find security cameras aboard public modes of transportation such as buses and subway trains. These cameras work to protect drivers and passengers and to deter criminal activity and disorderly conduct. The Port Authority in Pittsburgh, Penn. has outfitted many of its buses with multiple surveillance cameras for those very reasons.

The first manufacturer of network cameras, AXIS has been an innovator in IP surveillance for over 10 years. The 211 and 211A series network cameras provide the quality you expect from AXIS, and are suitable for a surprisingly flexible range of applications.

Six men described as "Islamic radicals" were arrested Tuesday morning, accused of plotting to enter a military base and murder "as many soldiers as possible." The men, described as nationals of the former nation of Yugoslavia, were incriminated thanks to video footage taken of a planning meeting.

There are many challenges involved in providing comprehensive video surveillance for industrial locations such as factories and plants. Such locations often include vast building areas which require a large number of cameras installed in various sections such as the warehouse, assembly lines, and shipping areas. Security staff faced with the task of continuous monitoring must deal with the day to day monotony while remaining poised and ready to react to a situation at a moment's notice. Additionally, since the area of coverage is so large, it can be difficult to quickly pinpoint where exactly an incident is occurring, especially if multiple alarms are triggered simultaneously.

GeoVision recently introduced its DVR with Multi-Quad TV out system as a way to increase the efficiency of real-time video monitoring and response times in complicated areas such as these.

Illegal immigration. It's one of the most heated and divisive issues Americans face today, and in its wake, has spawned a number of bills and acts, including the REAL ID act of 2005.

Police in Brooklyn, NY have used a surveillance system once used by criminals to track activities around their hideout to incriminate a drunk driver responsible for a tragic accident on Monday.

Warfare has evolved rapidly over the last 50 years - the advent of airplanes, submarines and atomic weapons has forever changed the way that wars are fought, and has made strategy, intelligence and espionage into essential battlefield weapons. One of the latest developments in this new, distant type of war? Unmanned aerial drones.

Hip hop mogul Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons is known for many things. A pioneer of modern music, reverend and bona fide family man, Simmons' life has been shared with MTV audiences for three seasons now in the hit reality show "Run's House."

Many public transit systems across the country are turning to video surveillance as a way to increase safety for passengers and drivers. Such is the case in Summit County, Colo. where county commissioners are moving forward on a proposed project that will result in the installation of digital surveillance equipment on all Summit Stage buses.

For most arsons, the thrill of watching their tinder burn is what keeps them coming back for more. However, after setting a dumpster full of donated clothes and toys on fire, Macomb, IL arson Walter Neill has probably seen his last blaze.

The latest trend in surveillance technology is video analytics. Cameras are becoming more intelligent, and in a sense, now feature minds of their own. Today's smart cameras are equipped with built-in video analytics that run software algorithms designed to detect specific events, actions, and even individuals. These cameras utilize sophisticated functions such as motion sensing, behavioral recognition, and facial recognition. But what happens when the sun goes down? With lessened visibility are the cameras still able to carry out these advanced functions at night?

After the surprising and tragic slaying of Pakistani national cricket coach Bob Woolmer at the world championships in Jamaica, authorities have revealed that they have identified a suspect in the case thanks to digitally enhanced surveillance footage.

Here's a story from Down Under (that's Australia) that delivers us yet another unique example of IP video surveillance in action, and it involves puppies.

David Markham works as a breeding manager for Guide Dogs Victoria. He and his staff look over 25 litters a year, and must pay special attention to dogs who are expecting, monitoring them closely for about five days before their due-date, and that includes night-watch.

The town of Kazan, like many other cities in Russia, has been an seat of trade, government and culture for hundreds of years. However, with modern crises like a dense-evergrowing population, street crime, vandalism and a steady traffic flow, maintaining security has proven to be a bit of a challenge.

If you live in a city or large town, chances are you've seen their footage on the news or noticed them on the freeway - traffic surveillance cameras are commonplace now on major arteries. In the United States, nearly every state has a dedicated arm of their department of transportation which maintains and monitors surveillance cameras on major roads, interstates, freeways and highways.

The UK is testing out a new video surveillance system designed to spot potential criminals, and then follow their movements. The camera unit, referred to as the Pounds 7,000 Bug, features a ring of eight cameras that provide a panoramic view of the area below. In order to determine whether or not criminal activity is taking place, the camera's built-in software, which can identify 50 behavioral traits, scans the footage. If abnormal behavior is detected, a ninth camera focuses in on the suspect and traces that person's actions.

After what could have been considered a normal cigarette sting, a Peoria, IL convenience store owner has revealed surveillance and audio recordings of his interaction with a police officer that may turn out to be incriminating - of the police.

You've seen the commercials - the insurance spokesman describes a staged accident, where a car abruptly pulls in front of another car and immediately brakes - often resulting in a rear-end accident which is almost always the fault of the innocent driver.

Any security officer who's ever been saddled with the task of scouring through hours and hours of archived surveillance footage would scoff at the idea that such material could be considered art. But in the case of artist Lutz Bacher's video installation "Closed Circuit," surveillance indeed works as an artistic medium.

Many industry insiders are predicting a home security revolution that includes increased use of smart cameras and digital surveillance in households. This technology, which previously seemed out of reach in terms of cost, has arrived at a point where sophisticated systems are now available at reasonable prices.

Columbia, SC resident Kerry Flake installed surveillance cameras on her home because the neighborhood had become a haven for rowdy college students. She was hoping the cameras would provide enough visual evidence to inspire authorities to take action and help her tone down the partying on her street.

The mother of two got more than she bargained for.

American sex symbol and multimillionaire Anna Nicole Smith has been the focus of many pop culture news outlets since her untimely death on February 8, 2007.

Working in a convenience store has long been regarded as the most dangerous retail job. Convenience stores are easy targets for petty thieves and other criminals, and late-night robberies are an accepted part of life for many of these workers.

During construction of the new Massillon Middle School, in Massillon, Ohio, school security administrators worked closely with the Ohio Facilities Committee to install an advanced surveillance system that features 48 digital cameras. The cameras are situated both inside and outside of the facility with their primary goal being to protect students from potentially harmful outside forces and intruders. In recent weeks the cameras have also proven extremely useful in capturing footage of students committing criminal acts.

"Shrinkage" or the theft of inventory (either by customers or employees), has plagued large and small retail outlets for years, and video surveillance and security cameras have been one of the main tools that stores and managers use to control their stock and maintain their store's security.

IBM and Axis Communications are teaming up to release an advanced open framework system for event-based video surveillance that utilizes video analytics and sophisticated indexing. The Digital Video Surveillance solution will support the complete Axis catalog of network cameras and servers, and is fully customizable to meet varying demands.

During the ISC West conference held this week in Las Vegas, Cisco announced its first foray into the surveillance camera industry. Cisco's entry comes in the form of a remote-controlled, IP-based digital security camera that operates effectively in both indoor and outdoor environments. The Video Surveillance IP Camera is motion-triggered, and features pan, tilt, and zoom functions that can be controlled remotely.

Brian John Perry is a man who knows what he likes, and takes what he wants. What the 42-year-old wanted this week was a framed painting of Mt. Hood on display in the Clackamas County Public Services Building in Oregon City, Ore. An avid skier, Perry was attracted to the painting which uses an assortment of shocking pastels to depict one of his favorite mountains, so he decided to steal it. Unfortunately for Perry, the building is outfitted with a video surveillance system, and his bold attempt at art thievery was captured on camera in great detail.

London's train stations have long provided a canvas for graffiti artists. Unfortunately, it's an unwelcome art form that has caused quite a few problems for UK councils. Most importantly, the cost of cleaning up graffiti isn't cheap, with many councils actually having budgets specifically for the cleanup process.

The effectiveness of facial-recognition technology in video surveillance has been cause for debate in the past. Some claim the technology -- originally seen as an advanced tool in the fight against terrorism -- is overhyped and has yet to produce solid results. That's not the case in banks however, where video facial-recognition systems are proving to be useful in combating check fraud.

One of the hottest debates among security professionals today is the future of video surveillance. With two distinct and different types of cameras competing for a slice of the market - which will succeed?

Detectives leading the investigation into the death of three-year old Callum Bland in a house fire in Northamptonshire have appealed for neighbours with CCTV cameras on their homes to come
forward.

A system of surveillance cameras installed at a 14th century church in the UK has completely stopped an expensive vandalism problem. St. Bartholomew's church had long been suffering through a chronic vandalism problem - mostly with windows being broken.

The city of Los Angeles is deploying a unique wireless surveillance network to keep watch over the Jordan Downs public-housing complex. Officials hope the system will improve safety for residents in one of the city's most dangerous crime-infested areas. The network consists of 10 wireless surveillance cameras and MOTOMESH, Motorola's wireless broadband network. MOTOMESH provides WiFi access to the public and will allow emergency responders to remain in constant communication, even while on the move. The inclusion of MOTOMESH also allows the system to expand far beyond Jordan Downs and over the entire city if officials decide to broaden the network.

One of the fastest growing markets for IP surveillance technology is public transportation. Buses, subways, transit depots and stations have been targets for vandalism, theft and violence for many years. Analog CCTV systems were installed in many cities with a mild degree of success, but their cumbersome equipment and limited technological capabilities made them an ineffective security solution.

In the gaming industry, where large amounts of currency are constantly on the move, security is of the utmost importance. Casinos use video surveillance to monitor everything from high stakes gaming tables to malls and parking lots. With so much area to cover, and so much money on the move, gaming facilities can certainly benefit from the latest advances in surveillance technology. One of those technologies is 360-degree video.

Covenant Medical Center's advanced security system is regarded as one of the reasons why 5 day old Mychael Dawodu is safe with her parents.

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in southern Louisiana is comprised of two parallel bridges regarded as the most expansive in the world. The longer of the two bridges runs 23.87 miles. Clearly, a bridge system of this magnitude is quite difficult to monitor, but a recently installed $1.3 million surveillance camera system is helping to change that.

In Bellingham, WA, a newspaper reader helped police track down a Bank of America robbery suspect. Video surveillance of the robbery produced a clean image of the suspect, which was then released by police to the media and published in the Feb. 27 edition of The Bellingham Herald. A Herald reader recognized the man in the surveillance video image and phoned the authorities with his identity.

In New York City, a trio of thieves has been pilfering local Duane Reade pharmacy outlets on a consistent basis since mid-January. The spree intensified last week when the burglars upped their workload to two heists per day, reeling in tens of thousands of dollars along the way. What the thieves didn't know was that security officials had been methodically planning their capture. On Monday, Feb. 26, that plan came to fruition. 140 plainclothes officers were staked throughout Manhattan's 47 Duane Reade stores. Officers in a central observation room then monitored video surveillance footage fed from each store's security camera system.

In an effort to increase New York City nightclub safety, the City Council passed legislation on Wednesday that will require all dance clubs to install surveillance cameras at entrances and exits. While concerns over privacy were raised, the council was in agreement that the use of surveillance tapes would be extremely valuable in crime deterrence and investigation.

Philadelphia's Port Richmond neighborhood has its fare share of problems -- drugs, prostitution, muggings, and the curious refusal of any resident to properly deposit garbage in cans. Needless to say, business owners in the area have a hard time succeeding.

Fifty nine video surveillance cameras currently watch over the Guadalupe county jail, and officials want more. Concerned with drug trafficking and prisoner safety, Sheriff Arnold Zwicke is requesting the replacement of 15 current cameras and the addition of 45 more, bringing the total to 104.

Booming economies in China and India, along with record amounts of construction in the US and the rest of the western world, have created an extremely high demand for raw construction metals like copper and steel. Contractors and electricians complain about the soaring costs of metal as thieves ransack incomplete buildings, stripping copper wire and pipes to sell for scrap. Scrap metal thieves have become so brazen as to risk their lives - one man recently died trying to strip live electrical wire from a transformer.

Two criminals from the Miami area learned a tough lesson recently - don't steal from Uncle Bob.

Blake's Bar Harbor Marina in Pasadena, MD might just be the safest place on the planet to dock a boat, and that has nothing to do with the community's friendly sea-faring populace. The resounding sense of security stems from a new $30,000 video surveillance system installed to monitor the marina's parking lot and 40 boat slips. What makes this system special is that it spurns traditional CCTV, opting instead for the latest in Web-based video surveillance technology. Boasting 12 IP cameras strategically placed throughout the marina, the video surveillance network is a fine demonstration of high-end parking security. Streaming footage from the cameras is accessible online via the marina's Web site. The inclusion of password-protected accounts can restrict access to certain IP network cameras, while keeping others open to the general public.

2007 has been a controversial year for video surveillance in New York City. First, the controversial New York Civil Liberties Union report on public video surveillance and the release of the Surveillance Camera Project, and Katherine Mangu-Ward's counter-editorial on the benefits of public video surveillance.

Thanks to surveillance cameras at  Nordstrom department stores in the Portland, OR area, police and FBI agents have identified Jamie Lynn Bacon, of Beaverton, OR, as the thief who has defrauded Nordstrom of nearly $10,000 since fall 2006.

In November 2004, several plainclothes officers from the Fresno County Sheriff's department covertly attended a lecture presented by a well-known animal rights activist at Fresno State University. Read More

The Boeing Company, which in late 2006 was awarded a multi-billion dollar grant for securing the US-Mexico Border, has put in a request for a fund increase from the US Department of Homeland Security. Boeing's goal is to secure the 1,957-mile border through a combination of traditional fences, aerial drones, surveillance cameras, and a large force of Border Patrol officers by 2008.

In an effort to keep their tenuous border with North Korea more secure, the South Korean government has introduced a battalion of 1,000 intelligent surveillance robots to help in patrolling the border.

Katherine Mangu-Ward, a contributing editor to Reason magazine, recently published an editorial in the Philadelphia Inquirer with an interesting argument in support of public surveillance, especially the cameras that are appearing more and more frequently in large cities like New York and Chicago.