Cops able to crack mysteries with help of video footage
Representational image
Vijayawada: Closed circuit cameras, a regular part of city life, have begun playing a significant role in security and vigilance. Right from individual houses, apartments and gated communities to business establishments and government offices, all are using CCTV cameras which is hugely pushing up their demand.
According to the Electronic Security Association of Andhra Pradesh, nearly 30,000 cameras are being sold with a turnover of Rs 50 crore every month in AP and TS. Most of the sales are in cities like Hyderabad, Visakhapat-nam, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Guntur.
Earlier, CCTVs were restricted to VIPs and big business establishments but now they are seen even in roadside restaurants. People started using CCTV cameras from 1998, said Bruhaspathi Technologies MD Papolu Rajasekhar.
The engineering graduate started dealing in security systems at Hyderabad in 2006 and has sold 30,000 CCTV cameras. He said analog and IP (Internet Protocol) cameras are available in the market.
The latest cameras available in the market now can cover distances ranging from 20 mts to 1 km. They can record visuals even at night. Several VIPs and the banking sector prefer bullet cameras which can zoom in and record moving vehicles also.
Most of the cameras are made in China. They cost less but are of good qualit, said Mr P. Bhanu Prasad who sells security systems in Vijaya-wada. He said he sells three cameras a days.
Security stretch in Vijayawada:
Several crimes have been solved using CCTV footage. The police has directed that businesses must mandatorily instal CCTV cameras. The cost of the cameras ranges from Rs 1,500 to Rs 8,000 based on features. Some unbranded cameras are available for as low as Rs 500 but there is no guarantee on them.
Mr V. Srinivasa Rao said his apartment had installed a CCTV system as a precautionary meaasure following the advise of the police. Electronic Security System Association of Andhra Pradesh secretary T. Sunil said that Vijayawada has nearly 200 traders who sell 5,000 cameras a month an average. The association has provided service assurance for those who purchase CCTV systems from its members. The association has decided to provide 48 CCTV cameras free to the police for the city surveillance purpose project. The cameras would be fixed from the Ramavarapadu junction to the police control room.
CC footage helped cops arrest Sahu:
The Ongole police are putting in efforts to bring notorious temple burglar Prakash Kumar Sahu to the city for interrogation in connection with a theft case in the house of a priest working in Saibaba temple in the city. They have filed a prisoner’s transit (PT) warrant in the court.
Sahu recently stole an ATM card from the house of the priest and withdrew some money from the ATM with it. He also had stolen silver articles worth Rs 2 lakh from the house.
Based on the CC camera footage, the police arrested him. Sahu is also accused in stealing a crown of goddess Kanakadurga Devi from Vijayawada temple. Police said Sahu broke the doors of the house of the priest when he could not open the doors of the temple. The PIN was written on the ATM card. The police has decided to instal a network of CCTV cameras after the capital Amaravati was selected close to the city.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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