Safeguard upgrades Video Alarm security system

Safeguard has upgraded its wireless Video Alarm to incorporate a microphone, speakers and defensive material, making it possible for its monitoring centre team to speak to and warn intruders and remotely discharge pepper spray if they ignore the warning.

Video Alarm sends video clips to Safeguard's monitoring centre or an establishment's security centre when the alarm is triggered, enabling security personnel to see what is happening at the alarmed premises.

The alarm system has been upgraded by the addition of speakers and a microphone, enabling the centre to not only see intruders but listen to them and talk to them as well.

In addition, a pepper spray canister which can be remotely discharged has also been incorporated into the Video Alarm system.

When first introduced to the market, Video Alarm revolutionised alarm systems by making it possible for the owners of the premises, Safeguard's monitoring centre or an organisation's own security centre to see what is happening at the alarmed premises when the alarm goes off.

The system has sensors that incorporate hidden cameras which are activated by motion when the alarm has been armed.

Once triggered, the cameras immediately begin to record a series of video clips. These are sent to Safeguard's monitoring centre via a mobile phone network. They can also be sent to the property owner's cellphone, enabling the monitoring centre team and owner to see if it is a genuine or false alarm

If it is a genuine alarm the monitoring centre can use the video to see what the intruder is doing and whether or not he or she is armed so that they can determine the most appropriate action to take.

The recent upgrade now makes it possible for the monitoring centre team to speak to the intruders and ask what they are doing there. The transmission of the video and audio is done via a high speed mobile network.

Generally, when they realise they are being watched and monitored, intruders will run away. If they do not the centre staff will warn them that, if they do not leave, a pepper spray will be discharged. The centre is able to discharge the pepper spray, if its warnings go unheeded.

Safeguard Alarms managing director Reason Chitiva said the pepper spray option is particularly useful for safeguarding mobile phone network base stations in remote areas.

"We have installed the upgraded Video Alarm at a number of mobile phone base stations, where they have already proved their worth.

 "Video Alarm can replace a security guard, which means that after a few months the alarm has already paid for itself," he said.

"At large premises Video Alarm sensors strategically placed to cover areas where vehicles are parked or equipment is stored can reduce the number of security guards required for patrolling the premises.

"Because our monitoring centre can see what is happening at premises where an alarm has gone off, it is possible, where it is evident that the alarm was set off by an animal, to phone the occupiers of the premises and reassure them as to the cause of the alarm going off.

"Where we can see that there are intruders, we can advise by radio the rapid response team on its way to the premises where the intruders appear to be, how many of them there are, what they look like and whether or not they appear to be armed.

"With the upgraded alarm we can also talk to the intruders, warn them and, if they ignore the warning, discharge the pepper spray," he said.

"The pepper spray is particularly useful for unmanned sites in remote areas that it would take time for the nearest rapid response team to reach.

"The active ingredient in pepper spray is an inflammatory agent that causes swelling to the eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract which causes pain and often temporary blindness.

"Once the pepper spray has been discharged, it is highly unlikely that the intruder will stick around," Mr Chitiva added.