FIRST Security’s VirtualGuard on the Frontline of Business and Community Protection
FIRST Security’s VirtualGuard solution is proving to be an invaluable for New Zealand businesses and communities across a whole range of criminal activity and antisocial behaviour.
With crime rates continuing to rise across New Zealand this year and tough economic conditions for many businesses, it's even more important to stay up to date with the further forms of smart, cost-efficient defence options available.
VirtualGuard’s high-tech camera system is monitored 24/7 by their in-house security control room, giving businesses an early warning of a potential threat and allowing for rapid response to minimise the threat or damage. When a crime is detected and confirmed, First Security’s operators live-stream the video to Police for them to view and respond accordingly.
The VirtualGuard system uses a “deter and arrest” approach supported by the use of smart high-definition cameras with two-way audio – microphones and speakers that aim to prevent the intrusion before access to the property is obtained. The system can also use automatic license plate recognition cameras and match vehicles with the ‘live’ Police stolen vehicle database to provide early warning to our customers.
With crime sharply increasing in the past few years, VirtualGuard has been helping protect communities and business with excellent results. From the FIRST Security customers already using the VirtualGuard system this year, there have been 421 complete saves and 13 arrests for those criminals who chose to ignore our warnings.
VirtualGuard is also helping combat illegal dumping at refuse centres and communities around the country and even difficult to detect mineral thefts such as copper – by providing detailed information to Police on the perpetrators leading to a speedy arrest and where possible, the return of the goods.
Vacant buildings and land are also a key area where VirtualGuard has been successful in deterring squatting, theft and vandalism, saving customers substantial money.
Boy racers is another troublesome issue for many local communities and First Security has been providing monitoring expertise to help combat this activity in a number of locations. Using their VirtualGuard system, FIRST Security has been supporting New Zealand Police with boy racer detection and license plate recognition. This work recently resulted in a large boy racer event being detected – allowing Police to impound 10 vehicles.
The VirtualGuard software also allows alert monitoring of body worn cameras, affording live duress monitoring via audio and video resulting in faster intervention. The VirtualGuard solution can also connect with customers’ own existing smart cameras, substantially reducing hardware costs.
VirtualGuard has also been assisting transport providers and business owners reduce Graffiti on their assets and locations with great success. As soon as unusual activity is detected, First Security’s 24/7 monitoring centre is alerted, warning message delivered to the perpetrator and Police engaged within minutes. You can read more about one of their response results with VirtualGuard in this Auckland One case study.
There are so many ways FIRST Security’s VirtualGuard is defending business and community organisations efficiently around Aotearoa. If you are facing any of these issues and looking for a comprehensive and cost-effective way to protect your property and people, then don't wait any longer. Protect your property, business and community with Virtual Guard today!
