National Clothesline

For a minimum amount of dollars, you can achieve higher production, better safety, eliminate a thief, stop pilferage and in general achieve a sensible, secure peace of mind.

We’re talking about an “eye in the sky.” There is nothing intrusive about a moving camera that is constantly scanning a cash drawer or watching a bookkeeper handling a bank deposit, checking the back entrance, monitoring a production aisle, securing a store room, etc. No

manager or boss can be everywhere and there is nothing wrong with knowing who is constantly coming in late, or making and taking their own breaks and hours. The boss can’t be watching his investment and livelihood all the time.

It’s all silent. The only time it becomes a matter of attention is when someone puts in a phony claim that can’t be documented or makes a false claim of injury. Those are the unusual cases. I’m more concerned with workers who are trained in a proven method of production and quality but refuse and simply do it their own faulty way. Most times it sneaks by management and ends up in customer dissatisfaction with an irate customer leaving and the loss of reputation and business.

Can it be corrected? At least it can be silently detected before a bad practice becomes an unbreakable poor habit.

Invest in a video surveillance camera. It is silent, unobtrusive and no worker should object to something that can offer better security for all concerned. It’s the common practice at ATM bank units and for all money handling operations. It prevents acts of vandalism and, most important, it’s done silently.

If you don’t want to invest in a state-of-the-art video surveillance system, then consider a false, no-tape unit that looks totally authentic and can fool an unsuspecting thief. Just don’t tell anyone it’s a phony!

These units are sold for just a few dollars. The false camera is easily installed and is battery operated so it moves back and forth to make it appear “live.”

With today’s technology, the real surveillance video camera can be connected to be accessed from any location, all with hidden instant communication. It can be connected to your home or office for round-the-clock observation.

For any multiple location operation, this is almost a necessity.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what is going on without putting your foot in the door? How about the problem of missing funds, pilferage or poor workmanship that could be detected and, more important, documented?

There are not many investments than can pay for themselves with the first installation and repeatedly thereafter and yet not be needed with their continued presence. It’s much like having a trained watchman always on duty — but without salary. We seldom can put a price on safety or know the losses from theft, but those costs and losses can rarely be recouped.

Let’s not be complacent like the ostrich keep our heads in the sand or be the one to say “It can’t happen here.” It can happen anywhere, and when you least expect it. It’s better to be safe than sorry.