In the early morning hours of December 28, 2022, at a student apartment complex in Athens, Georgia, suspicious behavior was captured and deterred by VirtuGuard™ remote video monitoring. The security cameras on the property, equipped with Artificial Intelligence technology, were triggered at 3:23 am by a male walking into the mail room. VirtuGuard™ Agent Hunter White was then alerted to the event and began watching the cameras in real-time to observe the incident. 

The Incident 

While VirtuGuard™ Agent White was monitoring the mail room camera, the young male’s behavior became increasingly more suspicious. After he was spotted entering the mail room and looking around suspiciously, the male was seen walking to face the corner opposite the surveillance camera, continuing to look around the room. Though the front of his body was not captured on video, it can be assumed that the male was unbuckling his pants as he was facing the corner. 

While he continued to look around the ceiling of the room, presumably for security cameras, he looked into the mail room camera. After realizing that he was visible to the camera, the male moved to a different corner of the room, out of camera sight to urinate.  

VirtuGuard™ Agents went back to review footage of the cameras on the third floor near the mail room both before and after the male was initially spotted. At 3:11 am, the male was recorded exiting a unit on the third floor of the building with another male, indicating that he was either a resident or a guest of a resident of the apartment complex. 

The Resolution: VirtuGuard™ Identified the Vandal for Property Management 

By reviewing the mail room footage in real-time and revisiting camera footage from the immediate area leading up to the event, VirtuGuard™ Agents were able to gather important information to present to the property managers in an incident report. Agent White was able to narrow down a few units that the individual exited before entering the mail room. VirtuGuard™ then presented the incident report and suspect units to the client, with which they could use to pursue further action against the male. Property management could then use the evidence presented in the incident report to identify the unit the male belonged to and bill the individual for clean-up charges and any damages. 

Related Topic: MUST-HAVE APARTMENT CAMERAS FOR MAXIMUM SECURITY

Missed Opportunity: Audio Intervention 

While this student apartment complex is outfitted with an abundance of cameras that are equipped with AI technology, VirtuGuard™ Agents were not able to intervene at the time of the incident. An effective method to actively intervene in a situation in real-time is to also equip the property with audio capabilities. By adding audio services to your VirtuGuard™ plan, Agents can speak directly to individuals on the property.  

In this instance, as the male was looking around in the mail room, an Agent could’ve activated an audio speaker in the room and addressed the male and his behavior in the moment. For example, the Agent could broadcast the message: “To the male in the green baseball cap and gray jacket. If you are not here to collect your mail, please exit the room and return to your unit. We can identify your apartment. If you do not comply, onsite security will be dispatched to your location and property management will be notified of your unit number.” 

Intervening in a real-time incident is not the only instance where audio capabilities are useful and effective. Through prerecorded or live, scripted announcements, VirtuGuard™ Agents can: 

• Greet residents, staff, and guests when they enter the complex 
• Alert patrons that the site is being actively monitored for safety and convenience and that the site is subject to video monitoring and recording 
• Warn potential trespassers, vandals, or suspicious individuals that all activities are being monitored and recorded; potentially ask them to leave the property and if they do not comply additional actions will be taken 
• Direct calls for assistance in the case of an emergency 

Prevent and Address Incidents with VirtuGuard™ 

VirtuGuard™ from BOS Security is an interactive remote monitoring solution designed specifically for your business and your property. With surveillance cameras, AI technology, audio capabilities, and 24/7/365 live monitoring, you can trust that your business is secure and protected. Whether your concerns are theft, vandalism, operations, access control, unruly residents, and more, VirtuGuard™ has you covered.  

To learn more about interactive remote monitoring services from BOS Security, visit our webpage and explore related blog posts. Fill out the contact form below or call 404-793-6965.