Axis network cameras keep an eye on retail growth

Hughes and Hughes gains control of security monitoring and achieves remote visibility of in-store activity

“In a 12-month period we would typically expect to have two fraudulent insurance claims, where an individual will appoint a ‘no-win, no-fee’ lawyer to sue us for negligence due to some alleged accident on our premises which hurt their client. Having crystal-clear, easily accessible footage of any alleged incident quickly throws these claims out of court. On low level crime – we had an individual writing graffiti in a lobby area in one of our stores. It was caught on camera, our staff was alerted and we caught the culprit – with the recorded evidence ready to hand over to the police.” Mark Gould, Managing Director, Hughes and Hughes.

Mission

Hughes and Hughes, Ireland’s fastest-growing bookstore chain, required a cost-effective surveillance system to provide easy access tohigh quality images which could be used as evidence in cases of theft, vandalism or fraud across ten airport-based outlets including six at Dublin Airport. The system needed to be straightforward to install and integrate with the airport’s existing IT network infrastructure.

Solution

OmniSys is Hughes and Hughes’ IT consultancy, responsible for supporting and developing the chain’s IT infrastructure. OmniSys first installed four AXIS 205 network cameras as a trial at the Shannon Airport bookstore in 2003. Installed within one day, the staff at the store could operate the cameras through AXIS Camera Station with a further half-day of training. This convinced Mark Gould, Hughes and Hughes’ Managing Director, to replace their ageing CCTV system across its six Dublin Airport outlets. OmniSys has now installed 21 Axis network cameras, carried over the airport’s IT network and controlled through a PC running AXIS Camera Station.

Result

Hughes and Hughes eliminated a €3,000 per month surveillance monitoring fee through abandoning their previous CCTV system at Dublin Airport. The IP-Surveillance system has also helped to convict an intruder who attempted to break in to a store’s cash office, and helped avert several bogus insurance claims. Through a secure web portal, senior managers can view any of the store network cameras to get an instant view of trading at any particular store.

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