We provide covert (hidden) video surveillance installation, services and products to the entire San Francisco Bay Area of California including San Francisco County, San Mateo County, Marin County, Alameda County, Santa Cruz County, Contra Costa County and Santa Clara County.

NOTE:  Unlike other sites that claim to be professionals, we do not display pictures or descriptions of the camera housings that we utilize for covert video surveillance installations.  This is simply the only responsible way to provide continuing operational security to our clients for the products and equipment that we provide. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In California, audio surveillance requires the consent of all parties thus limiting its use in a covert situation.  There are also federal and state laws governing the use, and even possession, of some types of audio surveillance equipment.

The preceding paragraphs are not legal advice.  They do reflect, however, the way our company operates in the context of the installations that we perform.  If you have any specific legal questions, we recommend that you consult an attorney with expertise in privacy issues. 

What Equipment Do You Use?
Most covert video surveillance systems consist of a pinhole board camera, possibly a motion detector, and a standard or time-lapse VCR.  The pinhole camera measures just over one inch square, can see through a hole 1/8th of an inch in diameter and is very low-light sensitive.  These cameras can be mounted in almost any commonly found object in a home or business environment.  Smoke detectors and wall clocks are two well-known housings; it is for this very reason that we rarely use either of these housings.  The video signal is sent to the VCR either via a wire or a wireless transmission system.  Standard consumer-grade VCR's are used when a total recording time of ten hours or less is acceptable.  If it is necessary to record for a longer period of time, a motion detector and/or a time-lapse VCR will be required. 

There are many combinations of the above equipment that can be utilized depending on the needs and budget of the surveillance. 

Who Uses Video Surveillance?
Any environment in which safety, security or loss prevention are important considerations can potentially benefit from the use of  covert video surveillance.  In fact, I am occasionally surprised by the creative requests that we have received for our services.  We specialize in custom applications of stationary, mobile and body-worn covert video systems.  The following are some of the most common environments in which we have installed surveillance equipment: 

Should I Rent Or Purchase?
Most of our rental clients have hired us either to perform spot-checks or to document known or suspected activity for which they want videotape evidence.  Clients that choose to purchase appropriate equipment usually have longer, unknown duration or repeated surveillance periods in mind.  For most monitoring purposes, it is actually less expensive, over time, to purchase basic, flexible equipment that can be used in a variety of situations and environments. 

We specialize in working within a given budget and producing a flexible video surveillance package that may be used in many creative ways. 

How Much Does It Cost?
Based on a three or four day rental period, the cost of a complete surveillance system starts at $100.00 per day, installed.  Using an existing VCR, cameras in a variety of housings start at $50.00 per day, installed, based on a four day rental contract. 

Camera purchase prices begin at just $475.00, installed, with any additional costs depending largely on the housing used and the difficulty of installation.  Complete surveillance systems consisting of a hidden camera, a wireless transmitter/receiver and a dedicated VCR start at just $950.00, installed.  Naturally, the choice of housing, other equipment needs and the installation requirements will influence the final cost. 

For body-worn covert video cameras,  as used by private investigators and the news media, prices begin at $370.00.  We only disclose details of these cameras and their housings to our clients so please call for more information. 

Does It Work?
Yes, this remarkable tool does work!  The benefits of using covert video surveillance are many and varied.  Covert surveillance may be more effective than traditional overt video surveillance because what cannot be detected cannot be defeated or circumvented. 

In a child care situation, parents gain a tremendous amount of relief when they are no longer guessing about what is happening when they are not there.  Our video systems enable a parent to finally answer the question "What's really going on when I'm not there?"  Similarly, those who are responsible for the care and safety of the disabled or infirm can now monitor the quality of care that they are receiving. 

Businesses both large and small have commonly reported an increase in profitability  after implementing such video surveillance loss prevention measures.  Additionally, many businesses claim an increase in overall productivity and have become aware that they are taking a proactive step in reducing many forms of legal and premise liability by creating an objective video history of a given environment. 

Investigators and security professionals performing insurance, domestic and legal investigations find that body-worn covert video does a remarkable job of bringing the actions of a subject out of the realm of the subjective and into the objective.  As they say, "A picture is worth a thousand words." 

CHILDWATCH

HIDDEN VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

• Your child is the most important thing in your life!
• How safe is your childcare?
• A three day rental period is all that is needed.
• Upwards of 70% of parents who have used similar services have replaced their childcare worker (as reported on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Primetime Live, ABC, 1995) 

HIDDEN VIDEO SURVEILLANCE

• Now you will know what is happening when you are not there!
• We use cutting-edge, high-tech equipment that will not be detected. 
• Available for rent or sale.
• Surveillance is tailored to your needs and environment.
• You  keep the videotape.
• Video surveillance in the home or workplace is legal in California. 
• Business applications include inventory control and detection of embezzlement, shoplifting activities and vandalism.
• Video is generally admissible in court for prosecution.
• Suitable for domestic applications including childcare monitoring and home surveillance to deter or prosecute theft, burglary, stalking or vandalism.

• Complete covert video surveillance systems are available to rent at rates starting at $115.00 per day, installed, based on a four day rental contract. 
• For purchase, covert video cameras start at $475.00, installed, and wireless video camera prices start at $950.00, installed.  Body-worn covert camera prices start at $389.00, and we also offer complete systems for rental or purchase. 
• When purchased, complete covert video systems, including installation, usually average in the $1,500.00 to $1,700.00 range.  Naturally, the final price is determined by the complexity of the equipment and/or installation required.

Contact us for a consultation or information on our other professional services.