CCTV Monitoring and Guard Response Protects Hawke’s Bay School
Every business and school hopes an incident never happens on their property. But when it does, having the right security partner can make all the difference. Earlier this week, HSM’s CCTV monitoring and guard response helped protect a Hawke’s Bay school. Suspicious activity was identified before further damage could occur.
As part of our CCTV monitoring service, we’ve introduced complimentary virtual CCTV patrols for monitored customers. These proactive patrols let our monitoring team check live camera feeds, even when no alarm has activated. During one of these routine virtual patrols, our Monitoring Operator Robert, noticed four youths entering the school grounds.
“When I saw two youths crossing the grounds with their hoodies up, I was suspicious. Then, when I saw them grab a piece of timber framing and lean it against the building, I was deeply concerned.”
Realising something wasn’t right, Robert continued monitoring the cameras. He immediately dispatched patrol guard Devyne and National Security Manager Brent to the site. At the same time, Police were contacted and Robert provided live updates as he monitored the situation in real time. Within just a few minutes, our guard was on site. As our patrol vehicle arrived, two of the offenders fled by jumping the fence and left the scene. Believing the area was clear, the remaining two offenders climbed back onto the property.
Live updates from our Monitoring Centre allowed Police to position themselves inside the school grounds. As the offenders attempted to flee once again, officers intercepted them nearby. Following a short chase, one offender was apprehended while the others escaped. The attempted theft was stopped before further damage occurred. It highlighted the value of proactive CCTV monitoring, rapid guard response, and close coordination with Police.
“I was extremely happy to see HSM proactively turning up on site after noticing youths on the roofs while looking through the cameras. They actively chased them even outside the fence and helped police in apprehending one of them. CCTV patrols are a great way of helping protect your property” – School Property Manager
The following morning, our team contacted the school to check on the situation and offered to send one of our technicians to reconnect the speakers and ensure everything was operating correctly. For us, security doesn’t end when the incident is over. It’s about supporting our customers before, during and after an event.
Why proactive CCTV monitoring matters
Many people think CCTV is simply there to record what has already happened. At HSM, we believe it should do much more. By actively monitoring camera systems and carrying out virtual patrols, our team utilise technology and human instinct to identify suspicious behaviour early, dispatch guards quickly and provide Police with real-time information while an incident is unfolding. This approach gives customers the best possible chance of preventing further loss or damage, rather than simply reviewing footage afterwards. It’s this complete approach to security that helps protect businesses, schools and organisations every day.