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Smile! NYC co-op, condo boards beef up video surveillance
740 Park Avenue robberies spotlight use of security cameras
More and more New York City apartment buildings are being equipped with surveillance cameras these days.
From small walkups without doormen to luxury condominium buildings, security equipment is becoming the norm for the city. Even those residences with cameras are considering upgrading their equipment, the New York Times reported.
After burglars made off with about $250,000 in merchandise from four apartments at 740 Park Avenue — home to some of the wealthiest people in the world (such as David Koch and Blackstone Group’s Stephen Schwarzman), and some of the city’s toughest doormen — the building is looking to upgrade its surveillance equipment.
In addition to making residents feel safe, cameras can serve as a deterrent to crime and offer documentary evidence if the deterrent proves ineffective, building managers argue. Cameras can also serve as a management tool, allowing landlords to monitor the habits of doormen.
Security cameras can also help with legal matters (if, say, a pedestrian falls outside of a building and sues the property, the video footage can record the incident). [NYT] – James Comtois