Crime Starts in the Lobby

12/18/2018

When addressing crime in urban apartment buildings, the key focal point is the public lobby.  Ground floor windows, easily reached balconies, service entrances and subterranean passages are usually hardened against crime by architects and builders.  The lobby remains the single point of entry for both residents a nd their guests, who belong in the building, […]


What is a Cyber Doorman?

12/18/2018

What is a Cyber Doorman? December 29th, 2012 As defined in Wikipedia under internet-related prefixes, Cyber- is a prefix derived from “cybernetic,” which comes from the Greek adjective κυβερνητικός meaning skilled in steering or governing (Liddell and Scott, Greek-English Lexicon). It is used in the terms cybersex, cyberspace, cyberpunk. Cybernetics is relevant to the study of systems, such as mechanical, physical, biological or cognitive and, when applied […]


How to Avoid Contractor Scams After Hurricane Sandy

12/18/2018

The vast majority of contractors – security companies, plumbers, electricians, and roofers – are ethical and are committed to helping those in need in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.  However, the urgency of the situation, coupled by the desperation of the victims allows for victims to be exploited by unethical contractors – scammers – who […]


Home and Business Security after Superstorm Sandy

12/18/2018

Along with loss of heat and electricity, loss of personal safety and security ranks as one of the most urgent issues following the ravages of Superstorm Sandy.  All affected areas have reported two forms of theft which seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of the vicims:  Looting and Contractor Fraud. Looting: Recent reports detail incidents of looters invading […]


Little Known Technology Provides Key to Safety

12/18/2018

Little Known Technology Provides Key to Safety November 21st, 2012 The prestigious journal of real estate security, The Mann Report, recently carried an informative article on how American Security Systems has been  employing digital pattern recognition to identify loiterers in lobbies and other public spaces in residential buildings.  Highly successful, the system requires no direct […]


Many smaller buildings with eye on safety turn to video doorman

12/18/2018

Many smaller buildings with eye on safety turn to video doorman May 1st, 2010 By DONNA ROLANDO In apartment and condo sites too small to afford a flesh-and-blood doorman, the video variety is catching on. Video doormen have been protecting residents and their packages in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, and now are crossing the Hudson […]


Hoboken gets New Jersey’s first “Video Doorman”

12/18/2018

It doesn’t help you with your bags, pet your dog or hold open the door. But it does accept packages and even provides some security. The system, which was recently installed at Vesta Hoboken, a new condo building at 609 Observer Highway, will accept packages and provide security at about a dollar a day per unit, […]


Video Doorman installations from American Security Systems are on the rise

12/18/2018

LONG ISLAND CITY, NY The more the market tightens, the owners/developers are looking to provide a “competitive edge” in condos. As such, many are adding Video Doorman from American Security Systems, Inc. to their buildings. Not only does it provide most of the services of a doorman, but does so at less than 10% of the […]


Little Known Technology Key to Safety – Mann Report

12/18/2018

A recent article reveals how apartment building lobbies are being made safer by digital pattern recognition that identifies loiterers like the robot’s vision in the “Terminator” movies. Only when loiterers are identified does the system notify a guard who orders the loiterers to vacate the premises. Foolproof results, combined with video recordings for court appearances […]