All-weather wireless security camera with intruder detection doesn't require electricity or broadband.

A Northern Ireland security company has come up with a solution to cut down the growing problem of theft and vandalism at vacant properties across the country.

Metal theft in particular is a rapidly escalating problem which in recent months has saw a number of Northern Ireland schools and churches broken into and lead stolen from their roofs.

In May, three schools in the Downpatrick area were burgled while, a month earlier, the Church of the Nazarene in Bangor was also a victim of lead theft. In all cases, considerable damage was also caused which will cost thousands of pounds to repair.

Across the UK, metal theft alone, of copper and lead in particular, has risen by 50 per cent in the past year and is now estimated to cost the British economy a staggering £800 million per year.

Now, Lisburn-based Mercury Security Management Ltd, Northern Ireland’s biggest independent security company, has introduced a solution that promises to deliver a faster police response to catch lawbreakers in the act and prevent loss or damage to vacant properties, schools, factories, railway tracks, churches, offices, roads, motorways and even homes or holiday homes.

The Mercury Eye is essentially a security camera with intruder detection that operates wirelessly, does not require electricity or broadband, and transmits a live feed to Mercury’s monitoring centre which in turn will immediately inform the police of any intrusions and deter criminals through a number of audio warnings, sirens or flashing lights.

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The visual confirmation alarm system uses one to 24 cameras which can be set up outdoors or indoors and is effective anywhere, including construction sites, vacant real estate and foreclosed properties where all the utilities have been disconnected.

The Mercury Eye works in all types of weather, including zero temperatures, and sends a live feed to Mercury’s NSI Gold-accredited ARC/RVRC monitoring centre where controllers can engage the intruder with a live audio warning in real time that the police have been called and are on their way.

Alternatively, sirens and flashing lights will deter criminals by creating a surprise effect to drive the intruders off.

Mercury Security director Liam Cullen claims that the Mercury Eye is the complete security solution for vulnerable property owners and managers.

"Today a burglary or unauthorised intrusion occurs every two minutes and that is not counting robberies, holdups or tiger kidnap," said Mr Cullen. "Copper theft and lead stripping is on the increase from vacant properties, schools and buildings that are unmanned out of hours, while fire and vandalism is also a major risk to unoccupied property.

"Mercury Eye cameras will detect intruders, visually record them and transmit live moving images in real time to our monitoring station of the danger and the reality of the intrusion. Our controllers will then speak live to the intruders or scare them off through a number of deterrence features such as loud sirens and flashing lights.

"Our NSI Gold Command Centre, which monitors the feed, alerts the police or a Mercury Mobile security team with visual confirmation, enabling them to send a patrol out quickly to the property and make arrests if the intruders have not been scared off already. The owner of the protected site is also sent the live video via email or to their phone from the Mercury Monitoring Centre.

"In many instances all of this happens before the break-in occur,” he added.

"The Mercury Eye guarantees property owners and managers peace of mind and 24-hour monitored security of their assets, while also saving them over 80 per cent on traditional security costs and lowering insurance costs.

"There has never been a more effective deterrent to prevent property theft and vandalism in Northern Ireland," concluded Mr Cullen.

The good news for insurers and property managers is that the Mercury Eye costs around the same as a blind alarm system, making it affordable for even the smallest business and home owner.

(CD/GK)