Video Doorman's safe lobby system provides better security

A Safe Building Begins At The Lobby In today's environment, Video Doorman's Safe Lobby will increase the profitability of a building by delivering higher occupancy, less apartment turnover, higher rents and lower insurance costs. In middle and lower income multi-family building apartment segments, apartment owners and managers face many challenges, not the least among them is how to stem a rising tide of onsite criminal activity. Video Doorman, introduced two years ago to offer remote doorman services in condos and coops, has recently developed a Safe Lobby System to provide safe lobbies and on-call tenant "escort" in low and middle income rental buildings. The system prevents loitering in the lobby and limits building access to reduce crime. The Need A recent poll by Apartments.com conducted among renters found that 94% of the people surveyed said that crime rate is a significant factor in deciding where they live. Selecting apartments in "safe" neighborhoods and buildings makes renters feel more at ease in their homes. This seems logical since the National Crime Prevention Council found that multifamily buildings are 85% more likely to be victimized by crime than other types of housing. Moreover, our research shows over 95% of apartment crime and trouble begins at the front door... in the lobby. Working with municipal housing authorities and other low/middle income apartment owners/developers/managers, Video Doorman has developed its Video Doorman Safe Lobby System to make lobbies safer and residents more secure. The residents of these low and middle income housing developments deserve the security and life safety other apartment residents enjoy. Most are hard working and law abiding citizens. Video Doorman Safe Lobby System The Video Doorman Safe Lobby package provides a building with remote security and surveillance 24/7, just like an actual doorman or guard. It limits access only to tenants; it makes sure the front door is closed; it detects forced entry; it welcomes and escorts tenants into the building 24/7; and it prohibits loitering in the lobby. Access control, monitoring and recording are all rolled into one system. How It Works The system integrates a card reader and front door contact with cameras, speakers and microphones in the lobby and often the elevator. It is linked to a high quality digital video recorder equipped with video analytics connected to a high speed IT line and a 24 hour UL certified Central Station. Tenants can use a transmitter to request "Video Escort" from Central Station operators into the building. The system starts with a vandal proof exterior Video Doorman card reader tied into the front door. Tenants use a transmitter/fob to enter the building. If desired, a camera, speaker and microphone can be added to surveil the exterior entrance. An internet A/V signal travels over a high speed internet connection to a 24-hour UL certified Central Station. Operators are trained to handle video monitoring calls and will dispatch authorities and notify owners when necessary. High resolution cameras and speakers/microphones allow Central Station operators to interact and monitor the entrance of the building and the lobby. Proprietary video analytics monitor lobby and entrance cameras and alert trained Central Station operators to prevent loitering. Video Doorman uses the most advanced, professional Digital Video Recorder. It provides 24/7 real time, high-resolution video recording, and on-call 2-way remote audio/video. 24/7 Vital Signs Monitoring instantly reports any system malfunction. Video Doorman's Safe Lobby System is easy to use...easy to install and low cost to operate at about $.50/day per unit. In today's environment, Video Doorman's Safe Lobby will increase the profitability of a building by delivering higher occupancy, less apartment turnover, higher rents and lower insurance costs. Owners and developers of low and middle income apartment buildings are beginning to take notice. Larry Dolin is the president and founder of American Security Systems, Long Island City, N.Y.