Don’t let your being slack set them free

In the Matida Times today was an article that highlights why CCTV training is important for not just the installer but also the client.

A man accused of stealing a laptop was seen on CCTV footage but due to the camera being out of focus was acquitted.

Most of the video surveillance cameras that get installed are setup in normal lighting conditions and give a great image but as night falls, the camera becomes out of focus due to the opening of the iris to let more light in, reducing the depth of field. Additionally the camera being mounted too high or on too much of an angle results in the face not being fully visible if the suspect is wearing a baseball cap as was the case here. A camera should not be installed on more than a 35 degree angle to avoid this but for convenience, they are often installed on the ceiling at what ever height that happens to be resulting in an image like the one below.

Magistrate Grima said his face was not visible because the image was out of focus and the person was wearing a baseball cap.

Camera mounted too hight | A CCTV image of the armed robbery at the Botanical Gardens Hotel in White Hills


Alleged robber acquitted on ‘out of focus’ CCTV footage

Grainy CCTV footage of a man identified by the police as a thief was not enough to have him convicted yesterday.

Two policemen said they recognised Pierre Cassar, 36, of Marsaxlokk from his stature and walk. He was accused of stealing a laptop computer.

In the footage, he is allegedly seen walking up to a car in the driveway of a house in Marsaxlokk, doing something near the vehicle and walking out again. But by no stretch of the imagination could one say he was the accused, Magistrate Edwina Grima said yesterday.

Two policemen, Sergeant Malcolm Pace and Constable George Zammit, testified that they recognised Mr Cassar from his stature and walk while PC Zammit insisted that he could also recognise his face.

Magistrate Grima said his face was not visible because the image was out of focus and the person was wearing a baseball cap.

In handing down judgment, the magistrate said the two officers were probably influenced by the fact that there were a number of police reports filed about the accused regarding him skulking around houses and cars.

Furthermore, the identity of the person on the CCTV footage could not be determined. Another factor which also favoured the accused was the fact that the charge stated the crime happened on the June 7, 2010 when all the other evidence pointed to it having been committed the day before.

You may also like to learn about DVR maintenance and what will make them fail at the critical time you need them

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One Comment

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  1. Felicia October 27, 2011 at 1:21 pm #

    I guess the robber just got lucky this time. Hopefully they catch him red-handed next time as we surely don’t want these types of people lurking in our neighborhood.