Virtually every country around the world is negatively affected by vandalism. Graffiti and the destruction of both public and private property are issues that continue to haunt government officials, commercial institutions, and citizens of every level.

The United States is no exception. According to recent government data, the cost of vandalism in America is estimated to range anywhere between $10 and $25 billion annually.

Hamburg’s Borough Pool and Recreation Park area is not only a source of civic pride for the city; it is also an important regional recreation area. Offering a large park, public pool, and facilities for public concerts, this park serves as a hub for Hamburg and the many surrounding communities to enjoy their recreational moments. Additionally, these civic facilities also act as a catalyst for Hamburg’s local business community – and as such, any perceived downturn in the status of this park has a negative cascading effect throughout the borough.

"Fairly recently, we’ve had growing problems with a variety of vandalism - type crimes in our Hamburg Borough Pool and Recreation Park area," explained John Leonforte – Codes Administrator at this location.

"Initially, we attempted to address this issue through private security; but we found that not only was it expensive – roughly $20,000 annually – it also did not significantly reduce the levels of destruction in public property and graffiti," added Mr. Leonforte.

Changing tactics, Hamburg chose to invest in a comprehensive security solution featuring Hikvision products. Mr. Leonforte noticed an immediate impact: "Within two days of these Hikvision cameras being installed, there was a significant drop-off in vandalism. Obviously, these cameras had a strong deterrent value, but we needed to be able to support this with technological innovation to maintain our initial gains."

Quarterbacking many of the technical issues regarding the installation of this solution was Brad Heckelman, Hikvision’s U.S. Mid-Atlantic Regional Manger. Mr. Heckelman chose Hikvision’s DS-2CD762MF-IFB 1.3 megapixel vandal proof and weather proof network dome camera, as well as the DS-2DF1-672 1.3 megapixel network speed dome camera to serve as the eyes of this solution.

In many respects, the DS-2DF1-672 1.3 M network speed dome acts as the lynchpin of the solution. “Among many beneficial features, we chose this camera for its 18x optical zoom, plus up to 10x digital zoom, which provide a tremendously detailed and high-quality picture. Additionally, the 1/3" Sony CCD chip allows this camera to work very well in changing lighting conditions,” explained Mr. Heckelman.

Installed on elevated positions at select locations throughout the park, and controlled remotely, this PTZ camera offers 360°endless pan range and -5° ~ -90° tilt range, thereby providing up to 2 miles of tremendously clear pictures in any direction. Interestingly, if there were no viewing obstructions (trees, building, etc.), "we could literally use only one DS-2DF1-672 model– this is how good the zoom image quality is, regardless of distance," noted Mr. Heckelman.

Additionally, an IP66 weather-proofing standard ensures problem-free functionality from any outdoor weather conditions this camera will face. And as Pennsylvania is known for extreme heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter, this is an absolute necessity for any camera in this part of America.

The second Hikvision camera in this solution, the DS-2CD762MF-IFB 1.3 M vandal proof and weather proof network domes were placed throughout the outdoor park and pool, as well as inside facilities such as the concession stand. This camera keeps a focused watch over areas deemed as high priority. “Traditionally, one of the areas that has been particularly challenging, from a graffiti perspective, has been the back of the band shell. However, now, with this camera providing 24/7 surveillance on this specific location, we have not had one new incident of graffiti,” noted Mr. Leonforte. “We were able to alleviate our vandalism problems as well as provide our patrons with an increased sense of security,” summed up Mr. Leonforte.