Home owners have increasingly installed these devices within their home premises to monitor the situation when they are not at home. For example, CCTVs are used to detect any unauthorised entry into the house as in a burglary; or simply to deter would-be intruders from trespassing onto or breaking into their homes. With both the house and loved ones protected, home owners can leave their home with peace of mind.
CCTVs have also played a very instrumental role in the successful identification of wanted criminals and their subsequent arrest. Examples include murders, thefts, loan shark activities, and acts of vandalism. Another usage of CCTVs includes installation in lifts to pre-empt undesirable acts like urination or smoking. On roads, CCTVs are mounted at strategic locations to help monitor traffic flows.
More recently, taxi drivers have installed CCTVs within their taxis, which have the ability to record road accidents and pinpoint the cause of accidents. Robbers and fare cheats would be deterred by the presence of such CCTVs. Shops have similarly used such devices to prevent shop-lifting, robbery and other crimes of opportunity. Video footage can also serve as important evidence for lawsuits and assists in making legal claims