There are three distinct advantages of setting up convenience store CCTV systems:

• Digital over analog: Whether wired or wireless, the new CCTV systems are installed and configured over a computer network, not analog, making adjustment and “anytime” monitoring simple.
• Additional Security: Rather than having to rely on cashier and eye witness memory or exit-door height strips, digital footage of incidents are now good enough to make out features of perpetrators.
• Loss Prevention measures: Having cameras in place reduces theft, whether it is from trespassers or from employees..

While convenience store CCTV systems are beneficial to store owners, they are not fool-proof. There are risks that need to be taken into consideration when installing such a system.

• They are not tamper proof, and criminals will often attempt to tamper with a security camera to conceal their identities.
• Power outages can render a convenience store security camera damaged, resulting in surveillance gaps and equipment failure.
• Privacy limitations mean that cameras cannot be placed in restrooms, and only in public areas, such as stockrooms and the sales floor. You also must post signage stating that CCTV recording is in progress.

There are many different ways convenience store CCTV systems can be set up in your store. There are a few questions to ponder prior to setting up a system which must be asked:

• What is your biggest security issue?
• Have you ever had an incident you wish had been recorded, and how would it have helped?
• Is your store in a neighborhood watch area? How does the area affect your security?
• What are your current security features (alarms, height strips, reflective surfaces, etc.)?
• What are your store's hours? (Nightfall hours, especially 12am-8am, are prone to criminal activity.)
• Have you had employee thefts in the past, or other shoplifting issues?
• Are there any “blind spots” for the cashier from the register?

Answering these questions can help you set up the best locations for your CCTV system. Make sure that the sales floor and registers are covered, as well as any restricted product areas, such as cigarettes and liquor. Other spots for set up of a convenience store security camera include:

• Entrances and exits.
• Gas pumps if you have them, and make sure they are positioned in such a way as to capture license plates.
• For high-crime neighborhoods, it's a good idea to have perimeter cameras to capture vandalism or other activity. That way, employees can contact authorities if they catch something unusual going on outdoors.
  

While convenience store CCTV systems are not 100% fail-safe, they are helpful in many ways in improving store security, reducing employee theft, and identifying perpetrators of criminal activity. When compared to older methods of security, such as analog, low-resolution cameras, and other anti-personnel devices, digital convenience store security cameras are the way to go.