Some risks in installing restaurant CCTV systems need to be understood - while the benefits are great, no security system is 100% fail safe.

• Interruptions in recording: Storm damage on outdoor cameras, power outages and surges, and other inclement weather issues can cause recording to be interrupted, or damage the CCTV system entirely.

• Vandalism and theft: Thieves may try to steal the cameras for resale or to conceal their identities (or both), or otherwise damage the restaurant CCTV system in order to conceal their identities.

• Privacy issues: Cameras should be placed in public areas only - the main lobby, drive-through areas, registers, dining areas, and stockrooms. Appropriate signage should also be posted.

There are three large benefits to having restaurant CCTV systems installed in your fast food place.

• Quality Assurance: Make sure that employees are adhering to proper health codes - keeping your customers healthy and inspectors happy.

• Loss Prevention: Discourage employee theft as well as keeping criminals at bay. Vandalism and car break ins can also cause loss in the way of customers not wanting to return to your restaurant. Cameras can help provide reassurance that criminals are being monitored.

• Remote Viewing: If you have several restaurants in a franchise, or your place is large, networking the cameras over the Internet will enable you to check on your assets from any place at any time, over a computer or mobile phone.

When setting up your restaurant CCTV systems, consider the following, and ask yourself the following questions:

• Where are your most vulnerable areas in your restaurant?

• What kind of amenities are offered at your place? Drive-through and dining, or just one of these services?

• In the past year, have you had any issues you wish had been caught on camera?

• Do you have workers on the premises during the high-crime shift (12 Midnight to 8AM)? The graveyard shift is the most vulnerable to criminal activity - even if you're not open 24 hours a day, you may have an early breakfast shift or late-night snack shift that overlaps into these hours (such as being open until 2AM or opening at 5AM for breakfast).

• Where is the restaurant located? Is the neighborhood crime rate high?

• Cameras should be placed at entrances and exits, as well as in places where they can catch car license plates for drive offs and other crimes.

• Another good spot for surveillance includes the main office, in order to reduce employee theft occurrences.

There are many benefits to enhancing your current security system with the addition of a restaurant CCTV system. Your assets, employees, and customers will benefit from the added protection and, in turn, so will you.