The sale of these devices, used in companies and homes, has grown up to 50% in the last three months
More than 4,460 home robberies, 2,564 business robberies, 2,676 stolen cars and 12,475 assaults on people. These are figures of the main crimes reported, between January and August, at the national level, according to statistics from the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), all with increases ranging from 16.1% to 58.1%, compared to the same period in 2020.
These numbers are accompanied by a perception of insecurity that has also generated a growth in the demand for security cameras, equipment, alarms and physical and electronic guardianship services, according to experts consulted by EL UNIVERSO newspaper.
José Massuh, general manager of Distribuidora Distrimass, confirmed that robberies and assaults in homes and businesses have led many people to seek video surveillance products to prevent these types of incidents.
He indicated that the product with the highest demand today are IP cameras, which are small, inexpensive equipment that works with Wi-Fi and can be operated through a mobile application.
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“We have been able to show that at present the greatest concern of people is insecurity, that is why we have increased the sale of these equipment by 40%,” said Massuh, who also highlighted that prices are more accessible due to the reduction of tariffs applied by the Government in this type of technology.
Other company, Novicompu, It also registers an increase in the demand for this type of equipment. Stalin Sacoto, administrative manager of the company and who also has a degree in security, graduated in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and specialized in Europe, said that in the last three months they registered a 50% increase in the sale of video surveillance cameras.
Sacoto showed that in the last quarter it sold 1,411 items in the 54 stores that the firm has nationwide, in Quito, Guayaquil, Santo Domingo, Manta, Portoviejo, Loja, Ambato, Riobamba, Cuenca, Milagro and Machala; but most of the sales were concentrated in Guayaquil, Quito and Manta.
The best-selling item in its stores, with 1,188 units, is also the IP camera, which according to the expert, is the cheapest ($ 23), easy to install and acts in a certain way as deterrents against crime.
Another highly sought-after item is the CCTV Complete Kit, a closed-circuit video surveillance technology designed to monitor a variety of environments. The price of this product starts at $ 120. Of this type of CCTV equipment, Novicompu offers six options, which vary according to the number of cameras or technical specifications, and of which it has sold around 60 kits.
However, Sacoto highlighted the concept of ‘security system’ by ensuring that these technological elements effectively contribute to security, but by themselves they do not create a totally safe environment.
“When something happens, there must be the presence of the human element that is the only one that prevents the loss event from being consumed,” Sacoto explained, showing videos of the video surveillance cameras of some of its premises where thefts were recorded and that helped to prevent them or identify criminals for capture and initiate legal processes with the authorities.
If we speak of the human element, private guardianship companies also show an increase in the demand for their services.
So he assured Jorge Villacreses, president of the Cuport company and of the Chamber of Private Security Companies (Casep), that brings together around 58 companies nationwide.
“Indeed, the demand for private security has grown for the establishments of restaurants, industries, urbanizations and in general, not only in physical security, but also in electronic security,” said Villacreces, who affirmed that the demand for these services has increased by 50% , especially in zone 8 (Guayaquil and Samborondón).
He added that the increase in organized crime, such as drug trafficking, has also generated an increase in its anti-drug security services, which have trained dogs.
“The demand for the inspections that Anti-narcotics makes to all exporters has grown, to prevent their export containers from being contaminated,” said Villacreses, who expects a growth in this segment of 30% in the remainder of the year and in the 2022.
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Novicompu and Distrimass also have good projections.
For example, Massuh revealed that due to high demand Distrimass is making new imports of this type of equipment. One of these items is the cameras for cars that had stopped importing, but due to the increasing demand from customers they will bring back, in addition to other models of IP cameras.
Sacoto, for his part, revealed that despite the fact that Novicompu’s imports are scheduled more than three months in advance, they generally carry out an analysis to establish if more orders are made; and he announced that due to the good reception of the last three months, imports of this equipment will increase. (I)
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