A security guard that never gets sick
Maryland May 29 2021
The portable security camera is solar powered and can easily be moved from one site to another.
When broken down, the equipment can be towed by a pick-up truck or SUV.
The best security for a construction site, large event or store parking lot is one that never calls out and never gets sick; one that by its mere presence deters criminals.
That’s what local private investigators Gordon Bowers and Frank Liuzzi of ABI Security Group Inc. are trying to bring to the Cape Region.
ABI has partnered with LiveView Technologies to offer a mobile high-tech, solar-powered security camera to businesses in the area – no power, no Wi-Fi needed. Cameras are mounted on a 22-foot mast and can provide a crystal-clear image several hundred yards away, day or night. The equipment is attached to a portable trailer that can be towed to and from locations with a pickup truck or SUV. It can be set up in just a few minutes.
LiveView Technologies was founded in Utah in 2005 and has rapidly grown over the last 16 years, developing a patented hardware and software package that provides top-of-the-line surveillance and security to a growing slate of clients, including Lowe’s, Wal-mart, Bass Pro Shops and even Anne Arundel County, Md.
In Maryland, LVT provided 24-7 security for 32 ballot drop boxes across Anne Arundel County for 45 days leading up to the 2020 election. There were no reported incidents of tampering or vandalism at ballot boxes.
“A lot of retail will use it so they don’t have to tear up their infrastructure to lay cables,” said Sharlene Nauta-West, a LiveView Technologies representative who recently toured Sussex County with ABI Security. “Construction companies will use it as well in areas where they don’t have power and Wi-Fi laid down.”
Other popular locations for the cameras are farms, remote construction sites, car dealerships and large-scale events like concerts or parades.
The units use cellular technology to upload live streams to a cloud-based storage system. Unlike other cameras that have a delayed response, a user can remotely control the cameras with low latency.
“Usually it’s going to take several seconds – and I’ve seen minutes – for a camera to respond,” Nauta-West said. “Ours is milliseconds.”
The cameras also boast minimal downtime.
“Our downtime is less than 2 percent,” Nauta-West said. “Usually any sort of solar-powered remote camera like this is going to have downtimes around 30 to 50 percent. That’s usually happening at night when crimes are most likely to happen. A couple hours of solar charge can keep our camera going for several days.”
The portable trailer and equipment are designed to be safe and secure. There are no external cables, and the trailer is not easily moved once in place. In 16 years, no trailers have been stolen, Nauta-West said.
The cameras are equipped with thermal and infrared technology, and are smart enough to know the difference between an animal that’s wandered onto the site and a person who may be trespassing. They’re capable of sending alerts too.
The units also have flood and strobe lights, an alarm and a speaker that can be used to directly communicate with a suspect or loop a pre-recorded message.
The software saves several weeks’ worth of footage, which can be extremely helpful when investigating an incident.
Bowers, a former Delaware State Police detective, says the camera could be an asset to law enforcement agencies during big events.
“The state police has had shooting incidents go on for hours,” he said. “A lot of times when it’s over, the police will draw intelligence from this person’s body cam, that person’s body cam, etc. If this were to be used, it’s like an eye in the sky where it catches everything at once.”
One aspect Bower loves about the device is that it’s American made. To learn more about LiveView Technologies and the cameras, go to www.lvt.com.
ABI Security was founded in 2006 as a one-stop shop for investigative needs. The company’s services include domestic, civil, business and criminal investigations.
“We get called quite equally for all types of investigations, and we like it that way,” said Bowers, the owner, lead detective and manager. “We don’t like to get pigeonholed into one type of investigation. We like the wide variety; it keeps us sharp in many different areas.”
After retiring from DSP, Bowers worked as an ethics and compliance investigator for major defense contractor SOC. During this time, he worked in Iraq.
Liuzzi works as a detective with ABI Security. He moved to the Cape Region from New York, where he served as a major crimes detective with the NYPD. He is also a retired U.S. Marine.
He was with the NYPD during the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.
“Looking back, I was able to witness the best and worst of humanity,” he said. “The way the people of NYC and the nation came together to push forward at such a dark time was resounding.”
He joined ABI Security about a year ago, and fit right in.
“A phone conversation with [Bowers] show that we had the same investigative brain,” Liuzzi said. “Gordon has given me a great purpose by providing me with the chance to solve cases on the private side. My brain thanks him because when you’re an investigator, it never leaves you.”
A free 30-minute consultation is available. To learn more about ABI Security, go to www.abisecuritygroup.com.
