China is planning to boost their use of Security Cameras.

On Monday an article came out about security cameras in China. China’s police say they have installed 2.75 million surveillance cameras since 2003 and plan to expand the system into the countryside, which is home to about 800 million of the country’s 1.3 billion people.

The cameras are the most visible components of police surveillance, mainly in urban areas, according to a news release posted Monday on the Chinese Public Security Ministry’s Web site.

These camera security systems have proved controversial in other countries, like Britain, which reportedly has 4.2 million surveillance cameras installed – which is about one per 14 people. The ratio of cameras to people stands at only one to 472,000. The camera-to-person ratio is believed to be much higher in China’s cities, with the capital Beijing having 265,000 cameras.

No dialog or privacy rights has arisen in China, where tight communist political control and broad and intrusive police powers have been the norm for half a century. However, China’s plans to combine surveillance cameras with face recognition software has raised concerns about how the equipment will be used.

The Associated Press reported “Thefts, burglaries and purse snatching have all more than doubled since the 1990s amid rising wealth inequalities and relaxed social controls, with about 4.75 million cases reported in 2007, the last year for which statistics were available. However, police say violent crime has declined in recent years with better enforcement of rules governing weapons and explosives.” The Chinese police believe that the expansion of camera security to the countryside should “put the safety of the broad masses of the people first and foremost.”

Controlling Access
Providing Visibility
Maintaining Your Property
Protecting Your Home and Property When You Are Away
Making Sure the Police Can Find Your Home
Identifying Your Property

Controlling Access
Use good Locking Hardware, and install it properly
Change the locks in a new home
Secure your yard with solid gates, and keep them locked
Keep trees trimmed, so they don’t allow easy access to the upstairs
Put “neighborhood watch” and Security stickers on your windows
Install a quality Security System
Monitor your Alarm System, so Police are notified
Make sure your Alarm company is licensed in California
Your Security System should have a battery back-up

Providing Visibility
Leave outside lights on after dark
Keep trees trimmed for good visibility across your property
Install a wide-angle peephole in your front door

Maintaining Your Property
Replace broken windows or screens
Repair broken fences or gate locks
Keep property in good condition, neglect will advertise “loose” security

Protecting Your Home and Property When You Are Away
Notify your Security Company, and update your call list
Use timers on lights when you leave town
Leave your itinerary with a friend or neighbor, so you can be contacted
Stop mail and newspaper deliveries

Making Sure the Police Can Find Your Home
Your street address number should be visible
If you live in a gated community, give Police the entry code

Identifying Your Property
Etch your drivers license number on anything that could be stolen
Photograph valuables that cannot be etched
Keep a detailed up-to-date record of your valuables

For more information: San Diego Police Website