History of Security Cameras

Security cameras were first used by the US Military in the 1940s. Cameras were set up during the testing of the V2 missile in order to safely monitor the tests. By using cameras, officials were able to watch the testing at close range without danger. This gave them the ability to look more closely for possible defects, without risk of injury to any inspectors.

In the 1960s, officials in the UK began installing security cameras in public places to monitor crowds during rallies. Placement of security cameras became more widespread, both in public spaces and retail stores, as the technology grew more advanced and the cost decreased. Today in Britain, security cameras monitor roads, sidewalks and squares in city centers, public rail stations and buses, as well as in retail shops and other businesses.

In the United States, the first security cameras were set up in a public building in 1969, in the New York City Municipal building. This practice quickly spread to other cities and was soon widely implemented. Unlike the UK, security cameras in public spaces in the United States are rarely used. However, in the 1970s and 80s, camera use became more common in establishments prone to security threats, like banks, convenience stores, and gas stations. Security cameras were installed in the World Trade Center as a preventative measure after the terrorist attacks in 1993. By the mid-90s, ATMs across the country were commonly equipped with CCTV cameras, and many retail stores used CCTV to prevent theft.

Personal use of security cameras has become quite prolific. As the technology has become much easier and less expensive to acquire. Because of this, the use of security cameras has become widespread, not only among large retail stores, but among smaller operations like homes, "mom-and-pop" convenience stores, small businesses, and independent retailers.

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