August 8th, 2003

Security Firm's Technology Foils Attempted Robbery at Local Tool Hire Company [Carlow Nationalist]

 

CARLOW security specialists, Netwatch proved their innovative hi-tech solution to security worked a treat recently - catching crooks in action at both local and national level.

The company, which has its command centre at Kernanstown, foiled a robbery at an adjoining property, Carlow Tool Hire, on Thursday, July 10, at 10.30pm, when the infra-red detectors they had erected around the premises were triggered by intruders.
The tool hire company had been victim to a number of robberies in the recent past but this latest attempt left the would-be thieves running empty handed.

A Netwatch spokesperson outlined to The Nationalist that seconds after the incursion live video footage was relayed to the command centre, resulting in Netwatch staff issuing a verbal warning over their system. "As soon as the audio system was activated the two intruders immediately made a run for it," the spokesperson stated.

"This event proves the effect an audio warning can have in such cases.  It is all very well to have an alarm system activated but intruders normally calculate they have a certain amount of time before the matter will be investigated.

However, when they hear the audio warning they know they are being watched which spurs them to make their getaway without doing any damage or stealing any property," the spokesperson said.

Gardaí arrived on the scene within minutes of being contacted by Netwatch.  But by then the intruders had made their getaway in a red Hiace van.  Similarly, a Dublin-based client of Netwatch had a successful outcome from use of the new security system.  Based in the Red Cow Industrial Estate at Clondalkin, their head office was broken into on Sunday, July 27, by a single intruder.

He gained entry to the premises by breaking the glass panelled front door.  The intruder then set about ransacking the offices, prompting Netwatch personnel to immediately notify Clondalkin Gardaí. Seven minutes later, while the Netwatch command centre continued to monitor the actions of the intruder, Gardaí arrived at the scene and arrested the man.

Netwatch was launched nine months ago and now has 70 clients on its books.  While the majority of these businesses are scattered throughout Ireland they even have some in Spain and others in the UK.

The company incorporates advanced alarm technology with the most modern CCTV techniques and is an intelligent security system which allows the command centre to watch in 'real-time' the intrusion taking place at a premises and, more importantly, to speak directly to criminals before they commit a crime.