Case Studies

LILIN Delivers New Security Solution for Mills Newsagents

The Brief

One particular challenge faced by Mills as they expand is the increasing acts of theft and violence within their stores. Mills recognise that this is an increasing problem with shoplifters and internal theft providing an ongoing issue for Security Managers. They also recognise their responsibility to protect staff and customers from potential threats.

Preventing crime and ensuring the conviction of offenders is of central importance for any retailer. Mills Newsagents have worked hard to make progress in the provision of security to reduce crime as well as providing quality images required for evidence when offenders are facing prosecution.
 

The Solution

After extensive research, all Mills stores are in the process of upgrading their security system to LILIN equipment supplied by Blenheim Security Installers. Using a combination of digital video recorders, vandal proof and wide dynamic cameras, Security Managers, Area Managers and shop staff are using LILIN products on a daily basis to monitor and record operations throughout the stores.

Cameras are located in various areas of the different stores, as well as over entrance and exit points. The cameras are controlled by the various staff members with presets used to set target positions for high risk areas. The position, iris and zoom settings can be adjusted by staff to take into account issues such as changes in store layout and lighting.

The PDR-2160 digital video recorder allows operators to simultaneously record from multiple cameras and stores, play back recorded video and download to CD-RW. This can be achieved off-site, with staff remotely viewing operations at various different stores and from the head office.

The Result

In use for over 20 months at certain Mills stores, LILIN equipment has already captured internal and external theft, with high quality picture images enabling Mills to successfully prosecute individuals. The small and discreet cameras that are used do not infringe on the shopping experience of Mills customers but are still powerful enough to fulfil their security requirements.

The scope of the LILIN equipment has enabled Mills to benefit from increased storage without stopping the monitoring or the recording of images throughout their stores. Images of particular incidents can be written to either a USB flash drive or CD writer and supplied to the Police and Mills head office for further investigation.

With over 80 stores in the UK, centralising security operations bring obvious cost and resource benefits. Peter Appleby at Mills Newsagents commented, ‘For such a large project it has been extremely simple to install, easy to operate whilst providing excellent value for money.’

LILIN’s security solutions provide Mills with the flexibility and manageability to be used in a series of ways by a variety of individuals.  Mr Appleby commented further ‘the flexibility and cascadability of LILIN products produce the perfect solution for our security requirements’.

Mills are continuing to roll out LILIN products across the remainder of their stores, building on the success of the project to date.