Chennai
Vendors who have shifted their focus from computer hardware to surveillance equipment say that realtors and home buyers comprise a large segment of their consumer base as they rely on state -of- the- art systems including video door phones and RFID door locks to install in homes as a safety measure.
Speaking to DTNext , Pulkit Panwar of MK Security Solutions and Electronics, a dealer based in the electronics hub says, “Safety of one’s home and its perimeter is a major concern among Chennaiites, even among those living in apartments and housing complexes. There is a rising demand for equipment like video door phones, which are priced in the range of Rs 4,800 to Rs 7,500 (for the four-inch and seven-inch LCD screen respectively).”
He goes on to add, “Apart from the standard burglar alarm which retails for about Rs 6,500, there is also the RFID door lock, which has now found acceptance among many residents. It’s a digital key, much like an official access card that needs to be swiped before entering the house.”
Manufacturers of surveillance systems have also upped their game and begun retailing top of the line HD cameras that offer a higher degree of clarity of images that are a far cry from the grainy footage of standard issue CCTV cameras. R Saroja, of Power Technologies, another vendor in this area says, “The price of surveillance equipment has come down to a large extent thanks to the popularity of the technology. A basic high definition CCTV camera is priced at about Rs 1,250.
Couple this with a DVR (digital video recorder) and cabling costs, and you can have a decent 4-cam setup for anywhere under Rs 10,000.” Chennaiites are of the opinion that it’s better to be safe than sorry. Meenu Susanna, an advertising professional says, “My complacency about Chennai’s safe environs has taken a beating. Now I never leave home without my small can of pepper spray. As I commute using local trains, I always carry a pair of scissors as well in my handbag, for any contingency. I insist on carrying a big umbrella too. You could call it paranoia, but I am very conscious of my surroundings. Even when I travel and am in an unfamiliar place, I look for some or the other object that can be used to protect myself, in case of an emergency.”
Sorry ladies, not many safety gadgets for you
A quick scan of e-tailers for self-defence equipment for women throws up an array of options. Chief among them is the pepper spray in several variants. Among the new products that have arrived on popular online sites are a smartphone sized stun gun priced at Rs 1,600, a super shock baton (Rs 2,900) and a foldable telescoping iron baton (Rs 1,149). When asked about the availability of such products, a store in Kasi Chetty Street in Sowcarpet denied any knowledge. What they had was a shrill buzzer like whistle, prized at Rs 100 that could be attached to one’s purse or cellphone that gets activated when pulled.
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