Already Have Cameras at Home? Here’s How to Make Them Stop Crime
If you already have CCTV cameras at home, you don’t need to replace them to get real protection. Monitored connects to your existing cameras and adds Smart-AI detection and trained operators who watch your property around the clock, so your cameras help stop crime instead of just recording it.
Plenty of homes in Cape Town have cameras on the driveway, the gate and the back garden. Far fewer have anyone watching them. Here’s why that matters, and how to change it without starting from scratch.
Why cameras on their own don’t stop crime
A CCTV system that nobody is watching is a recording device. It captures what happened, and the footage is usually checked the next morning, after the damage is done.
The cameras aren’t the problem. The problem is the gap between someone stepping onto your property and someone doing something about it. Close that gap, and the cameras you already own become an active crime prevention tool rather than a passive recording device.
How CCTV monitoring works with the cameras you already have
Monitored’s offsite CCTV monitoring is designed to work with your existing system. Here’s what happens, in plain English:
We connect securely to your cameras. We set up a secure connection to your current CCTV system, so your camera feeds stream to Monitored’s cloud-based server.
Our Smart-AI watches for people. The software analyses your feeds in real time, identifies people entering the trigger zones set for your property, and separates routine activity from potential threats.
A trained operator checks every alert. When something looks suspicious, a video alert goes straight to our operations centre in Cape Town, where a trained operator reviews it. A resident walking the dog? Dismissed. Someone climbing your wall at 2am? Escalated.
We act while it’s happening. For a genuine threat, we dispatch your security response company and keep you updated. Where speakers are fitted, operators can also warn intruders off before they get any further.
Same cameras. Very different outcome.
Do I need new cameras for CCTV monitoring?
In most cases, no. Monitored adapts to your existing CCTV infrastructure and enhances what it can do, without a complete overhaul. Your cameras simply need to be online, so their feeds can reach our server.
If your cameras are old or badly placed, or you’re starting from scratch, ask us for advice and we’ll recommend the simplest setup. Monitored doesn’t install cameras itself, but we work with vetted, highly recommended camera and security installers and can point you in the right direction.
Can Monitored watch my alarm too?
Yes. Monitored can monitor any alarm system. A device linked to your alarm sends a signal straight to our operations centre when it activates, so we can dispatch security resources quickly. You can arm or disarm your alarm from a free app, which also includes a panic button for immediate assistance.
For an extra layer of protection, our audio announcements add-on lets operators issue a verbal warning through loudspeakers on your property the moment a possible intruder is spotted.
Recorded CCTV vs monitored CCTV
Cameras that only record | Cameras monitored by Monitored | |
Who is watching | Often no one | Smart-AI and trained operators, day and night |
When a threat is noticed | Later, on playback | As it happens |
What happens next | Slow reaction and delayed escalation | Threats challenged in seconds, response dispatched fast |
Cost | Can climb if you add on-site staffing | Lower, predictable monthly cost |
How much does it cost to monitor existing cameras in Cape Town?
Monitored’s home package starts at R499 a month, excluding VAT, and includes monitoring of two cameras. You can choose 24/7 monitoring, or night-only monitoring from 8pm to 6am, with clear monthly pricing and no surprises.
Because you’re using cameras you already own, there’s no need to budget for a whole new system before your property is protected.
Who’s behind Monitored?
Monitored’s founders bring more than 35 years of experience in law enforcement and security. The directors are hands-on in the business and active in community safety initiatives across Cape Town, including neighbourhood watches and community policing boards. Our operators work from our operations centre in Cape Town, watching over homes and businesses around the clock.
How to get started
Setting up is straightforward, and you can be protected in days, not months.
Tell us about your cameras. Keep your current cameras or ask us for advice.
Get your plan. We’ll design the simplest plan that gives your property real protection.
Go live. We connect your system, and your cameras start working for you, day and night.
Put your cameras to work
Your cameras are already up. Now let’s make them count. Call Monitored on 087 820 3333 or email letstalk@monitored.co.za to get started.
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