Township grabs security gizmos

KOLKATA: When a Salt Lake police official tried to popularise high-tech security gadgets a few years back, the response was tepid. Now, after two daylight incidents of assault and dacoity, in quick succession, the township seems to have discovered the value of these gizmos.
The sense of insecurity seems to have come as a boon for agencies dealing in gadgets.Agency employees admitted that they have been flooded with inquiries from anxious customers.
"Most of our customers are elderly couples and non-resident Indians who have no one to look after their houses for most of the year," explained the sales manager of a security agency.
Another official at a leading Salt Lake-based security agency said that a high-tech anti-burglar system connected to the central control room of a security agency and an automatic telephone-dialler with a voicerecorder system are the most popular options.
A centralised electronic locking system that can be activated by pressing a switch is also useful in monitoring visitors.
Sophisticated devices like closedcircuit TVs and video door phones are also being lapped up.
The recent dacoities in the township have also stirred block associations into action. FD Block has become the first to have installed a centralised anti-burglar system. Associations in AE Block and CK-CL Blocks have convened emergency meetings to review the existing security arrangements. "The night-security arrangement has to be beefed up and residents may have to pay a little extra for their security," a member of the CK-CL Block Association said.
"I will sit with the block association members in my ward to improve the safety of residents," assured councillor Asesh Mukherjee. "We have to co-operate with the police in reporting any suspicious movements in our localities," informed a member of the Labony estate.