Video Surveillance Common Area

[asemerdjian]

What is the name of your state? California

We have been experiencing vandalism within our Condominium. The items affected so far have been outgoing mail theft (checks removed), property stolen from common area, and removal of elevator permits from our secure lobby. We have found most of these in our elevator shaft during normal inspections.

We would like to install a video surveillance system w/o audio, however don’t know what the grey areas are. The cameras would be located within common areas.
- Do we need all 18 owners to acknowledge, or approve a system?
- Do we need to label the areas with “You are being recorded with Video Surveillance for your protection”?

If we are able to capture an act, can it be used lawfully?
Our local office for USPS has advised us unless the outgoing mail is within USPS property (Postal person, post office, or/ postal box -blue boxes on street curbs) it is not considered mail tampering; however envelopes with checks are being removed and discarded.

We are considering changing the common locks again, changing security codes for paper deliveries, and even posting a security guard.

Our concern is for our security, could we use the captured video for criminal prosecution? Either local or federal depending on what is captured?

One last question, what if the criminal is someone within our premises? Could we evict a homeowner, hopefully this isn’t the case.

 

[seniorjudge]

I suspect yours must be the only condominium in California without video surveillance.

Put it in today.

 

[BelizeBreeze]

depending on how your bylaws are written you only need to follow the correct procedures. You don't need anyone's "PERMISSION" to install the damn things outside of that.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state? California

We have been experiencing vandalism within our Condominium. The items affected so far have been outgoing mail theft (checks removed), property stolen from common area, and removal of elevator permits from our secure lobby. We have found most of these in our elevator shaft during normal inspections.

We would like to install a video surveillance system w/o audio, however don’t know what the grey areas are. The cameras would be located within common areas.
- Do we need all 18 owners to acknowledge, or approve a system?

**A: no, unless condo docs state otherwise.
*********
- Do we need to label the areas with “You are being recorded with Video Surveillance for your protection”?

**A: good idea.
********

If we are able to capture an act, can it be used lawfully?

**A: yes.
********
Our local office for USPS has advised us unless the outgoing mail is within USPS property (Postal person, post office, or/ postal box -blue boxes on street curbs) it is not considered mail tampering; however envelopes with checks are being removed and discarded.

**A: look for other altermatives.
********

We are considering changing the common locks again, changing security codes for paper deliveries, and even posting a security guard.

**A: great ideas.
********

Our concern is for our security, could we use the captured video for criminal prosecution? Either local or federal depending on what is captured?

**A: yes and I hope you catch Bigfoot in the act.
*********

One last question, what if the criminal is someone within our premises?

**A: then shoot him/her.
*******
Could we evict a homeowner, hopefully this isn’t the case.

**A: no.........