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Customer: South Jersey Federal Credit Union

Benefits Summary: The immediate benefits of converting electronic security systems from an analog to a digital format are improved quality and reliability. When South Jersey FCU executives considered replacing its legacy system of analog VCRs, they opted to convert their branches and operation centers to an advanced digital video recording solution, a decision that put the credit union squarely on the cutting-edge of advanced technology and well in front of its competitors, as South Jersey FCU became yet another financial institution to rely on Diebold’s AccuTrack. It was a smart move.

South Jersey FCU has been a Diebold customer for five years. AccuTrack systems have been installed at all offices. Its newest branch in Pleasantville, N.J., is equipped with all Diebold products from drive-up delivery systems to ATMs.

An average looking man wearing a dark blue hat and an over-sized parka walked into South Jersey Federal Credit Union (FCU) in Egg Harbor Township, N. J., around 10 a.m. recently. The man waited patiently in line with about six other customers, but when he reached the teller window, he was no longer an average customer. 

“Give me all of the money,” he said to the woman behind the counter. The robber threatened he had a gun by sticking one hand in his coat pocket. 

According to the credit union staff, it all happened so fast. Because the man wasn’t shouting or creating a scene, the other patrons and staff members had no idea what was happening. 

The teller was terrified. She froze and was unable to follow the robber’s demands.

A customer walked by the robber and accidentally nudged him while moving ahead in the next line. This was enough to scare the attempted robber and he exited the credit union without any money. 

Credit union officials notified the proper authorities and South Jersey police officers and agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were soon on the scene. 

“We hope for two things in a photograph – clarity and immediacy,” said FBI Special Agent Robert Hawk who has worked bank robberies for 20 years.  Thanks to the assistance of AccuTrack, this was not a tough case for local law enforcement and the FBI to solve. Vice president of operations Donna Wilmerton at South Jersey FCU was able to immediately download a digital picture of the robber for law enforcement.

 “The FBI was very impressed with the AccuTrack system,” Wilmerton said. “The sharp images were exactly what they needed to do their job quickly and effectively” 

The digital photo was ready to be sent to local media outlets right before the robber turned himself in only an hour and a half after the attempted robbery at the credit union. According to the police report, the thief went home and told his brother what he had done. His brother drove him to the police station and told him to turn himself in.

Wilmerton said AccuTrack is absolutely the way to go. “It is the most efficient digital video surveillance system on the market, and employees feel much safer with the high-tech security.” 

South Jersey FCU has installed the AccuTrack system at all cash operating facilities. “Before the installation of the AccuTrack systems, we used the standard VCR surveillance, which most police hate,” Wilmerton noted.

 “Digital video photography is becoming a trend for the world,” Hawk added, “and I see digital video surveillance cameras becoming a trend for financial institutions in the near future.” 

Diebold’s AccuTrack system is a digital video recorder that captures digitally signed images and transaction data in real-time using anywhere from one to 24 cameras. Live and stored images can be retrieved online by authorized personnel using any standard PC with a Web browser. With the help of AccuTrack and law enforcement, other thieves will think twice before robbing a South Jersey FCU location.

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