CCTV Systems Sometimes Catch People Being Good

We’re all used to hearing about how the CCTV systems installed by stores are good at catching people being bad – after all, isn’t that why most retail stores install a security camera system? Every once in a while, though, a surveillance camera setup accidentally catches someone going above and beyond to do good. Just last month, the CCTV camera system in one New Jersey discount store captured a feel-good CCTV security video that went viral, for a very good reason.
No doubt, the owners of the dollar store at the New Jersey mall installed the security system to “reduce shrinkage” – that is, to keep customers from shoplifting and employees from stealing from him. Instead, the surveillance cameras caught something quite different.
First, a little setup. The store closes at 8 PM, but is located inside a mall that closes later. It is protected by security locks and a surveillance system, but on the night in question, when the manager of the store shut up shop for the night, the front door lock malfunctioned. Also, for various reasons, store staff leave most of the store lights on during the night, so, for all intents and purposes, the little store appeared to be open for business when four young men opened the unlocked front door and walked into the store.
This is where the security camera footage get interesting. The boys walk in, look around and engage in a little conversation, apparently puzzled that no one is at the counter or in the aisles of the store. They proceed to head downstairs to the main selling area, round up a few items, batteries, headphones and a few other things obviously intended for their dorm rooms, and then head for the still-unmanned register. After calling for a clerk a few times, the four boys huddle for a moment, then reach into pockets, withdraw wallets and carefully count out dollars and change, even holding bills up toward the visible security camera in demonstration, before walking out the door with their purchases. For the record, the young men even included the right amount of New Jersey sales tax on their goods.
In today’s world, we don’t really expect CCTV systems to show us the good in people. Most store and property owners install surveillance systems to catch people stealing, vandalizing and otherwise being dishonest. It’s nice, for a change, to have the CCTV camera catch people being honest.