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Becca invited me to her apartment when we made it back, sent me through the alley behind the building to keep the prying eyes at the minimum. That was fine with me as I was a lot more noticeable than I liked to be, at the moment. I had already lit a cigarette by the time she opened the back door of the stairwell to let me in. It was the last in the pack, and I'd only opened it this morning. The temperature on my phone screen had finally hit zero.
"You're gonna have to give me a second, B, I don't wanna smoke around you in your condition but I really need one."
She gave me another watery grin.
"Little too much blood in the nicotine system, huh?"
"Exactly, my young friend, exactly that."
She propped the door open and sat herself down on the ground. I could tell the high heels were starting to hurt her because she kicked them off and set them neatly to the side, though I knew the concrete had to be freezing her feet off. She tucked her skirt between her legs and sat with her back against the wall, her elbow propped on her bent knee, the other leg stretched out straight before her. It was exactly how what was left of Antoni had been sitting beside me less than two hours ago.
I was getting a little tired of all the patterns appearing in my life these days.
I flipped to my news app, as was my habit. There was an article at the top of page about the preparations the SDNY were making to get ready for the coming storm, but frankly I didn't really give a fuck so I just kept scrolling.
"Your old neighborhood is in the news, B."
"You ain't had enough bad news?" Beccs asked with a rueful laugh.
"Eh, I like to stay abreast of current events. I mean, you got me pegged, B. I'm a nosy fuck. But, uh, fifteen years on the inside, you learn that it pays to pay attention to the shit other people don't notice, cause you never know when the information you pick up is going to end up being the information you need."
She gave me a look that said she had to yield to my point.
"So what's the news from Koreatown?".
"Somebody shot a wedding up, apparently. Says seven were killed, including the bride and groom and the bride's father, as they was leaving the reception. You know, most of these names are Rhees. Ain't nobody you know, is it? Kinda feel like you've had enough death for the day, kid."
There was another look on her face, one I couldn't quite read even with all my people-watching prowess.
"Lemme take a wild stab at it. Two of those names are Rhee Seong-Min and Rhee Bong-Cha."
"Yeah," I nodded. "You do know 'em. I'm sorry, B."
She gave a low, almost rumbling, chuckle. It gave me a little shiver, not from the cold, and not one of enjoyment, either. She flashed a sign, one I'd seen her flash before, but it wasn't from any gang I knew personally, and lacking any official affiliation of my own, I'd dealt with my fair share of different gang members in the Upstate Correctional Facility. Double E's, one backwards, one forwards, three quick shakes of each hand.
"God bless old K-town. But you ain't got to worry about it. I'll not shed a tear over any of them. They's family, but they ain't exactly family, you know. I might tell you about it one day."
The last sentence had a note of finality to it, so I didn't ask any further questions in that regard, but I was still as curious as always.
"If all your family has Korean names, how the hell did you end up as Rebecca and your Dad as Sam?"
"My Dad's name is Park Kyung-Sam. Just Sam was easier to tell people and he, uh, he wanted me to have the same benefit of blending in in American society, and he liked the name Rebecca. So, Rhee Rebecca Hyo-Jin. My Mom's name was Rhee Chung-Cha, but everybody just called her ChaCha, like from Grease."
"So your Mom was the Rhee?"
She made an affirmative noise and nodded.
"She didn't exactly wanna give up her family name, and… my Dad didn't exactly give a fuck cause he was in love with her crazy ass. You know, that's where I get this from. Except my Moms, if she was still around she'd make me look like I grew up to be a calm, quiet girl."
I'd hate to see what was worse than Beccs.
"You done?" Becca asked. I nodded, tossed my cigarette into the sand-filled bucket we kept here for just that purpose. I followed B inside and we climbed the stairs to the third floor. I leaned against the wall as she pulled a ring of keys from her coat pocket and waited while she unlocked the knob and the three deadbolts on her door.
"Pretty serious about your home security, B?"
She shot me a look but didn't say anything as she opened the door. A steady beeping greeted us, and Becca stopped just inside and punched in a code on a security panel. As I stepped around her and entered the apartment, I understood why.
Do you know that part in Coming To America where Akeem comes home to his dilapidated Queens apartment and realizes Semmi has filled it with expensive furniture? Well, it was exactly like that. Becca locked the door back behind her, threw her stilettos onto the shoe rack, and hung her coat on the brass tree beside it. I did the same, removed my boots to place them on the rack as well.
"Jesus Christ, B, this place looks amazing."
There was a gray suede sectional in the center of the living room, a 152 inch Panasonic plasma bolted to the wall. The coffee table, the wool Oriental rug beneath it, and the end tables looked antique, as well as the green velvet chaise set near one window. There were three ornately-carved bookcases set against the far wall between the two windows facing the street, one filled with DVDs, and on the other two almost all the books were old and leather bound. The kitchen was open to the room, separated by a butcher block bar from the living room, all matching stainless steel appliances and black marble countertops. All along the walls were family pictures dotted between massive paintings held in golden Baroque style frames.
They were… stunning was the only word I could think to describe them. Most of them were portraits done in a slightly impressionist style, impasto if my memory served me, seemingly random strokes of thick paint that somehow managed to form the perfect images of faces and a few nudes.
"Jesus Christ, these paintings must have cost a fortune alone."
Becca stepped beside me, her arms crossed over her chest as she surveyed the painting I was looking at. It was done in mostly black and red, the image of a sleeping nude man, one arm tucked behind his head, his other draped across his stomach, his hips and legs covered with a sheet. If I touched it, I could have felt the wrinkles in the bunched fabric. There was something oddly familiar about it.
"They didn't cost shit," she answered.
That made me look away from the painting and back to Beccs.
"What the hell? Did you rob a gallery?"
"No, you mook, I painted them. They didn't cost anything but the price of the canvas and the paint, which, you know, I stole most of that from school."
"You painted them," I repeated, looking back.
As I looked closer at the canvas, I realized why it was familiar. The sleeping man was our dear friend Antoni Zabrowska. I had mistaken his tattoos for shadows, though I had to admit I had never seen him look quite so relaxed. As I glanced around the room, I realized I recognized many of the paintings. I was able to pick out her father's face, Rossi's, and I realized the model for the two female nudes was none other than Nia Bianchi. There was one of a woman in white with bloody skeletal wings that bore a strong resemblance to Becca and I imagined that was the infamous ChaCha.
"That's what I go to Columbia for. Visual Arts."
"You're a goddamn genius, B."
She scoffed.
"No, I'm fucking serious, kid. My sister collects art, and she refuses to go for the big names. Shit like this, she pays 10 to 20 grand for a painting half this size, more if it's one of the artists she likes."
Now she snorted.
"What? Your sister got a money tree?"
"No, my older sister Aurie's a writer. She wrote her first book when she was ten. She's published 20 so far, but she's got 30 or 40 more in backlog that she's still tweaking. She's kind of a perfectionist when it comes to writing, but I guess it pays off. Her books sell like fucking hotcakes everytime she puts one out, two of her series got picked up by Netflix, and Lion's Gate turned her seventh book into a movie. She even got to be involved in the productions.
"She's got a penthouse on the Upper East Side that she bought about six years ago. That's where I lived when I got out of the Upstate. Aurora, she's a fucking Saint, you know. I mean, I had a shitty PO that was up my ass every five minutes but Aurie never said a word about it. She just… always told me she was glad I was home, which, you know, was nice to hear considering that according to my grandparents I died 19 years ago. She was the one that helped me get this place down here, paid in full for a two year lease."
Becca raised an eyebrow at me.
"No offense, Tony, I can tell you're crazy about her, but she couldn't have picked a better place for you than this hell hole?"
I laughed as softly as I could, to save the muscles in my stomach.
"I picked this place myself, B. Cheapest apartment I could find in any of the boroughs, and it even had three bedrooms. I was thinking about having space for a library and a home gym."
Becca snorted.
"Yeah, it's cheap cause the fucking place is about 90 years old. Nobody's been able to get a hold of the slumlord who owns it for repairs in 8 months, but I bet you the motherfucker still collects the rent checks we deposit in his fucking bank account every month."
"Yeah, I figured that out just about as soon as I moved in, but beggars can't be choosers. Besides, Antoni always used to help me out whenever something broke."
Becca gave a small smile.
"They did that for everybody. I used to call them the apartment elves, cause instead of making shoes they were skittering around fixing fucking toilets and sinks, and rewiring burned up outlets and bringing in new refrigerators and stoves when shit broke in everybody else's places. And they bought it all with their own money. Everybody tried to pay them, but they never took a dime for any of it. Ironically enough, Pops used to talk about Antoni all the time because of all the money he'd spend over there every week. Said he had a good heart, just no good sense when it came to what was his responsibility and wasn't. You know, I had my own opinions about Antoni's heart, but I kept them to myself."
"I really wish I had paid more attention when Antoni was working on the boiler, though. Instead of just passing him tools and running my mouth."
"Yeah, you're good at that," she replied with a smirk.
"And fuck you, too, Miss Rebecca. You might be the strong type, but you're not exactly silent yourself."
She laughed.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'll be right back."
I nodded and obeyed as she exited into what I saw was the bathroom as she opened the door and closed it behind her.
The sectional was goddamned heaven, and she'd said make myself comfortable so I kicked out the recliner and leaned back. I closed my eyes for a moment and sighed, and when I opened them I nearly jumped out of my skin. I barely managed to stop myself from letting out a yell as I jerked back up to sitting.
Antoni's corpse was standing by the picture wall, looking intently at a photo of a child Becca wearing a ruffled, cream colored dress with a ribbon in her long black hair. It was the picture of her first Communion.
"Goddamn, you can't give somebody a warning before you do that?"
He neither answered me nor turned to look at me because he was using the stumps of his wrists to adjust several of the frames back straight again.
"Fucking neat freak," I laughed. "She wasn't lying."
He finally turned toward me.
You ever seen a corpse try to look annoyed when he's missing about a quarter of his face? I mean, what am I saying, you probably haven't, but suffice to say, it's pretty fucking funny. He raised his left wrist, and if he had hands, he'dve been shooting the bird.
Almost hysterical laughter burst out of me as Becca exited the bathroom.
"Least the pipes ain't frozen yet," she muttered.
She gave me a strange look.
"Who are you talking to out here? And what's so funny?"
I glanced back to Antoni, but he was gone again.
"Don't mind me, B, I'm pretty sure I got a concussion. I'm pretty much seeing pink elephants at this point." Or, you know, the mutilated corpse of my best friend, but it's probably best I leave it at elephants.
"Yeah," she answered, and crossed the room to hand me something. "Speaking of."
It was a mouth guard.
"What is this for?"
She didn't answer me, but headed to the kitchen and opened a cabinet, withdrawing a cut crystal scotch glass and then opening the refrigerator and withdrawing… two bags of blood. Nia's blood, to be exact. She unscrewed the cap at the bottom of one, punctured the seal with a fresh insulin needle, and to my supreme discomfort squeezed some into the glass. The mouth guard suddenly made sense. It was so I wouldn't break my teeth or bite my tongue off when the convulsions started and my jaw locked down from consuming demon blood.
"Oh no, B, I don't want that."
"Yeah. That's why I didn't tell you why I wanted you over here, cause I knew you was gonna be a pussy about it."
I tried one more last-ditch effort.
"You need that more than me, B."
"I can just take my next dose early, but you, you can't go down and see Ma looking like that. She's gonna ask too many questions."
That one stopped me.
"I've had enough of interrogations for one day, B."
"There ain't no interrogation when it comes to Ma. She just puts it in your head that you ain't got no choice but to tell her the truth, and you do. She's made state witnesses get up on the stand and confess their own crimes, pleading the fifth be damned."
She screwed the cap back onto the bag and carried them and the glass over to the coffee table and set them down. She walked over and opened a closet door, pulling out an IV pole with a little box attached to it, and grabbed a small cardboard box from off a shelf and what looked like a tackle box. She set it on the coffee table after she pulled the pole over to the sectional and plugged it into the wall, opened the cardboard box and removed a cassette from inside and inserted it into the box on the pole.
"What's that?"
"It's a blood warmer for rapid transfusions, so I don't go into hypothermia or hemolysis. Little bastard cost 137 thousand, but at least you can buy them online. You put a fresh cassette in every time, the blood runs through it, by the time it gets to my arm it's body temp."
She opened the tackle box and removed two fresh lines, attaching one to the bottom of the warmer and one to the top, hanging the bags of blood but not connecting the first of them yet. The top had a drip chamber with a filter, and the bottom held the flow regulator and the hypodermic needle with the cannula inside.
"You know, it's not fucking fair, B, you shouldn't have dealt with half the shit in your life that you have."
She snorted and her lips pursed with anger as she sat down beside me.
"You sound like Rossi with that shit. That's why he wouldn't let me die, said it wasn't fair. I was ready to go into hospice, fuck it, I was ready to see my Mom again. But I'll tell you the same thing I told his stupid old ass. Life ain't fair. Cause if it was I'd have my mother and my baby's father and Jimmy's ass would be the one laying in the morgue. You think it's fair you almost lost a finger because of what he ordered?"
I laughed.
"No, I actually think that's pretty fair. That's karma, B. I was usually the one doing the beating. How do you think I ended up in prison?"
She looked hard at me for a moment.
"I mean, you never told me. You were pretty open about having gone to prison, but you never said why."
"Well, I learned to be open about it. Some people get real upset when they find out they're dealing with someone who's been through the system, so I didn't really wanna go through that again. So now I just tell people up front, let them decide for themselves if they wanna deal with me or not. That way they can't throw it back in my face, say I lied to them."
Becca let out a bitter chuckle.
"So what's your story?"
"Well, we still ain't finished your story, yet, but we'll take a detour. The whole thing started my Senior year of high school. First game of the year, I blew my knee out, big as a bitch, tore everything there was to tear, shit was basically hanging on by the skin alone. Orthopedics said I had two choices, keep playing football or, retain the ability to walk on that leg, so… there went all my big dreams of college ball and making it onto the Giants."
"Linebacker?"
I nodded. "Middle linebacker. I was good at it. 6'7, 265 pounds but light on my feet, all muscle. Back then I was running 7 percent body fat, and wasn't even trying. Shit just… all came natural to me. It all blew up in my face. Shitloads of surgery and physical therapy, and then one day the pain pills stopped but the pain didn't. Everyday, every night, I was still hurting."
She nodded.
"I know about bone pain. I could always tell when I needed to up the dose when my bones started hurting. When I started out all it took was an insulin needle. Now I take so much, I'm not even sure I qualify as human. But I guess I won't be much longer. That's always been the plan. Just keep me alive till 30 and Ma's gonna make me like her. That's the preferred age for the Entrance, something to do with the Trinity."
I nodded.
"I started asking around school if anyone knew where to get some Percs but pain management keeps that shit so tight I could only get a few at a time. Not only was they expensive, it wasn't enough. I got hooked up with this kid named Alessandro, he told me if I really wanted to control the pain, he could get me something better and cheaper. He took me to meet his uncle, Colombian guy named Marco. First shot is free and it was… it was beautiful. Everybody always gets sick the first time, but I didn't. And then after that, all my free money from my after school job started going to horse, and uh, I got my last six months off school. I already had all the credits I needed from AP classes, started working full time. They didn't piss test. But, my tolerance was rising faster than my income was."
I took a deep breath.
"I'd been buying enough that Marco was offering me fronts but I never took it. So next time I went, I asked him for my usual and I asked how much it would be for two O's on the front, cause I knew a lot of other users and I was thinking of starting to sell myself. So, he told me he'd give me a pound, and we could settle up at the end of the month."
"Jesus Christ, if you were selling a pound a month you must have been making bank."
I shook my head.
"I wasn't in it for the money. I was in it to keep myself supplied. If I kept my prices right, I could use for free, and I had enough left over to pay my portion of the rent and help pay for the groceries. I got good at it, I'd take a shot, and nod out for a few minutes, then get up and start walking the streets."
Becca snorted.
"You wasn't standing on a street corner?"
"Fuck no. Too visible. I did all my business by phone. I had a burner and gave everyone the number, and when they needed some they'd give me a call and I'd meet them or they'd meet me. I had ethics. I used to have people offering me fucking blowjobs for a bag, but I always said no, shit felt wrong. All they had to do was pay me by the end of the month but, sometimes…"
She gave a grin.
"But sometimes, 'Bitch, where's my money?'"
"Yeah, sometimes people would try to skip out, so I had to apply a little pressure to persuade them to pay. I never killed nobody, it's hard as hell to get money out of a dead man. But, black a few eyes and break a few bones and suddenly they had money they didn't before. Being my size, there wasn't many of them that could fight back. But, I fucked up the wrong lowlife.
"There was this prick, he'd been dodging me for weeks. He owed me like two grand, I'd given him that much because I knew he had money, so when I finally caught up to him, I was pretty mad and, the bitch, he told me he wasn't going to pay me. Thought he was better than me, thought he could fuck me and get away with it. So I beat the mortal hell out of him, took his wallet. He had five grand in there but I figured, 3K surcharge for wasting my time."
I shook my head.
"But I should have done some better research on who I was going after. Turned out the little prick had a socialite for a mother and his Daddy was a hedge fund manager and… I'd hurt him pretty bad. First three months, not only was I dealing with DTs, I was waiting to see if they were going to add Murder to my charges. He was in a coma for that long, and when he woke up, he had to learn to walk again, how to feed himself. I beat him so bad I gave him brain damage."
"Goddamn, Tony."
"Apparently his parents knew their son's habits and knew exactly who I was, cause they went straight to the police, and two days later SWAT showed up, turned the house upside down. I smashed my phone into pieces, flushed it so they couldn't get my contacts, but I didn't think about the fact I still had the wallet with his driver's license in it. My grandparents disowned me, right then and there. I had just reupped so they caught me with 14 ounces, all it takes is 8 for Class A felony possession. I spent 13 months in Rikers, but my sister got me a good lawyer, he knew the judge and the prosecutor personally, golfed with them, so he got me a plea deal. I was looking at life in prison, but he argued that I was a good student that had made a bad mistake because of a chronic pain issue, and they were both first offenses, so if I pled guilty, agreed to go through a substance abuse program and anger management, then they'd give me the minimum sentence.
"15 years, Class A Felony Drug Possession, 3 years, Class B felony First Degree Assault, intentionally causing grievous bodily harm while in the commission of another felony. But, at my sentencing, the judge said I was a big guy, with a big anger problem. I hadn't killed anyone, but it wasn't for lack of trying. Said I was a danger to society, so when I got to the UCF, they put me in dark red."
"Supermax?"
I nodded.
"23 hours a day in a box by myself, no visitors, barely saw the guards. But, I stayed quiet, made no problems. Prison was overcrowded so I ended up with a cellmate, and I was glad to see him. It could have been Hannibal Lecter and I would have gave him a hug. He might have been a murderer but he was actually a decent guy. Him and his crew had knocked over some jewelry stores in Manhattan, last job went bad. He'd killed three cops, so he wasn't never getting out. Neither was his wife. Life in Bedford Hills."
"That's where they was gonna send me if Ma hadn't got the jury to give me a Not Guilty verdict."
I knew Becca had a tendency to get in trouble because beside the cheerleading pictures in the bodega, there was also a mugshot.
"What did you do?"
She gave a bitter chuckle again.
"Unlike you, I killed someone. 2021, this fucking crackhead tried to rob the store. He shot the customer that was in there, old guy named Mickey, killed him. He used to live in your apartment. Tried to shoot me, too, but the gun jammed and I had the aluminum baseball bat under the counter. I just started swinging. He went down, but I jumped the counter, and hit him again. Blood lust is a real thing. Once I saw he was bleeding, I wanted to see more. I beat his brains out, literally, he was dead long before the cops ever got there. Bat looked like a toothpick when I was done.
"They arrested me, and the DA himself showed up at my arraignment. Said self defense didn't apply, sent me straight up to Murder 2, requested I be denied bail because I had a passport and plenty of money so I was a flight risk. But we all knew the truth. He was still pissed that he hadn't been able to send Rossi away for longer, and I was the next best thing. Ma had to pull a lot of strings to make sure I still got my transfusions when I was in lockup. I was in Rikers for four months, had my eighteenth birthday sitting in the Singer Unit."
"Goddamned patterns," I muttered, then raised my voice again. "You, me, and Antoni all got that in common, except he wasn't like us. He was already in prison. That's what the rose meant, turned eighteen in prison. Life sentence, triple murder."
"He told you that?" She looked betrayed, so I was quick to answer.
"No, the tattoos told me that. Google is my best friend, B. That's what the skull and crossbones, and the coffins on his arm meant."
She swallowed, and nodded again.
"But, I moved down," I continued. "Went to orange when they moved me to Gen Pop, and I had friends waiting for me. Marco was very appreciative of me keeping quiet about my source at trial, so outside Abuela Bogota's was where I hung out the most. But I had friends all over. My sister was smart. She always put way more in my account than I could spend, so whenever I heard that somebody needed something, I'd go to the canteen and buy it myself and pass it to 'em. Nobody had to owe me shit. All I wanted was to be left alone, so I had people watching my back from all sides. I ended up in blue, got moved to the dormitory, started working in the kitchen, ended up running it, cause I was a 'model prisoner.'"
"You ever fool around with any of your cellmates?" Becca asked with a grin. "Cause I did."
I gave an uncomfortable laugh.
"I mean, yeah. 15 years is a long time to be alone. I don't consider myself bisexual even, but if somebody offers, you know…" I shrugged.
"I think the word you're looking for is heteroflexible. That's how Antoni referred to himself. He had a thing for you, you know."
That stopped me dead.
"You're fucking with me, B."
"Nope. He asked me once if I'd mind if he ever got the chance to hook up with you, and I told him no, as long as he didn't mind I still hooked up with my old girlfriends from high school. But he never asked you, said he loved you too much, was afraid of ruining your friendship."
"Jesus Christ," I shook my head, finally decided I needed time to process that, and moved on. "But, my last year there, Covid hit, and, I volunteered to work in the infirmary, but pretty soon the infirmary was filled, they started keeping people in the hallway, and finally they just ended up leaving them in their beds, I was all over the place. People dropping like flies. Everytime someone coughed or sneezed, everbody'd get nervous. I been smoking since I was 16, so I cough my lungs out every morning.
"People was looking at me like I was Death Incarnate. But I never caught it, not even once. And I was all around the sick, I was taking the bodies out to the truck outside the gate. Could've run but I didn't. Only had a few years left. It worked in my favor. They cut the last three years off my sentence, put me on supervised release and now, here I am, 36 years old, and just starting my adult life."
"Rossi got let out of lockup right before lockdown, poor bastard. Me, him, and my Dad all quarantined at Ma's, but of course, you know, me and Dad was essential workers so at least I got to get out of the house everyday. I graduated early, at 16, been working seven days a week since."
I glanced at the glass on the table.
"So let's get back to your story."
She shook her head, lips pursed again.
"Uh-uh, you're not wasting anymore time. Take the blood, but first," she reached out, quicker than I could even register, and used her thumbs to set my broken nose back straight.
I let out a yell, momentarily unable to see as my eyes filled with tears.
"Jesus wept, Becca, fucking hell, goddamn."
"Sorry. It would've hurt more if you'd known it was coming. Besides, you're a good looking guy, Tony, you don't wanna ruin your face."
"Thanks, B," I muttered as I pressed the toilet paper back to my freshly bleeding nose, tears streaming down my cheeks. "Need a haircut though."
"Nah, you oughta keep it. It's very The Dark Knight Joker, just black, not blonde and green."
I laughed quietly.
"Not sure that's the best association, B. A little too psychotic and violent."
She raised an eyebrow at me.
"Alright, alright. It's probably an accurate association, just a little less arson and murder." I sighed and looked at the scotch glass. "So how do I do this, B?"
"Think about it like a tequila shot. Take the shot and then slip the guard in quick. Then sit back, try to relax."
I nodded and grabbed the glass before I lost my nerve. I raised it in her direction.
"Saluti."
"Geonbae." She responded.

In an era of increasing crime rates, safeguarding our homes, businesses, and communities has become an imperative task. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to fortify our defences and take proactive measures to protect what matters most to us. As we delve into the statistics of crime in York, UK, we will uncover the different types of crimes committed, particularly focusing on home burglaries and business break-ins. By examining compelling real-life examples, we aim to shed light on the urgency of installing CCTV and burglar alarm systems as indispensable tools for deterring criminals and ensuring the safety of our city."
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YORK CCTV INSTALLATION

York, a vibrant and historic city in the UK, has witnessed a concerning rise in crime rates in recent years. While it remains a relatively safe place compared to larger cities, the increasing incidence of crimes demands our attention and a proactive response. To ensure the well-being of our community, it is essential to recognize the need for effective security measures, such as CCTV and burglar alarm systems.
The crime landscape in York encompasses various offenses, ranging from petty theft to more serious crimes like burglaries and business break-ins. Home burglaries have become a persistent threat, leaving residents feeling vulnerable and violated. Similarly, businesses have experienced an upsurge in break-ins, leading to financial losses and potential disruption of livelihoods.
Amidst these unsettling trends, it is evident that traditional security measures alone are no longer sufficient. To combat the growing audacity of criminals and protect our homes, businesses, and collective peace of mind, investing in advanced security systems like CCTV and burglar alarms is a crucial step forward.
By leveraging technology and surveillance, we can significantly enhance our ability to prevent crimes, apprehend culprits, and create a safer environment for everyone. CCTV systems act as an ever-watchful eye, deterring criminals from targeting properties and providing vital evidence in the event of an incident. Meanwhile, burglar alarm systems act as immediate alerts, notifying residents or business owners of potential intrusions and enabling swift responses.
Considering the rising crime rates and the impact it has on individuals and the community at large, it is imperative that we take a proactive stance to protect our city. The installation of CCTV and burglar alarm systems serves as a strong deterrent, giving us the ability to safeguard our homes, businesses, and cherished neighborhoods. By investing in these security measures, we can actively contribute to reducing crime, increasing safety, and preserving the quality of life we all cherish in York, UK.
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Unveiling Home Burglaries and Business Break-Ins:

A. Home burglaries:

Home burglaries pose a significant threat to the safety and well-being of York's residents. These incidents not only result in financial losses but also leave lasting emotional and psychological effects. By examining the prevalence of home burglaries, we can truly grasp the urgency of implementing robust security measures.
Statistical data reveals a concerning rise in home burglaries in York over the past few years. Figures indicate a steady increase, reflecting the need for immediate action. The impact of these crimes extends beyond mere numbers, as they shatter the sense of security and invade the sanctity of our homes.
To shed light on the gravity of the situation, let's consider real-life examples of home burglaries in York postcodes:

1. Example 1: In the Smithson Avenue area (YO10 postcode), a family returned from a weekend getaway to discover their home ransacked. Valuable possessions, including electronics and jewelry, were stolen, leaving them feeling violated and vulnerable.
2. Example 2: Within the Heworth Green neighborhood (YO31 postcode), a series of brazen daytime burglaries occurred, targeting unoccupied homes. Residents, despite taking basic precautions, fell victim to determined criminals who took advantage of vulnerable properties.

These examples highlight the stark reality that home burglaries are not isolated incidents but a distressingly common occurrence within York's neighborhoods. Such incidents necessitate immediate action to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our properties.
By installing CCTV and burglar alarm systems, we can significantly enhance our defense against home burglaries. The presence of CCTV cameras acts as a visible deterrent, dissuading potential intruders from targeting our homes. Moreover, burglar alarm systems serve as a crucial early warning system, alerting residents and potentially scaring off burglars in the process.
In the next sections, we will delve into the impact of business break-ins and explore further examples of crimes in York captured on CCTV, emphasizing the critical role of comprehensive security measures in safeguarding our city.
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The Power of CCTV and Burglar Alarm Systems

Role of CCTV in crime prevention: CCTV systems play a pivotal role in deterring criminals and preventing crimes within businesses and public spaces in York. By closely monitoring activities and capturing vital footage, CCTV acts as an ever-watchful eye, significantly reducing the risk of break-ins and other unlawful activities.
The presence of visible CCTV cameras serves as a powerful deterrent for criminals. Potential perpetrators are less likely to target businesses equipped with surveillance systems due to the increased risk of identification and capture. The knowledge that their actions are being recorded acts as a psychological barrier, discouraging criminal behavior and forcing them to reconsider their actions.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of CCTV footage in identifying and apprehending criminals cannot be overstated. In numerous instances, law enforcement authorities in York have successfully utilized CCTV recordings to solve crimes and bring perpetrators to justice. The clear and compelling visual evidence captured by CCTV systems provides invaluable support in investigations, making it easier to identify suspects, gather crucial details, and secure convictions.
B. Importance of burglar alarm systems:
Burglar alarm systems serve as a vital line of defense against break-ins, providing immediate alerts and deterring criminals from proceeding with their illicit activities. Their importance in safeguarding businesses and residences cannot be overstated.
When an intrusion is detected, burglar alarm systems emit a loud and attention-grabbing sound, alerting business owners, residents, and even neighboring properties. This rapid response system not only startles potential intruders but also serves as a signal for authorities to intervene promptly, increasing the chances of apprehending the culprits.
Real-life success stories highlight the effectiveness of burglar alarm systems in preventing crimes in York:

1. Example 1: In the Micklegate area (YO1 postcode), a popular boutique clothing store had a burglar alarm system installed. One night, when an intruder attempted to break into the premises, the alarm immediately sounded, alerting the business owner and neighboring shopkeepers. Startled by the loud noise and the potential attention it drew, the intruder quickly fled the scene, leaving the business and its valuable inventory unharmed.
2. Example 2: A restaurant located in the Fossgate district (YO10 postcode) experienced a series of break-ins, causing significant financial losses and damage. Determined to prevent further incidents, the owner invested in a state-of-the-art burglar alarm system. Shortly after installation, an attempted break-in occurred, triggering the alarm and alerting the owner and nearby residents. The swift response from authorities led to the apprehension of the intruder and prevented the restaurant from enduring further losses.

These real-life examples underscore the vital role that burglar alarm systems play in thwarting attempted crimes, providing a sense of security, and minimizing the potential impact of break-ins on businesses and residents.
By combining the strength of CCTV and burglar alarm systems, we can create a formidable defense against crime in York, safeguarding our businesses, homes, and overall community. The next section will delve into additional crimes captured on CCTV, further emphasizing the need for comprehensive surveillance measures throughout the city.
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Real-Life Instances Caught on CCTV & Crimes captured on CCTV in public areas

CCTV systems have played a critical role in capturing various criminal activities occurring in public areas throughout York. These incidents encompass a range of offenses, including vandalism, assault, theft, and other illicit activities. By examining some notable examples, we can understand the impact on community safety and emphasize the importance of comprehensive surveillance.
Example 1: In the city center (YO1 postcode), CCTV footage revealed a group of individuals vandalizing public property, defacing walls with graffiti, and causing significant damage to park benches. The clear images captured by the cameras enabled authorities to identify and apprehend the vandals, ensuring that they were held accountable for their actions. Such incidents not only degrade the aesthetic appeal of the city but also compromise the overall sense of safety and well-being for residents and visitors.

1. Example 2: Within a popular shopping district (YO31 postcode), CCTV footage recorded an altercation between individuals that escalated into physical assault. The timely intervention of security personnel, alerted by the live feed, prevented further harm and allowed for immediate medical assistance to be provided. The footage proved crucial in identifying the perpetrators and providing evidence for legal proceedings. Instances like these highlight the vital role of CCTV in promoting public safety and acting as a deterrent against violent behavior.

The presence of comprehensive surveillance systems in public areas serves as a crucial tool in preventing and investigating crimes. It acts as a constant reminder to potential wrongdoers that their actions are being recorded, significantly reducing the likelihood of criminal activities. Moreover, the ability to capture clear evidence on CCTV facilitates law enforcement efforts, enhances community safety, and fosters a sense of security for residents, workers, and visitors alike.
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Crimes recorded at specific locations in York:

CCTV systems are instrumental in capturing criminal activities at specific locations in York, including petrol stations, buildings, and other vulnerable spots. By examining notable incidents, we can emphasize the need for surveillance systems in these areas to deter criminal activities effectively.
Example 1: At a petrol station along the A19 (YO32 postcode), CCTV footage revealed a series of fuel thefts committed by individuals who would drive away without paying for their purchases. The recorded incidents prompted the implementation of stricter security measures, including enhanced CCTV coverage and improved lighting. As a result, subsequent attempts at fuel theft significantly decreased, demonstrating the deterrent effect of surveillance systems in protecting businesses and preventing financial losses.

1. Example 2: A residential building complex in the Holgate area (YO24 postcode) experienced a spate of break-ins and thefts. CCTV footage captured the culprits, who took advantage of vulnerable entry points and targeted unsuspecting residents. The incidents prompted the installation of surveillance cameras and strengthened security measures, resulting in a decrease in further criminal activities within the complex.

These examples illustrate the critical need for surveillance systems in specific locations that are prone to criminal activities. By implementing CCTV in places like petrol stations, buildings, and other vulnerable spots, we can actively deter criminals, protect valuable assets, and foster a safer environment for all.
V. The Economic Impact and Future Projections:
A. Discuss the potential correlation between crime rates and the current economy:
The relationship between crime rates and the economy is complex, with various factors influencing criminal activities in York. Economic conditions can play a role in shaping crime rates, although it is essential to consider multiple variables when analyzing this correlation.

1. Economic downturns: During periods of economic instability or recessions, there is often an increase in certain types of crimes, such as theft, burglary, and fraud. Financial strain and unemployment can drive individuals to engage in illegal activities to meet their needs or maintain their lifestyles. However, it is crucial to note that not all crimes are directly linked to economic factors.

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SECURITY SYSTEMS IN YORK

In conclusion, this article's crime statistics and real-life examples vividly illustrate the pressing need for installing CCTV and burglar alarm systems in York, UK. The rising crime rates, particularly in home burglaries, business break-ins, and public spaces, pose a significant threat to the safety and well-being of our community.
CCTV systems act as a powerful deterrent, providing round-the-clock surveillance and capturing critical evidence that can aid in investigations and the identification of perpetrators. The presence of CCTV cameras in public areas and at vulnerable locations like petrol stations and buildings acts as a constant reminder to potential criminals that their actions are being monitored, significantly reducing the risk of criminal activities.
Similarly, burglar alarm systems serve as an early warning system, alerting residents and business owners to potential break-ins and deterring criminals from proceeding with their plans. The examples of successfully thwarted crimes demonstrate the effectiveness of burglar alarm systems in safeguarding properties and minimizing losses.
It is crucial for residents, business owners, and community leaders to recognize the collective responsibility we have in protecting our city and fostering a secure environment for everyone. By investing in CCTV and burglar alarm systems, we take proactive steps to deter criminals, protect our homes, businesses, and public spaces, and contribute to the overall safety and well-being of our community.
Therefore, let us come together and prioritize the installation of these security measures. Residents should secure their homes, business owners should protect their establishments, and community leaders should support initiatives aimed at enhancing security infrastructure. By taking these proactive measures, we send a clear message that we will not tolerate criminal activities and are committed to fostering a secure environment for all.
Remember, the safety of our city is a shared responsibility. By collectively investing in CCTV and burglar alarm systems, we create a formidable defence against crime and ensure a brighter and safer future for York, UK. Let us unite in safeguarding our city, protecting our homes and businesses, and fostering a secure environment that we can all be proud of.
Here are a few recommended security companies in The York area.
CCTV Installation Company in York
Alarm Installation Service in York
Hope this helps with any CCTV or Alarm system questions.

basic scenario
Hello friends,
I've always felt very lost in integrating photos with a 3D scene. My knowledge there limits itself to alliging a grid and using it as a ground plane- that's what I've done with the cargo truck on the left side / adding some dust around it.
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I'd like to ask you for help with more complex environments- like the helicoptetruck in the top right of the image (see bottom pics). How do I imitate the collisions of the cut-off road? What's the job here to be done inside of Houdini? Am I supposed to try and sculpt the mountain shape or stick to grids and leave the work for compositing in Nuke?
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I've never found too much information on this, I must be missing something very fundamental and really appreciate your help :)
Thank you!
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more complex environment
should I sculpt mountains?

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