Indoreans opt for high-end gadgets

INDORE: With Indore continuously witnessing rise in the crime rate, worried residents, who want to secure their offices and residents, are banking upon the latest safety and security systems worth lakhs of rupees.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems costing between Rs 18,000 and Rs 1 lakh each or even more, fingerprint locks costing Rs 9,000 to Rs 50,000 each and warning alarms tops the security gadgets’ list of Indoreans. A few years ago, CCTVs were seen at malls and other public places only. But now, the demand has gone up in residential areas too.

“Sales of CCTV systems and fingerprint locks have increased manifold. More than 5,000 security systems are sold every month,” said Pritish Bhende, owner of Rushfire Engineers, CCTV distributor. Aarohi Jain, 29, a resident of Srinagar Extension, went in for a CCTV after her house was targeted. “Robbers attempted to break into my house a few months ago,” said Jain, a businesswoman.

Security gadgets have also become popular among senior citizens staying alone. “Senior citizens have begun asking for video door phones,” said Bhende, adding that he has seen a spurt in the number of enquiries after the sensational Apollo DB city murder.

Many insecure Indoreans with residents in posh localities have begun hiring private security guards paying Rs 8,000 to 10,000 a month for round-the-clock cover.