What Joelinton Got Right: How to Use CCTV Effectively
Footballers have become frequent targets of burglaries. Their public profiles, predictable schedules, known wealth, and visible lifestyles motivating and presenting a tempting opportunity for criminals — some of whom travel across borders to carry out their crimes.
Newcastle United’s Joelinton was one such victim, targeted twice within a year.
The Threat Footballers Face
The incentive for criminals is clear: luxury goods and highly portable valuables worth hundreds of thousands of pounds. In one case, four burglars travelled from Italy to target footballer Alexander Isak’s home in April 2024. They carried out reconnaissance at the training ground before striking, not once, but across multiple properties.
The UK Football Police Unit has stated that footballers are five times more likely to be victims of robbery, burglary, or theft. Many respond by upgrading their home security, often with CCTV. But the effectiveness of CCTV depends on how it's used.
CCTV: More Than a Post-Incident Tool
All too often, CCTV is only used after the fact, to review what occurred. But in one of the break-ins at Joelinton’s home, a different approach showed the real potential of proactive surveillance.
In January 2024, Sky News reported that Joelinton received a live notification on his phone from his CCTV system, alerting him to a break-in. He immediately reported it to Northumbria Police, who were dispatched to the scene.
Although the crime still occurred, this response showcases a far more effective use of CCTV, not just to observe but to detect and act.
Deter. Detect. Respond.
An effective CCTV system follows a clear methodology: Deter, Detect, Respond.
Deter
Well-positioned cameras act as a deterrent, especially for opportunistic criminals who lack the tools, equipment or knowledge to bypass them. Cameras should be clearly visible if they are to deter, cover all vulnerable access points, and deliver high-quality footage both day and night.
Detect
This is where modern systems excel. Gone are the days of endlessly reviewing footage. Today’s smart cameras use analytics, motion detection, human/vehicle recognition, and facial ID to flag suspicious behaviour, instantly. As Joelinton's case showed, real-time alerts mean potential threats don’t go unnoticed.
Respond
Detection is only useful if it leads to action. Whether it’s alerting the police, escalating your home security, or even warning your community, the ability to respond quickly makes the difference. Cameras with internal microphones can even allow for warnings or verbal deterrents in real-time.
What you should do
Joelinton’s experience underscores the power of proactive CCTV use. Following a clear Deter, Detect, Respond methodology, transforms CCTV from a passive tool into an active security solution.
You may not be a Premier League footballer, but you can still benefit from the same principles. With today’s technology, from smart doorbells to advanced analytic systems, your chances of detecting and responding to threats have never been better.
If your current CCTV setup doesn’t give you this capability, speak to a reputable installer. Effective security starts with being proactive. If you would like to know more contact BluSkills today to speak to an expert.
