Why Does This Work?

The counter-top mounting position is the key to the functionality of the PennyCam.

We've all walked into various retail stores at one time or another, and perhaps
noticed the cameras. Perhaps the store even had a monitor on display as you
walked in - letting you know that you are under surveillance.

Now, imagine you are a criminal looking to rob a store. While most of us would
not debate the lack of intelligence most of these criminals have, odds are they
have been in there before, scoping the place out. Perhaps they noticed camera
positions. Perhaps they noticed the preview monitor at the entrance or behind
the counter showing the exact position of the camera angle.

What could then be used in getting into a store, doing the crime, rendering a multi-thousand dollar camera system worthless and then getting out without too much hassle or getting seen running out of a store with a ski mask on? A $10 baseball hat. That's it! The brim on the hat can be worn low, as is the style in some places. They could come and go, and the brim would protect their faces from getting captured by the overhead cameras. The images that could be retreived would most likely have to be blown up so much and enhanced, that the video images you do get, will be very of very little help to law enforcement.

But... While attempting to avoid capture from the overhead cameras, they leave themselves completely vulnerable to a camera angle that shoots up at them. In fact, their avoiding the overhead cameras actually helps the PennyCam produce a better image!