An unmanned portable surveillance system, the system comprising: a base configured for placement on the ground and said base being configured to support the surveillance system in an upright freestanding position and having a weight sufficient to substantially prevent movement thereof by hand; at least one camera positioned above the base at a height sufficient to put it substantially out of reach of a person who may want to tamper with said at least one camera, said at least one camera configured to obtain visual images of objects in the vicinity of the base; and a recorder positioned in a secure location configured to prevent unauthorized access to the recorder, the recorder being configured to record the visual images obtained by the at least one camera without human intervention during ongoing surveillance; wherein the base, the camera, and the recorder are configured to be readily transportable to a location for surveillance of an area in the vicinity of the system, and wherein the portable surveillance system further comprises a circuit breaker. view more

A transportable unmanned surveillance system comprising: a concrete base configured to maintain the transportable unmanned surveillance system in an upright freestanding position and to substantially prevent movement thereof by hand, the base weighing at least about 1000 pounds and having an average density of at least about 20 pounds per cubic foot; a support pole having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion of the support pole coupled to the base; a plurality of cameras configured to obtain images of an area in a vicinity of the surveillance system, the cameras mounted to the upper portion of the support pole at a sufficient height such that the cameras are substantially out of reach of a person who may want to tamper with the cameras; and electronics equipment configured to receive the images obtained from the plurality of cameras and record the images without human intervention during ongoing surveillance, the electronics equipment positioned within a protective enclosure coupled to the support pole above the base, the electronics equipment being in communication with the plurality of cameras. view more

The transportable unmanned surveillance system of claim 3, further comprising a cable to transmit the images between the cameras and the electronics equipment, wherein the cable is positioned substantially out of reach of a person who may want to tamper with the transmission of the images. view more

The transportable unmanned surveillance system of claim 3, wherein the surveillance system is powered by an electrical connection to a power pole.

A transportable unmanned surveillance system comprising: a base weighing more than about 1000 pounds, the base comprising concrete, a hollow enclosure configured to maintain the system in an upright freestanding position, and a first opening and a second opening, the base further comprising a cover plate that is configured to substantially cover the first opening to prevent unauthorized access to the hollow enclosure and to permit authorized access to the hollow enclosure through the first opening; a support pole having a lower portion and an upper portion, the support pole having a hollow portion therethrough, the lower portion of the support pole coupled to the base such that the hollow portion of the support pole is in communication with the hollow enclosure of the base through the second opening; a plurality of cameras configured to obtain digital visual images of an area in a vicinity of the surveillance system, said cameras being mounted to the support pole above the base, said support pole having a sufficient height such that said cameras are substantially out of reach of a would be tamperer; a surveillance equipment recorder disposed in the hollow enclosure of the base, the surveillance equipment recorder further being configured to receive the visual images obtained from the plurality of cameras and record the images without human intervention during ongoing surveillance. view more

The transportable surveillance system of claim 1, wherein the base and the support pole are configured to permit transportation thereof in separate portions and are configured to permit detachable mounting of the support pole to the base following transportation. view more

The transportable surveillance system of claim 1, further comprising a surveillance equipment assembly positioned at the upper portion of the support pole and to which the plurality of digital cameras are coupled, said surveillance equipment assembly configured to mount the plurality of digital cameras to the upper portion of the support pole. view more

The transportable surveillance system of claim 3, further comprising a cable extending between the upper portion of the support pole and the hollow enclosure of the base.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 4, wherein the cable is configured to extend from the surveillance equipment assembly, through the hollow portion of the support pole, through the second opening of the base, and to the electronic equipment located in the hollow enclosure of the base. view more

The transportable surveillance system of claim 4, wherein the cable is configured to permit transmission of the visual images from the plurality of digital cameras to the surveillance equipment recorder.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 1, wherein the surveillance system is powered by an electrical connection to a power pole.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 1, wherein the base weighs more than about 2500 pounds.

A transportable surveillance system that is configured to obtain visual surveillance of an area, the transportable surveillance system comprising: a base having a weight of at least about 1000 pounds and being configured to support the system in an upright freestanding position, the base further comprising a hollow enclosure, an opening, and a door, the door being configured to substantially cover the opening; a support pole having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion of the support pole being coupled to the base; a surveillance equipment assembly comprising a plurality of cameras, the assembly being mounted to the support pole above the base; and a surveillance equipment recorder placed within the hollow enclosure, the surveillance equipment recorder further being configured to receive visual images obtained from the plurality of cameras; wherein the transportable surveillance system is configured to permit unmanned surveillance of an area near the system. view more

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, wherein the cameras are video cameras.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 11, wherein the video cameras are digital cameras.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, wherein the system is powered by connection thereof to a power pole.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, further comprising a power distribution box for distributing power to the surveillance system.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, wherein the surveillance equipment recorder receives the visual images obtained from the plurality of cameras through a cable.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, further comprising a circuit breaker.

The transportable surveillance system of claim 10, wherein the base comprises cement.

A method of providing temporary surveillance of an area in a vicinity of a temporary surveillance system, the method comprising: providing a temporary surveillance system, the temporary surveillance system comprising a base weighing at least about 1000 pounds and comprising a hollow enclosure, and an opening to provide access to the hollow enclosure; a support pole having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion of the support pole being configured to permit coupling thereof to the base; a surveillance equipment assembly comprising a plurality of cameras configured to obtain visual images of an area in a vicinity of the temporary surveillance system, the assembly being configured to be mounted to support pole above the base; and a surveillance equipment recorder sized and configured to permit placement thereof within the hollow enclosure of the base, the surveillance equipment recorder further being configured to receive the visual images obtained from the plurality of cameras; transporting the base and support pole of the temporary surveillance system to an area that is to be monitored; coupling the support pole to the base; powering the plurality of cameras and surveillance equipment recorder such that the plurality of cameras is capable of obtaining visual images and the surveillance equipment recorder is capable of receiving visual images. view more

The method of claim 20, further comprising disassembling the temporary surveillance system by detaching the support pole from the base.

The method of claim 20, further comprising transporting the detached base and support pole of the temporary surveillance system to another location.

The method of claim 20, further comprising locking the temporary surveillance system to prevent unauthorized access to the surveillance equipment in the hollow enclosure of the base.

The method of claim 20, further comprising recording visual images obtained from the plurality of cameras.

The method of claim 20, further comprising accessing the surveillance equipment in the hollow enclosure of the base.

The method of claim 20, further comprising forming the base with material including cement.

A surveillance system comprising: a surveillance assembly, including a platform adapted to support surveillance equipment for providing observations of an area in a vicinity of the surveillance system; a base, including a substantially hollow enclosure containing electronics equipment for receiving signals from the surveillance equipment, wherein no electronics for controlling the surveillance equipment are disposed outside the hollow enclosure and adjacent the base; a support assembly defining an internal passageway having an upper portion mounted to the surveillance assembly and a lower portion detachably mounted to the base thereby supporting the support assembly in an upright freestanding orientation; and means for connecting the surveillance equipment to the electronics equipment contained in the base. view more

The system according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises a concrete structure having a weight sufficient to prevent the base from being manually displaced.

The system according to claim 2 wherein the weight of the concrete structure is at least about 2500 pounds.

The system according to claim 1 wherein the support assembly is substantially hollow.

The system according to claim 4 wherein the means for functionally connecting the electronics equipment with the surveillance equipment includes wiring disposed at least partially through the substantially hollow support assembly.

The system according to claim 1 wherein the surveillance assembly further includes a power distribution box adapted to receive and distribute electrical power from a power source to the surveillance equipment.

The system according to claim 2 wherein the weight of the concrete structure is at least about 1,000 pounds.

The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for connecting does not use any wires extending along the outside of the internal passageway.