It was a normal Monday. I arrived to open as usual, did the weekend's cash-up and the numbers didn't add up. €180 was missing. It wasn't a rounding error — it was a real, unexplained difference.
My first instinct was to think I'd made a mistake myself. I checked the receipts, the orders, Saturday night's cash count. Everything was in order. The money simply wasn't there.
The first thing I did
I went straight to the recorder. I'd had a camera pointing at the till area for a few months — I'd installed it almost without a second thought, more as a precaution than out of any real distrust. That day I was glad I had.
I looked for Saturday's close. And there it all was, recorded with total clarity: the exact moment someone opened the till, counted several notes and put them in their pocket. Unhurried. Without looking to the sides. Like someone doing something routine.
"It wasn't the camera that solved the problem. It was knowing the truth that let me act."
What I learned from all this
→ A camera in the till area isn't distrust — it's management. Just as you have a POS to keep track of sales, having an image of what happens at the till is part of running a serious business.
→ Resolution matters. If the image had been blurry, I couldn't have done anything with it. At 5MP everything was sharp enough to act on.
→ Remote access changes your perspective. Since that day I check the camera from my phone at closing, wherever I am. Not to spy — to know everything's in order.
Tip: If you have a camera but it doesn't point at the till area, reposition it. It's the most critical spot in any business and the first one to cover.
You don't need to go through a situation like this to make the right decision. But if someone who's been through it tells you, maybe it's the moment to consider it before it happens.
At Chollobar we have packs designed to cover exactly these situations:
→ Packs for bars and restaurants — bar, till and entrances covered.
→ Packs for shops and stores — total control from your phone.
→ See all available packs — hospitality, retail and home.
Know what's happening at your till at all times
Complete packs with high-resolution image and remote access from your phone. No fees and with assisted setup.
From €279 + VAT · All included · No fees
Recommended product
👉 4-camera pack for a bar or restaurant