Exploration Place has a new partner in keeping out crime.
The museum has installed a brand-new security system, featuring high-definition cameras, thanks to support from Integris Credit Union.
Following two break-ins last year, Integris stepped forward to offer assistance, said Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros. They're chipping in $10,000 over two years to help pay for the new $17,000 system.
The cameras the museum was using before didn't produce images that were helpful.
"We had footage of the truck that had been involved in the break-in at the train station, but it was such poor quality that it was unusable; we couldn't identify anyone from that nor was it usable as evidence.," Calogheros said.
However better quality also meant more expensive.
"There was no way we could find that in our existing budget," she said. "So when we had Integris come to us with an offer of help and $10,000, it was great. Also unheard of. Sponsors don't normally call you and say 'Hey, can we help?'"
Having a business reach out and be proactive was a nice change of pace for the non-profit organization.
"It was wonderful," said Calogheros. "To know that the museum has reached the point where the community sees it as a valuable enough asset that they want to protect it and that inspires them to reach out and do that... it meant a lot to me and to my staff to know that the work we were doing had that kind of an impact."
