Abstract: An improved surveillance system for recording and monitoring video information from a plurality of cameras (20) and data from a plurality of electronic cash registers (21). An intelligent controller (28) controls operation of the entire system. Data concerning all cash register transactions are stored in a memory (78) and video signals are displayed on a monitor (27) and/or recorded on a VCR (26). A keyboard (30) is provided so that the user can generate reports, and selectively vary parameters which will trigger alarm events. A novel entrance door mat (22) is provided having a pair of switch arrays (46, 47) separated by a dead zone (48) is provided and the state of the switches is periodically read by the CPU. Control logic (FIGS. 9, 10) executed by the CPU detects closures of the switches in the mat to determine when customers are passing into and out of the store, as well as maintaining a count of the net number of customers at the store at any given time.