Thieves don’t necessarily need to smash a window or forge a key copy to get into a vehicle. Many, like the man seen in this Arrest of the Month video below, simply play a numbers game by “car hopping,” or roaming a lot or neighborhood pulling on car door handles, hoping to find an open vehicle.
Afterhours at a Tennessee automotive dealership, Stealth security professionals observed a man in fatigue pants accessing the property on foot. After a moment, it became clear that the man was behaving suspiciously, crouching between vehicles, and pulling on door handles, gaining access to a 4-door sedan on the property. The operator observing immediately contacted local police dispatch, and officers arrived onsite quickly, placing the car hopper under arrest.
Help Keep Your Dealership Property Secure with Live Video Monitoring
Car hopping has become more common, and while the suspect above was acting alone, more and more places are seeing a surge in organized groups committing this type of crime. For automotive dealerships, this can become a serious issue, particularly when thieves gain access to client vehicles, stealing their personal belongings.
Dealerships are already facing a unique array of security concerns. With most of their high-value inventory outdoors, multiple client vehicles on site in the vicinity of a service lane, large and often irregularly shaped lots, and the need for most spaces to be easily accessible after hours for browsing; the security of an auto dealership can be a challenge.
Live video monitoring is a proactive security measure that can help meet the unique security challenges auto dealerships face. Stealth’s live video monitoring solution uses a combination of human intelligence and technology to watch for, and respond to, unwanted activity in real time. Unlike traditional security systems, which are reactive, Stealth’s approach includes both analytics-based cameras that watch for activity rather than simple movement, and highly trained security professionals who monitor the property’s surveillance feeds to help prevent crimes before they happen.
Security operators are trained in the activity norms on your property, and when they see something or someone out of place, they can respond immediately. Sounding audible alarms to let criminals know they’re being observed is often enough- but when the activity persists or requires immediate police intervention, operators can contact local law enforcement dispatch as well.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today, and get the details on how you can save up to 60% on security spend when you choose ECAM. Texas Private Security License Number: B14187
