How Lambert International Airport Reduced Parking Lot Crime With ECAM
About Lambert International Airport
Lambert International Airport is a major transportation hub serving the St. Louis metropolitan area and travelers from around the world. Like many airports, its expansive parking facilities are essential to daily operations but vulnerable to criminal activity, including theft, vandalism, and unauthorized access. To better protect passengers, staff, and vehicles, the airport sought a proactive and flexible security solution.
The Challenge for Lambert International Airport
Lambert International Airport faced ongoing security challenges across its expansive parking facilities, including vehicle break-ins, vandalism, and illegal dumping.
The size and layout of the parking areas made it difficult for fixed cameras and routine patrols to provide full coverage, creating blind spots where criminal activity occurred. At the same time, the Lambert Airport Police Department did not have the manpower to consistently patrol and respond to incidents across such a large footprint. With limited personnel and competing priorities, officers were often stretched thin, making it difficult to proactively deter crime or maintain a visible presence in all high-risk areas.
The airport needed a solution that could extend surveillance coverage without adding staff, adapt quickly to changing crime patterns, and operate continuously across wide, open parking environments.
We were experiencing some theft and some vandalism at portions of the airport, specifically near the [distribution/cargo] locations. That area wasn’t properly covered, and we often had officers responding to the location AFTER the fact, once theft or vandalism had already occurred.
Major Benny Jones
Lambert International Airport Police Department
How ECAM Helped Lambert International Airport
To address these challenges, Lambert International Airport deployed ECAM Mobile Surveillance Units (MSUs) throughout its parking facilities to enhance visibility and deter criminal activity.
Key actions included:
- Strategic MSU Placement: ECAM’s mobile surveillance systems were positioned in high-risk and hard-to-monitor parking areas to close coverage gaps.
- 24/7 Solar-Powered Surveillance: The MSUs provided continuous monitoring without reliance on fixed power sources, allowing deployment in remote areas.
- Advanced Camera and Detection Technology: High-quality cameras and real-time monitoring helped Lambert PD identify suspicious behavior as it occurred.
- Flexible Deployment Strategy: Units were repositioned as needed based on observed activity and evolving security needs.
This approach allowed airport police to respond more effectively to incidents while maintaining consistent coverage across expansive parking areas.
We’ve noticed that since we placed the MSU’s in our parking lots, things have started to calm down. We moved a second MSU to [one of the distribution] locations, and that was a good move. We don’t get vandalism, as much theft, and things seem to be kind of mellowing out.
Major Benny Jones
Lambert International Airport Police Department
The ECAM Difference
ECAM’s Mobile Surveillance Units delivered immediate improvements in visibility, deterrence, and operational flexibility, helping Lambert International Airport strengthen parking lot security without adding additional staff or permanent infrastructure.
Key outcomes included:
- Reduced criminal activity in areas monitored by ECAM MSUs
- Greater flexibility to address shifting crime patterns through mobile deployment
- Improved safety for passengers, staff, and parked vehicles
- Enhanced efficiency for airport police resources
By combining mobility, advanced surveillance technology, and rapid deployment, ECAM helped Lambert International Airport create a safer, more secure parking environment, demonstrating how adaptable security solutions can effectively protect high-traffic transportation facilities.
We see this partnership with ECAM as a positive thing and we’re just going to ride that positive wave.
Major Benny Jones
Lambert International Airport Police Department
