What if this happened at your property:
Just after 10 p.m. on a Friday night, a ECAM security operator witnessed an altercation between two people in the parking lot of a Houston office building. The female suspect was attempting to grab a phone from the male individual. Our operator activated the on-site speaker warning, but the suspects ignored them. So, police were contacted
The two struggled for quite some time. At one point, the male threw his female companion to the ground. Officers arrived onsite. They questioned the female and placed the man under arrest.
Parking Lot Crime
The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), part of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, is the nation’s primary source of information on criminal victimization. Each year, the organization samples roughly 240,000 victims about their crime incident experiences, including robbery, assault and theft. Over a span of four years, the survey found more than 1 in 10 property crimes occurred in parking lots or garages. Almost 1 in 5 violent crimes occurred in open areas like yards, playgrounds, on the street or in other similar places.
Parking Lot Safety Tips
Parking lots are dangerous. From vehicle collisions to theft, vandalism and assault, parking facilities can be risky places. There are some things you can do to help make them safer.
1. Enhance Lighting
You want to make sure your parking facility is well lit for driving, as well as in pedestrian areas. That includes elevators, stairwells and the outer part of a parking garage. Take care to not create shadows with the lighting, as those are places attackers can hide. As you saw in the video, the parking lot was well lit, making it easier for our security personnel to see clearly.
2. Keep it Clean
A well-kept parking facility can send a message to would-be criminals that someone is keeping a close eye on your property. This could encourage them to go elsewhere. Additionally, a clean, well-maintained parking lot/garage can help decrease the chance of injury.
3. Use Video Surveillance
Just as a well-kept parking lot can let people know your property is being watched, security cameras can do the same. However, just having unmonitored cameras isn’t always enough. After all, what’s the use of having them if no one is watching?
Live video monitoring is a proactive security solution that can help deter and reduce crime. Trained security operators watch surveillance cameras in real time. If they see anything suspicious, like a fight between two people for example, they can act immediately. Unlike a security guard or patrol service, we can watch multiple areas of a property at the same time, and for up to 60% less than the cost of that guard.
Enhanced lighting, proper maintenance and live video monitoring can help make your parking facility safer. If you would like more information about a proactive security solution for your commercial property, contact us.
