According to the United States Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), more than 11% of U.S. property crimes occur in parking garages and lots. In a span of four years, there were nearly 402,000 reported incidents of violent crimes in parking structures.
How can property managers deter crime to keep parking environments safe? One option is to hire a third-party security specialist to conduct a detailed survey to identify any weaknesses, vulnerabilities and potential threats. Once it has been completed, you can explore your options.
Criminals like to work in the dark, so keeping a parking structure well-lit is a good deterrent. It’s also important to have a backup power source to keep the lights on and access gates working in case of an outage.
Easy-to-see and easy-to-read signage with clear directions to stairs, elevators and exits can help eliminate confusion. People who are lost make easy targets. In addition, a poorly maintained garage can also be a target for criminals. Immediately repair any damage and replace burned out lights.
Live remote video surveillance is a proactive security solution that is effective at deterring crime. A security specialist will visit your property to discuss your security concerns and design a customized solution to address the results of your security survey. Cameras can be placed at your most vulnerable areas, then watched in real time by a trained security operator. If unusual activity is spotted, the operator can activate a speaker warning and call local police.
In the video below, our live security operators were watching when two thieves broke into a parking garage in Seattle, Washington. Before the thieves could succeed, police were called and arrested the suspects
Even during non-monitoring hours, when cameras aren’t being watched live, they are still recording. The footage can be useful in identifying responsibility in property damage cases. Click the video below to see a compilation of incidents we caught on camera.
