Enhance parking lot security with high-resolution cameras. Discover the benefits of advanced surveillance technology for improved safety and peace of mind.
Parking lots can be stressful environments. Trying to navigate your vehicle around pedestrians, deserted shopping carts, and other motorists can be both a test of one’s vehicular dexterity and limits on patience. It’s a percolating hotbed of emotions just waiting to bubble over.
When one starts to consider the statistics involving parking lot safety, the numbers are anything but reassuring. According to FBI data from 2022, parking lots are the third most common location for violent crimes. The FBI defines violent crimes to include aggravated assault, rape, homicide, and robbery.
In addition to violent crimes, there are over approximately three million crimes involving stolen vehicles or cars being broken into every year, amounting to roughly $8 billion dollars in property loss annually. Of those three million incidents, roughly 40% of them happen to take place in a parking lot.
These numbers are enough to make anyone feel like parking lots are a roulette wheel for any number of criminal activities to suddenly occur. However, with more businesses looking to invest and implement security measures, the odds are moving closer towards the house’s favor–in this case, businesses and parking lot operators. One of the most effective ways to stem the tide is through high-resolution surveillance cameras.
Surveillance cameras are widely believed to be the single most effective tool in reducing crime and protecting assets. Studies show that surveillance cameras can decrease crime by up to about 50%.
It’s no secret that criminals prefer to work in anonymity, blending in with shoppers and their environment while taking advantage of blind spots and poorly lit areas to escape detection.
High resolution surveillance cameras send a message that the area is being protected while lifting the veil of darkness with their superior image quality and ability to see and record in low light situations. Their presence can either thwart criminal activity or redirect their attention to less fortified targets.
The presence of cameras can also provide a sense of security for customers and employees traveling through parking lots. It reassures that their safety is being monitored and their vehicles are being kept safe.
Better resolution means crisper images. Crisper images mean more information can be gleaned from the video which in turn leads to more efficient investigations and better evidence collection. High resolution cameras give investigators better clarity regarding facial details, identifiable markings on the body, as well as time stamps and vehicle identifiers. This can include distinguishing markings on cars, license plates, to the make and models of specific cars.
While the preference is to prevent crimes from happening, when they do occur, surveillance video can provide clues as to what went wrong. High resolution footage allows businesses to identify vulnerabilities or trends so that those weak points can be shored up. This can include adding more support to those areas, changing protocols, or eliminating measures that simply don’t work.
As more businesses are looking to build a comprehensive security strategy centered around high-resolution surveillance cameras, the biggest concern can be questions concerning the cost benefit or such an investment. Not only is the initial investment worth it but is there a measurable return on investment?
When it comes to enterprise security solutions, it doesn’t have to be an all or nothing approach. There are a variety of security solutions that can be tailored to individual business needs and price points - especially when it comes to mobile surveillance units. Mobile units allow for flexibility to grow along with your business needs. This can start with a lone unit monitoring a singular “hot” spot and can multiply exponentially to cover any number of areas and entry points. This allows you to pay what you need when you need it.
Mobile units also allow for an inexpensive and easy way to relocate units and strengthen your overall surveillance depending on your needs. This can include fortifying a blind spot or relocating a mobile unit that is better served elsewhere. This flexibility ensures that you are always maximizing your cameras in the most effective ways.
The value of high-resolution cameras is not solely tied to mitigating asset loss or crime prevention. It can be a valuable management tool in analyzing operations and maximizing resources. The ability to remotely monitor multiple areas and even multiple businesses at the same time, helps managers stay connected to the trends and needs of several locations simultaneously. This can be important in making sure businesses have sufficient inventory or are properly staffed during peak times.
Security cameras can also lighten the load for employees. Knowing that there are surveillance cameras operating 24/7 reallocates some of the attention of security teams to focus on other areas. While security is a responsibility that falls on everyone, security cameras allow staff to concentrate on what they do best from sales, to servicing customers, to providing hospitality which can all affect a business’ bottom line.
Another benefit to being able to remotely monitor your business and in real-time is the ability to quickly distinguish false alarms from incidents that need more immediate attention. As a result, time is spent only on matters that either require further investigation or it can trigger more timely response and help if it’s an emergency.
One of the biggest advantages of video footage is the ability to playback incidents as they exactly happened. Eyewitness account can easily be corroborated or disproved. This can eliminate disputes where various accounts of what happened are presented. As a result, frivolous lawsuits can potentially be avoided, and litigation costs minimized.
When implementing an enterprise security system with high-resolution cameras, there are several other considerations to weigh from a cost and operational perspective.
Today, security systems featuring surveillance cameras are becoming more proactive than their predecessors. Where security once was more reactive, today’s technology places a larger emphasis on prevention and active protection. However, with so many options available to businesses, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. See how LVT can be a partner in your business’ overall plan to create a secure environment. We can help implement an effective solution to fit your budget and address your needs.
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