Learn how to select the right parking lot surveillance system to improve employee and customer safety.
Preparation is key to preventing problems, particularly in areas like parking lot security, which is crucial for customer safety and business integrity. Parking lots are hotspots for crime, contributing to significant losses, as poor visibility and large, open areas make them vulnerable. Effective security solutions include traditional CCTV systems, which are reliable and cost-effective, and IP cameras that offer advanced features like remote monitoring and scalability. Emerging technologies, such as AI and license plate recognition (LPR), enhance security by proactively analyzing footage, identifying flagged vehicles, and detecting traffic patterns. A comprehensive approach often involves integrating these systems to create a tailored, proactive solution. Businesses are increasingly adopting such measures to deter crime, protect assets, and ensure a safer environment for customers and employees.
Every coach I’ve ever had always preached the importance of preparation. Adages like, “you get out what you put in,” “hope for the best, but prepare for the worst” or “by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail,” have been drilled into my head from a young age. The seeds planted then have helped shape my behaviors in everything from researching the best laptop, to packing for vacation, to making sure all the screws and pieces of Ikea furniture are neatly laid out before even thinking about assembly. Good foresight and thorough preparation can mitigate a lot of unforeseen variables that can lead to bigger problems - like a wobbly dresser that is 95% assembled but missing one key leg to complete it.
It's the same with customer experience and safety. It begins with a strong foundation that starts well before a customer even steps foot into a retail space or office. It extends outside the doors and into the immediate vicinity which often means parking lots which are potential hot beds for crime. According to 2022 FBI data, parking lots are the third most common location for violent crimes with about 1,400 incidents occurring each day. And when it comes to property loss, about $6 billion are attributed to parking lot crime. Part of the reason is due to the sheer size of parking lots, poor sight lines, and poorly lit areas. It’s easy to see why so many businesses are taking parking lot security so seriously and emphasizing its ability to detect, deter, and defend against bad actors.
With numerous options available, choosing the right security system for your parking lot is integral to keeping your customers and employees safe. It can also mean safeguarding your inventory while protecting the integrity of your bottom line. Below we explore parking lot security systems and features that might be useful components when building your overall security solution.
Closed Circuit Television or CCTV is one of the most traditional and proven means of surveillance which is a testament to its reliability through the years. CCTV uses analog hard-wired cameras that transmit video signals through a coaxial cable to a digital video recorder unit (DVR). The DVR transfers the analog signal to a digital one and stores it within the DVR unit. Typically, the video is connected and fed to a central monitoring system where someone must be present to watch, identify, and flag any potential criminal activity.
One of the benefits of closed-circuit TV is that it’s a relatively stable connection that doesn’t rely on the presence of the internet or the strength of a Wi-Fi signal. This makes the system extremely reliable in areas that have poor internet connectivity.
Also, because the cameras are fixed and rely primarily on hard wires to connect from a power source and to a larger closed-circuit network, there are fewer moving parts to troubleshoot and makes setup rather straightforward.
Lastly, because the system is largely hardware dependent, there is a lower initial set-up cost and maintenance associated with it. This can be a practical choice and cost-effective option for smaller businesses or those on a tight budget.
While CCTV cameras rely on cables to connect their signals within a closed circuit, internet protocol cameras—or IP cameras—utilize computer networks and the internet to transmit data and images. This allows footage to be remotely accessed, viewed, and shared from anywhere there is an internet connection making monitoring ubiquitous. Surveillance can be untethered, and access can be shared to any number of authorized users always allowing for convenient monitoring.
Since data is transmitted through the internet, the data is compressed which minimizes the storage space it takes up so that you can store more data for longer periods of time.
Like CCTV cameras, the quality of IP cameras has drastically improved through the years. However, advances in technology have resulted in crisper images and IP cameras that capture high-definition video even in most challenging low-light situations. Some cameras even have thermal imagery where they can capture heat signatures from objects and produce an image in complete darkness.
However, one aspect where IP cameras really differentiate from their CCTV counterpart is their ability to integrate with advanced features such as motion detection, push notifications, and active automated responses. This creates a more robust and active security approach as compared to CCTV which can feel more passive.
Another benefit of IP cameras is their scalability. Additional cameras can be easily added to your security network as your security needs and business grows. This can be done quickly with minimal effort, whereas, when operating in a closed-circuit environment, it can be much more cumbersome and limiting. This allows for a more cohesive and complex surveillance environment that ensures comprehensive coverage eliminating blind spots. Mobile surveillance units can provide even more flexibility by acting as standalone units, a combined unit, or acting within a larger ecosystem to create a more comprehensive solution.
As IP cameras do not necessarily need to be tethered by wires, it allows for more options when it comes to primary and back-up power sources. Where CCTV primarily relies on traditional power sources, IP cameras can utilize a mix of power sources from electric outlets to rechargeable batteries, to solar power energy to keep surveillance systems running uninterrupted.
In recent years, one of the most exciting emerging developments in security has come from advances in artificial intelligence or AI. And as it pertains to parking lot security, license plate recognition has shown a lot of promise.
License plate recognition (LPR) can be both an exponential time saver and a bit of a bat signal highlighting suspicious behaviors or actors. When it comes to surveillance video, servers on average store footage anywhere from 30 – 90 days. It can equate to an overwhelming amount of video depending on just how many cameras are deployed. LPR can instantaneously sift through and analyze massive amounts of footage to identify and isolate specific license plates that can help locate anything from stolen vehicles to getaway cars.
LPR can also alert security teams and law enforcement agencies if it identifies a license plate that has been flagged in local or national databases for any number of reasons from being an accessory to a crime or an amber alert. This cross referencing of data can be integral in solving past crimes and preventing future ones from happening. This takes security from a reactive system to a more proactive one.
Within license plate recognition, there is also the ability to decipher and analyze general traffic patterns, behaviors, and trends. By crunching the data gleaned from video, AI can help calculate which hours of the day are busiest, which entrances and exits are most used and can help businesses provide support or re-route traffic flow to maximize efficiencies. And if a crime does occur, it can analyze the vehicle and behavior to see if there are any signs that a pattern might exist.
Parking lot safety is not a one size fit all approach and there are many components that can solve the parking lot security puzzle. Advances in cameras, software, and emerging technologies like AI have created formidable systems that are stronger together than alone. While these options can work as standalone systems, many of these systems can be integrated together and scaled to the needs and budget of your business. As more companies are battling crime and looking to limit liabilities, there is a growing shift to leverage security systems to become more proactive rather than reactive in nature. To see what security plan is best for your business's unique needs, reach out to see how LVT can help.
