Summary: Detecting crime as it happens is one of the major benefits of real-time video surveillance to parking lot security. Poor lighting and inadequate security measures in parking areas make them highly conducive to both property and violent crimes. Camera systems that are monitored proactively offer numerous advantages, including instant alerts, faster police response times, criminal deterrence, and protection that is even more robust than that provided by traditional recording-only surveillance.
Parking lots are both convenient and a hassle. They’re perfect for parking our vehicles away from traffic and are convenient to our place of business or shopping area. On the other hand, some parking areas are hazardous to navigate at night. Left unsecured and in the dark, they leave cars and car owners susceptible to accidents, property crimes, and violent crimes. Fortunately, real-time video monitoring is leading to a significant enhancement of parking lot security.
An Alarming Number of Crimes Occur in Parking Lots
Parking lots are continuously recognized as very unsafe places for both property and violent crime. Statistics from the national level reveal that approximately 10% of property crimes occur in these places, and the FBI statistics report that among the various types of criminal activities, parking lots ranked third for violent crime in 2017—including almost one-third of all homicides in that year.
The numbers tell a very clear story that sometimes it happens that the insecurity of the parking facility brings about danger to people’s lives. A recent case that perfectly shows the matter is the incident involving nurse Carlie Beaudin. She was beaten in the hospital parking lot where she was working in 2019. The whole episode was captured on the CCTV. But sadly, the cameras were not being watched at that moment. That denotes that monitoring the event is not enough to manage the situation.
What Makes Parking Lots Appealing to Criminals?
The size, accessibility, security level, and lighting of any area have a lot to do with the risk of crime. Open and large unsecured parking lots are often targets because of their nature. Criminals prefer parking areas with many other cars. Additionally, vandalism, break-in thefts, and car thefts tend to occur in poorly lit or open parking lots at night.
Ideally, lots of cars and no daylight provide camouflage for perpetrators to blend in, easily hide, or quickly escape. Opportunistic violent crimes, including homicides, can also occur inside minimally secured parking areas. Minimally secured parking lots, for instance, might have an unmanned gate that limits car entry.
This can limit vehicles, but fails to prevent criminals from getting in. Other minimally secured lots carry a few video surveillance cameras. Although video surveillance solutions can capture criminal activities, their efficiency is mainly reliant on constant monitoring of such performances. A workmate of Carlie Beaudin, a dreadful occurrence’s victim, noted that she constantly feels frightened whenever she walks to her car and raises the issue of parking lot cameras being monitored round the clock.
When it Comes to Parking Lot Safety, Real-Time Video Monitoring is Critical
One of the best ways for owners and operators to improve safety in lots is to install a smart video security system. That means investing in state-of-the-art, rules-based, video surveillance cameras with real-time monitoring or proactive monitoring capability, which refers to advanced video analytics technology that immediately alerts you of unauthorized activity.
A proactive video surveillance camera system enables the digital watch of multiple areas simultaneously, without added security personnel. Far better than a limited guard patrol, real-time live video monitoring enables you to receive instant alerts of suspected crime. This is a major upgrade compared to video surveillance systems that only record a crime.
In the end, a faster response from police deters criminals. That’s what makes video security with real-time monitoring the most effective deterrent to parking lot crime.
A cloud-based surveillance system from Resolute Partners can add the final layer of parking lot security. Our advanced parking lot security surveillance and 24/7 monitoring solutions help commercial enterprises to deter criminal behavior and boost safety.
FAQs
Parking lots are such an easy target when it comes to crime because they are big, easily accessible, and poorly patrolled, if at all. Due to the large number of cars left unattended, they also become easy prey for thieves, vandals, and even attackers. Particularly during the night when criminals can enter and leave without being spotted.
The deployment of real-time video surveillance provides instant notifications in the event of any illegal actions, and consequently makes the response prompt. Regular cameras simply document what is happening, but live monitoring not only allows for watching different locations simultaneously. It also creates a situation where crime is more complex to commit and police can respond sooner, which in turn lowers the risk posed to both victims and assets.
In most cases, traditional video surveillance cameras will record occurrences, but they do not provide direct monitoring. If no one is watching the footage live, a crime may not be discovered until it is too late, which would then make it impossible for the police to respond quickly, and the prevention of such activities would be ineffective. The mere presence of cameras does not guarantee that the crime will not take place unless they are installed in combination with standard, instantaneous watching systems.
Criminals target parking areas with poor lighting, minimal security, and high vehicle density. Such conditions provide cover and easy escape routes. Minimal gate controls and unmanned entry points also make it easier for offenders to access these areas without detection.
The deployment of advanced, cloud-based video monitoring and instantaneous data processing will enable companies to reinforce their security measures to the highest level. The application of these systems will not only keep the area under constant surveillance but also quickly alert and collaborate with security or police personnel, which would definitely discourage robbers, vandals, and other offenders from operating in the vicinity of parking areas.
Michael S. Blanco is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Resolute Partners, LLC, where he leads strategic initiatives across various divisions. After owning family entertainment centers in New England, he co-founded Resolute Partners in 1996, launching the first Internet cafés for the U.S. Navy and partnering with AT&T for global deployment. A pioneer in wireless communications, Michael has expanded the company’s focus to include Energy Management/IoT, Cybersecurity, and Managed Video Security. He holds a degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
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