LVT mobile security units help retailers enhance security and reduce crime by protecting both indoor and outdoor areas.
When protecting any high value asset, the number one priority is to fortify the immediate area where the asset is being kept. Attention then turns to making sure the direct areas surrounding the assets are secured as well. It’s a playbook that many retailers follow when it comes to preventing theft and keeping their employees and customers safe from outside threats.
Retailers are tasked with preventing things like vandalism, stolen inventory, robberies, and even more serious crimes. That means taking proactive steps by installing surveillance cameras, employing anti-theft devices, and designating a security staff to minimize threats.
This front loading of security within the store takes an inside-out approach. The emphasis is on protecting everything within the four walls of your retail space in hopes that it is enough of a deterrent to keep potential threats out.
However, many security experts believe that while that is a good start, it isn’t entirely sufficient. They say a comprehensive approach to stop theft in retail stores begins even before a perpetrator steps through the doors. According to the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC) crime can be impacted through several zones of influence, where each zone is adjacently positioned to the previous one. Therefore, each zone has a direct impact on the next zone’s overall levels of crime. When it comes to retail stores looking to prevent, deter, and detect theft and crime, it means also fortifying the areas outside their premises—in many cases, that translates to parking lots.
Mobile security units are often the solution when it comes to protecting outdoor areas that may not have the same robust security systems that are already in place indoors. And the numbers show that mobile units are an effective tool in reducing crime. In fact, retailers who have used LVT mobile surveillance units have reported experiencing a 40% decrease in shoplifting, a 54% reduction in burglaries, and a 15% decrease in property crimes.
Part of that success can be attributed to their conspicuous presence which provides a visual deterrent to thwart bad behaviors. However, by utilizing mobile security units as part of larger plan, they can be the missing piece of the puzzle that fills in vulnerable gaps in security.
Employees are the lifeblood of every successful business, and their safety and morale is essential. While a busy parking lot can give criminals the anonymity they seek for non-confrontational crimes such as break-ins and automobile theft, other crimes are predicated on targeting those in isolated areas.
One of the biggest challenges of parking lots is that they are built to optimize the number of parking spaces, not clear sight lines. Consequently, many parking lot areas can have obstructed views which can compromise visibility and leave some sections.
As a result, employees and delivery workers who come and go outside of normal business hours are prime targets for those looking to commit crimes with minimal interference or eyewitnesses. Mobile security units are an easy way to increase their safety and security.
While many businesses look to protect their inventory within stores, it can also extend to surrounding areas such as warehouses and loading docks. These facilities tend to be in more secluded, dimly lit, and in less populated areas which can make them susceptible to theft and vandalism.
Surveillance cameras in mobile security units are built to see and record even in the most challenging low-light situations. Utilizing low-light imaging and thermal cameras which can identify objects through the heat temperatures, darkness is no longer a cover for crime.
Some areas that are restricted or contain high value assets may require a higher level of security. This can include employee entrances, spaces that hold utility panels, expensive equipment, or proprietary intellectual property.
Mobile security units can also provide increased reinforcements to these highly sensitive regions which adds another layer of protection. In addition to advanced surveillance camera imagery, these units can employ motion detection to set a perimeter around areas of particular interest. When set off, the system automatically initiates a series of pre-programmed actions. This can include everything from activating flood lights and blaring alarms to broadcasting audible warnings. If the warnings are ignored, it can further trigger actions such as remotely alerting security staff or notifying authorities.
Mobile security units are set up to be controlled and viewed remotely. So, when suspicious activity or disturbances are flagged and notifications are sent out, anyone cleared to access your surveillance unit can log in from anywhere through any smart device. This allows security teams to quickly discern false alarms from credible threats and allows them to take the appropriate steps to deal with the situation in a timely matter.
As retailers continue to ensure that their business assets are protected, they are turning to a more multi-layered security approach. By proactively engaging security measures both inside and outside their facilities in complementary manner, they are increasing the overall robustness of their security.
LVT mobile security units offer advanced security capabilities that can be a key component to a comprehensive security plan. They are turnkey solutions that can be quickly deployed and set up at a moment’s notice—either as a standalone surveillance unit or easily integrated into a larger security ecosystem. Part of the ease lies in that each unit is self-contained. It is solar powered, utilizes cellular transmission instead of shaky Wi-Fi signals, and minimizes exposed cords which eliminates potential damage or tampering. This all lends to a reliable and powerful surveillance tool that is extremely nimble and ready to deploy and be positioned wherever needed.
Contact LVT for a demo or to find out how LVT can help you with your security needs.