LVT’s mobile surveillance units help retailers and commercial properties proactively combat the summer crime spike with advanced, flexible, and AI-powered security technology.
As the summer months approach, temperatures begin to rise but it’s not just the weather that’s heating up. While many of us are either excitedly awaiting (or anxiously dreading) the inevitable heat wave, retailers are bracing for the impending summer crime wave.
In fact, the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP) reports that shoplifting incidents spike during peak summer shopping seasons. And according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) organized retail crime (ORC), which costs retailers an average of $700,000 per $1 billion in sales, also sees a jump during the summer months.
Part of the reason can be attributed to longer daylight hours and warmer weather which attracts more shoppers outdoors and into retail stores. This uptick in foot traffic is a criminal’s paradise, as it creates a favorable and opportunistic environment to engage in nefarious acts. The added crowds allow thieves to blend in and strike when employees are busy or otherwise distracted.
Experts also point to retailers being understaffed during the summer months with many companies relying on temporary employees to fill the gap. As a result, a less experienced workforce may not be as thoroughly trained or equipped to act effectively and within company protocols when faced with shoplifters or incidents of organized retail crime.
Vandalism is another serious cause for alarm during the summer. With most students out of school, boredom can often be a catalyst to bad judgment which can lead to trespassing, vandalism, or arson. Many behaviorists also point to hot temperatures as an ember that sparks irritability into full-blown aggressive and destructive behaviors.
According to FBI and Bureau of Justice numbers, crime rates increase between 10%–20% nationwide during the summer months compared to winter months. This is particularly true when it comes to violent crimes and property crimes.
While it can feel daunting for businesses to keep a potential crime wave at bay, mobile surveillance units can be a key component in helping turn the tide.
The best way to combat crime is to prevent it from ever happening to begin with. A recent study by LVT and the Loss Prevention Research Council found mobile security units to be proven tools in significantly lowering crime. Surveillance units make an intimidating visible statement that the area is being actively watched and protected. The more units utilized, the stronger the message.
One of the biggest advantages of mobile security units are their maneuverability and flexibility. They can be moved and re-configured to protect, deter, and defend against any emerging or evolving threats. This gives you the versatility to place units wherever needed and to continuously adapt to the areas that need surveillance the most. The units can be not only be repositioned and set up in minutes, but they can also be scaled to grow with your business and security needs.
The fact that each unit is self-contained and solar powered ensures that they will be powered 24/7. These solar security trailers can run on and store the sun’s energy even on the cloudiest of days. Because they also rely on cellular connectivity, there is no need for external wires or cabling which provides even more flexibility and reduces vulnerabilities for tampering.
Mobile security units allow for live remote viewing and control from any smart device. This allows active ongoing surveillance from any location with internet connectivity. Real-time monitoring leads to better response times and quicker recognition of a crime in action rather than reacting after the fact.
Not only are these units outfitted with advanced cameras able to see in low-light situations, but they are equipped with a loudspeaker, strobe lights, and audible alarms that can turn a normally reactive system into a proactive one. The units can be programmed to trigger automated warnings, automatically activate alarms to deter bad actors, and contact authorities when needed. The added ability for authorized personnel to control cameras by panning, tilting, and zooming while leveraging the suite of system options allows users to take effective action with more helpful data.
While the goal is always to prevent crime from happening, when it does happen, mobile security units archive footage which can be played back and accessed to piece together timelines, corroborate accounts, and clear up disputes. They can be particularly useful in situations involving liability and insurance claims and instrumental to law enforcement investigations and criminal convictions.
LVT’s mobile security units are outfitted with advanced detection capabilities that can help cut down on false alarms. It’s ability to decipher human motion from the movement of an animal or swaying branch can save businesses time, anxiety, and resources.
With advances in artificial intelligence, some security units are packing even more punch. AI can monitor camera feeds and identify and flag incidents that appear out of the ordinary. It can also analyze past incidents such as organized retail crime and start to pinpoint similarities and patterns of behavior leading up to, during, and after the crime has been committed. This can be particularly valuable in its ability to recognize these patterns and alerting security before the next incident happens.
AI is also starting to scan license plates for potential repeat offenders or even track criminals by identifying features to help assist in apprehending them or alerting teams if they are on premises in the future.
Surging crime activity during the summer provides increasing surveillance challenges to commercial businesses and retailers. LVT’s mobile surveillance units can level the playing field by leveraging its robust and flexible system to any security ecosystem.
Their proven efficacy can give you peace of mind and LVT’s units can be deployed and scaled to fit any budget and designed to fit your security needs. The small but mighty solar powered surveillance units are packed with cutting edge technology from night vision and thermal cameras to its remote viewing capabilities, to its use of advanced analytics and artificial intelligence creating a turn-key proactive security system.
See how LVT can be a partner in protecting your business assets, employees, and premises and how mobile security systems can be an asset in your enterprise security system.
