SUMMARY
SafeNow: Empowering Employees with Mobile Security Solutions
- LVT introduces SafeNow, a mobile app giving employees control of surveillance features in vulnerable areas
- Addresses rising retail violence, with 53% of incidents occurring in parking lots and 694 documented fatalities in 2022
- Enables workers to activate floodlights, strobes, and audio warnings before entering risky areas
- Includes direct 911 access for emergencies and PIN-protected interface for authorized access
- Benefits quick-service restaurants, retail stores, healthcare facilities, and distribution centers
- Helps businesses reduce turnover, demonstrate duty of care, and extend security beyond building walls
- Beta program available for existing LVT customers at lvt.com/safenow
The Walk That Shouldn't Require Courage
A barista arriving for a 5 a.m. opening shift, walking across a dark, vacant parking lot before sunrise, shouldn’t need courage just to reach the building safely. Yet for millions of retail and restaurant workers, this routine journey to or from their car makes them vulnerable.
Parking lots now account for 25% of violent retail incidents, which adds up to more than 600 violent parking lot crimes occurring each week, according to the FBI’s Crime Data Explorer. This routine journey has become increasingly dangerous,
A New Security Landscape
The data demands attention. Retail violence hit record levels in 2022: 694 documented fatalities—17% higher than 2021. Employee casualties rose 10% to 170, reflecting a dramatic 35% increase in retail fatalities since 2019. Inside stores, the National Retail Federation reported that between 2022 and 2023, there was a 42% increase in shoplifting incidents that involved threats or acts of violence, and a 39% increase of incidents involving a threat, display, or use of a weapon, while 8 in 10 retailers reported increased aggression associated with shoplifting.
This surge stems from multiple factors: pandemic-related stress, staffing shortages leaving fewer “eyes and ears” on the floor, and “no confrontation” policies that sometimes leave employees feeling vulnerable. The result? A retail landscape where the threshold for violence has lowered dramatically, with headlines featuring everything from fast-food workers dodging chairs thrown over the counter to customers pulling a weapon over condiment packets.
Danger Zones Beyond the Door
Modern retail has transformed parking lots into active business zones with new security challenges. The National Safety Council reports tens of thousands of crashes in parking facilities cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries every year, but vehicle accidents represent just one risk factor.
The shift to expanded outdoor operations—curbside pickup and drive-thru services—pushed more employees outside traditional building security perimeters. Despite this increased outdoor activity, many facilities face staffing constraints that limit security presence, creating vulnerability zones, particularly during early morning and late-night shifts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health data reveals that workplace violence is increasing.
Enter SafeNow: Mobile Surveillance Unit Security When and Where It’s Needed
As security challenges mount, SafeNow by LVT puts proven mobile surveillance unit security features directly in employees' hands through a simple mobile application.
“Parking lots and building exteriors can be hotbeds of crime, especially in poorly lit areas and when employees work nighttime hours,” LiveView Technologies Chief Technology Officer Steve Lindsey said in a press release. “SafeNow brings the power of LVT’s proven security features directly to employees across every industry—enabling them to use additional lighting and alarms before leaving to their cars and execute deterrence features that show potential bad actors the area is being monitored.”
SafeNow addresses key vulnerability points through four essential capabilities now featured with the LVT® Unit mobile surveillance camera:
- Operational Coverage: Employees can activate powerful dynamic floodlights before walking to their vehicles, extending security beyond building walls
- Visibility Control: On-demand strobe effects and audio warnings create immediate deterrence in low-staffing situations
- Emergency Response: Direct 911 access provides a final safety measure during genuine emergencies
- Secure Access: PIN-protected interface ensures only authorized personnel can activate security features
Unlike reactive panic buttons that summon help after trouble begins, SafeNow enables preventive security measures that can deter threats before they materialize.
Industries That Benefit
With 37% of fast-food workers reporting on-the-job violence and late-night operations creating unique vulnerabilities, SafeNow gives QSR employees control during critical moments—illuminating parking areas during closing and providing immediate response options during confrontations.
With 53% of retail violence occurring in parking areas, early morning inventory teams and late-night closing staff face particular risks. SafeNow allows associates to create well-lit pathways and activate security measures before leaving the building.
Healthcare workers managing valuable medications during off-peak hours navigate extensive parking facilities in isolated conditions. SafeNow enables remote activation of security features, ensuring clear visibility during these vulnerable transitions.
With remote locations and extensive perimeters, distribution centers present unique security challenges. LVT’s mobile surveillance unit’s increased capabilities extend protection beyond building walls, particularly during shift changes when traditional security measures often have coverage gaps.
Beyond Technology: Business Impact
Employee control over security directly impacts workplace satisfaction and retention. With retail turnover climbing to nearly 95% in 2023, partially driven by safety concerns, security empowerment becomes a critical tool. SafeNow delivers:
- Proactive Protection: Instead of relying solely on reactive measures, employees can create secure conditions before entering vulnerable areas
- Operational Efficiency: Teams maintain productivity without security concerns impacting performance during early/late shifts
- Risk Management: Clear security protocols and employee-controlled deterrence features demonstrate duty of care, reducing liability exposure
- Workforce Stability: Commitment to employee safety helps combat industry-wide turnover challenges, particularly in high-risk periods and locations
The National Retail Federation found that workplace safety consistently ranks among the top factors in retail job satisfaction and retention, making security investments directly tied to operational performance.
Transform Your Perimeter Security
Security threats evolve rapidly, but reactive measures leave gaps. SafeNow closes these gaps through the strategic deployment of proven deterrence technology. Transform your perimeter security from a vulnerability to a strength. Contact our team today for a SafeNow demo and see how LVT's mobile security solutions deliver both protection and performance.
LVT customers interested in empowering their employees with SafeNow can sign up for the beta program at lvt.com/safenow.
