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Deterring Dealership Crime with Remote Video Surveillance by Jeremy White Pro-Vigil
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uto dealerships continue to be an attractive target for criminals. Not only do they house millions of dollars of inventory, most of their high-value assets are located outside — making them very easy to access. The cost of crime on auto dealerships adds up quickly. According to the FBI, the average dollar loss per motor vehicle theft is $8,407. This number goes up astronomically, however, when you remove street crime statistics and focus exclusively on dealerships. Dealerships not only have to factor vehicles and parts into their losses; they also have to consider the costs associated with repairing property damage inflicted during the crime (broken fencing, smashed windows and doors, vandalized vehicles, etc.), as well as indirect costs, such as insurance premium hikes, attorney fees, lost productivity, and even damaged reputation. Keeping your vehicle inventory safe from thieves, vandals, and other criminals is critical, but not all security strategies are equally successful.
February 2021
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D e a l e r
Move from Passive to Active Security
Some dealers opt to use some combination of fences, alarms, and basic “record-and-store” video surveillance as their security solution. While these approaches can certainly serve as a first line of defense, they are passive systems with inherent limitations. Fences can be easily breached, alarms can be circumvented, and simple security cameras only provide after-the-fact evidence. To add a proactive security component, some dealerships will invest in security guards. But this is the most expensive approach to security, and guards bring their own set of limitations (fatigue, distraction, absenteeism, etc.). An efficient and cost-effective way to deter crime is to use a remote video surveillance system. These systems provide 24/7 live monitoring and proven criminal deterrents, such as alarms, sirens, strobe lights, and recorded 25
