If you are a fan of action movies then you know where all the drug deals, hit and run, shoots, and kidnappings take place! The shady parking lot with many stories of parking space or an unlit spot with complete isolation.
God forbid, if that’s the case with your car lot then you really need to give this blog a read to maintain your parking security and keep it away from potential danger.
Did you know that about 500 people die in the US every year due to parking lot incidents ? Not only this but there are numerous reports of auto thefts leading up to 300 or more every day in Canada.
Even if there are no serious crimes, there are always complaints of bumper scratches, injuries, and hitting other vehicles while backing up.
Why do you need a reliable parking security system?
Being a parking lot owner, there must be common security threats for parking lots that strike concerns for you each day. Ensuring the maximum safety of your customers is a crucial part of maintaining a commercial business.
You are always in the loop to make sure no such cases of theft, vandalism, or any other criminal activity leave a deteriorating impact on your image.
Updating your parking security system will not only take away from your rising concerns but also instill loyalty amongst customers with a clearly visible and risk-free management.
Safeguarding your customer’s assets and preventing malicious activities will also add to your success as parking lot manager.
Without further ado, let’s dive into all the possible measures you can take to acquire an optimum level of secure parking.
Physical Security Measures that can enhance your parking security
1. Proper Fencing
When you build a proper fencing system around your parking lot, it will automatically fend off some of the thieves and criminals from entering your premises during work and odd hours of the night.
You can pick from numerous options depending on your business’s requirements:
CHAIN LINK FENCES
They provide a clear view and allow you to keep an eye on everything going on.
WIRE MESH FENCES
The welded ones will create a barrier that is unbreakable and resistant.
JERSEY BARRIERS
They act as a literal wall placed strategically at entry and exit points or other key areas that prevent accidents.
BOLLARDS
They are not only appealing but also successful in preventing unauthorized entry or exit of vehicles.
Choose any of these according to your feasibility, affordability, and level of parking security needed.
2. Access Control Gates
As customers, whenever we park somewhere, we are sometimes handed a card or receipt to hold on to and return while exiting.
This is not just a method of payment but also an effective way to monitor the admittance of each vehicle, its driver, the license plate number, and other identifiable properties.
Even if the parking lot is designated for employees, residents, or club members, the gates can be controlled through pin codes, authorized cards, biometrics or even keys.
However, to ensure that these are not misused you should install security cameras at entry and exit points and hook up intercom systems for further assistance.
3. Signs and Boards
We often see signs like ‘No Parking’, ‘Entrance’, ‘Exit’, ‘Speed limit 20’ , ‘No smoking’ in the parking lot. However, signs like ‘24/7 video surveillance’, ‘No drugs‘, ‘No guns‘, ’Authorized Personnel Only’ or ‘No Entry Without Valid Permit’ would surely intimidate someone with ill intentions.
Signs of video surveillance and security cameras are great deterrents and discourage many criminals from attempting a break-in.
Those signs can be used and effective even when the cameras are not actually filming as the potential intruder has no way of knowing.
Increase the parking security with extra lighting
4. Sensor Lights
These lights are an excellent way to catch the culprit red-handed and in action. They do not light up the area unless they detect some kind of motion.
So, until and unless someone walks by, the lights will not be glowing all night long. They will save electricity and decrease your expenses at the same time.
There are two types of sensor lights:
WALL-MOUNTED LIGHTS
They are usually installed for enclosed spaces like underground parking lots, garages or department store parking spaces.
They prevent pedestrians and drivers from feeling threatened by the presence of anyone else in the darkness and help them find their way to their vehicles safely.
FLOODLIGHT
They are enormous light bulbs with a high beam which exposes large areas when lit. Such types are usually installed on top of the buildings, boundaries or poles that can increase visibility and immediately identify any criminal or unusual activity.
5. Beaming exterior lighting
A dark place will always attract potential troublemakers and you don’t want that. Create a safe and secure parking environment by harnessing these well-focused and illuminating lights.
PATHWAY LIGHTS
Also known as lampposts in some areas, pathway lights can be an effective way to identify vehicles and their drivers while monitoring the premises.
It can also be helpful to your customers/employees who might have difficulty looking for their cars during the night or finding a good parking spot.
ENTRANCE AND EXIT LIGHTS
Entrance and exit lights will do a lot more for you than detect unfamiliar or questionable persons. The people using the parking space will have a clear navigation while backing out, coming in, or halting at these points. This way you can ward off any collisions, bumps, or even accidents.
Install alarms to halt any breaches in your parking security
6. Blaring Alarms that detect intrusion
Just like a fire alarm goes off when it detects heat, these also emit loud noises when they detect certain abnormalities in their surroundings.
The alarms are equipped with motion detectors that are not triggered by someone walking by or just a loud noise.
Rather, these sensors are specifically placed in vulnerable areas to automatically detect signs of forced entry/exit through windows/doors, unusual vibrations/motions and glass break.
Aside from the buzzing loud sirens, a notification is sent to the control panel alerting the employees inside the business venue who can take action accordingly.
Choosing to install this alarm has its own perks. Anyone committing illicit activities will be immediately alerted and forced to abandon their plan and run.
Additionally, security personnel will be warned, and proper action taken, such as calling the police and protecting customers, if any are on the premises.
7. Silent Alarms that alert the rightful authorities
Sometimes we need to keep it quiet in order to catch the lawbreaker. Oftentimes, when people hear an alarm (even if it’s a false one), they tend to panic and cause chaos around them.
The culprit takes advantage of this situation and slips away unnoticed by simply blending in with the confused and overwhelmed individuals.
Thus, to ensure a calm and controlled response, silent alarms are put in place.
The silent alarms work similarly as the ones discussed in the previous point. The sensors are put in vulnerable or exposed areas.
They also send a notification to the control panel when suspicious activity is detected. The only difference is that they do not alert the wrong-doer and allow security managers to take further steps promptly.
So, if a shotgun is fired, it will be detected through the vibration sensor or the glass break sensor but will not make any loud noises. Rather, it will silently alert reliable authorities.
You might be able to catch intruders off-guard and identify them in the meantime. You will also be able to prevent any possible escalations and further damage to your property by keeping them unaware while also monitoring each move.
Increase your parking security vigilance
8. Regular Security checks/assessments
Regular visits and assessments are a crucial part of maintaining a well-built and responsive security system. It gives you a chance to discover blind spots, assess potential risks, and fix any sort of malfunctioning issues with the equipment.
You can either hire a qualified security professional, have someone from the security firm come in, or do it yourself by following a pre-set checklist.
Here’s what you should keep in mind:
- Are all the warning signs visible, clear, and intact? Are they readable from all proximities?
- Is the fencing damaged and are there any gaps?
- Are the access control gates functioning properly?
- Is the parking lot well lit during all hours of the night? Does it cover all necessary spots like entry/exit points, vulnerable spots and walking paths?
- Are all lights working properly?
- Are the CCTV cameras always turned on, are they positioned in a way that avoids any blind spots, and do they provide clear footage consistently?
- Is there an established protocol in case of emergencies and is the security personnel up to date about it?
With routine checks, you will be able to sustain protocol and eliminate future problems by staying one step ahead.
9. Install CCTV cameras
Whether or not you have security personnel working on site, you should still install a CCTV camera for further satisfaction.
Cameras not only record the incidents that take place but also play a vital role by storing data which can act as evidence later on.
Furthermore, the sight of a camera intimidates someone who has intentions of committing a crime and might even stop them.
Increased security in the server room
10. Install cameras in the server room
One might think, why the need for another set of security cameras inside the server room? Many criminals want to erase evidence of them committing a crime, hence they might try to break in the server room and tamper with the footage.
Moreover, ill-intentioned personnel might want to turn off the system before attempting robbery.
It is always safe to keep an extra eye on your employees as well, the mere presence of a camera will keep them alert and working effectively throughout their shift.
11. Access control to the server room
One of the best ways to protect your car lot is to keep your video recorder and full security system untouched.
You’ll know who came in and when if you install an access control system on the door to your server room.
Also, if a thief gains access to your main building, it will be difficult for them to gain access to your server room, which may deter them from robbing your car lot or committing a crime.
Conclusion
As a parking lot owner, it is essential that you equip your lot for maximum parking security that will not only instill confidence in your customers but also keep your mind at peace.
Considering a 24 percent rise in carjackings in major cities of the US and an increasing number of hate crimes in Canada recently, it would be in your best interest to take all the necessary measures in terms of safety.
You would also be happy to learn that after considering all the options given above, you can also opt for remote video monitoring as an additional layer of defense.
At Sirix, we provide you with all the facilities that can help protect you and your customers from all kinds of vulnerabilities.
This technology will let you monitor your premises/site areas/parking lots without stepping out of the comfort of your home. So say goodbye to sleepless nights, physical tours and routine checks, because we have got you covered.
Reach out to us for the best customized parking lot security solutions tailored to your specific needs.
FAQs
What is an inspection and how often should it be performed?
An inspection covers all necessary steps taken to ensure the proper functioning of the security devices installed, software updates, light fixtures and motion detectors checkups, and assessments of security personnel.
How can I benefit from installing security cameras?
There are a lot of benefits associated with installing security cameras,
- Store data in the form of videos to use as evidence or to identify the culprit.
- Security cameras automatically minimize the risks of suspicious activity by acting as a caution or warning sign for people.
- Your customers will not be worried or threatened while parking in your lot during odd hours or leaving their vehicles unattended while they take their time inside and not be in a hurry to leave.
How to prevent unauthorized access to the parking lot?
With the advancement of technology, you can now rely on pin codes, passwords, intercom systems, proximity cards, biometrics and card scanners to keep all entry and exit points closed until accessed through pre-approved instruments.
Any kind of intrusion or violation will automatically alert you and respective authorities to take immediate action and possibly halt entry and exit from all points to make sure the offender does not escape.
How to increase security measures without exceeding my budget?
There are some steps you can take to up-keep the safety of your parking lot and not go overboard on your pocket.
- Increase lighting in specific areas that might be a possible spot for criminal activities.
- Keep all areas clear and visible by eliminating overgrown bushes, trimming vegetation around the lot and making sure the whole lot can be viewed with the naked eye from any viewing point.
- Display signs of caution, and warnings that can create an impact amongst drivers, customers or any other person that might have ill intentions.
- Share your concerns with neighboring businesses and their parking lot management so they can report incidents in their areas to keep you cautioned and discuss future prevention strategies.