Homelessness is a pervasive problem throughout the US. While the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted data collection, the most recent numbers show 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in the United States alone. Having nowhere to call home isn’t criminal, but issues often associated with homelessness can create an unsafe environment for shopping centers, retail properties, and other commercial real estate and their tenants.
In the video above, a Stealth security professional observed an individual on a bicycle loitering in a Garden Grove, California shopping center around 10:30 a.m. The individual was behaving strangely, and despite audible alarms being sounded, carried on with their activities. Police dispatch was contacted, and an officer arrived to investigate. After making contact with the loiterer, who was apparently drinking alcohol that had been hidden in a paper bag, the officer instructed the individual to leave the premises.
Help Deter Loitering and Associated Security Concerns at Your Shopping Center with Live Video Monitoring
Shopping centers and other retail properties are frequently chosen as hangouts for those experiencing homelessness because they are mistakenly viewed as public spaces. Unfortunately, loitering in these locations creates safety issues for the retail tenants, their clients, and the loiterers themselves. It’s important for property managers to implement appropriate security measures in order to address these issues.
Live video monitoring is a proactive security solution that can help manage criminal activity such as loitering, theft, vandalism, and other unwanted activity at your property. Our trained security professionals monitor live surveillance feeds from our analytics-based cameras for suspicious behaviors, then take appropriate steps to resolve issues as they happen, in real time, when they see anything out-of-the-norm.
Thanks to our ability to provide law enforcement dispatchers with real-time data about activity in progress, officers typically respond more quickly, and our calls are elevated in priority. Officers often arrive on site while the suspicious individuals are still in the area and can safely diffuse the situation before harm or damage is done.
Interested in learning more about our innovative and customizable solutions and how they can help protect your shopping center or other commercial property? Contact us and schedule a consultation or get more details.
