Minutes before 5:00 am, Stealth security professionals monitoring a Florida automotive dealership spotted what appeared to be an intoxicated individual on the property in a restricted area. Audible alarms were activated, and a closer look at video footage revealed the individual gaining access to a Jeep Wrangler inventory vehicle. Local police were contacted and dispatched to the site. Officers arrived and found the suspect still inside the vehicle, placing him under arrest.
The rise in vehicle thefts from auto dealerships has become a significant issue, driven by sophisticated criminal techniques and the high value of stolen vehicles. In this Arrest of the Month video, a visibly intoxicated suspicious individual trespasses on a Florida dealership property before breaking into and potentially attempting to steal, a popular Jeep Wrangler.
While this instance above involved a single individual who appeared to be intoxicated, auto dealerships across North America have seen an unprecedented rise in incidents, with organized thefts of multiple vehicles becoming increasingly common. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), vehicle thefts have reached near-record highs in the United States, with over one million vehicles reported stolen in 2023. This surge marks a continuation of a troubling trend that has seen theft rates increase steadily since 2019. The NICB attributes this rise to criminals using advanced technologies, like keyless entry hacks and relay attacks, to bypass modern vehicle security systems.
Auto dealerships are particularly vulnerable due to the high concentration of vehicles in one location, often with insufficient security measures in place. Organized crime rings target these dealerships, sometimes stealing multiple high-end vehicles at once, leading to significant financial losses. Some dealerships have reported losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually due to thefts. This issue is exacerbated by the high value of luxury vehicles, which are prime targets for thieves. The Insurance Bureau of Canada reported that the average claim cost per stolen vehicle is around $70,000, significantly impacting insurance premiums and loss ratios for dealerships.
The surge in thefts not only affects dealerships financially but can also disrupt their operations. Dealerships are forced to invest heavily in enhanced security measures, like improved lighting and physical barriers, to protect their inventory. Despite these efforts, the sophisticated methods employed by thieves often outpace these preventative measures, necessitating a continuous evolution in security strategies.
Proactive Security: Helping to Stop Unwanted Activity in Real-Time
In the face of these alarming spikes in thefts, organized criminal groups targeting high-performance vehicles, and brazen thieves boldly stealing high-value inventory from dealerships across the US and Canada, security solutions have since become a top priority for auto dealerships large and small.
At Stealth, we recognize the nuanced challenge of distinguishing between potential customers and potential intruders on your dealership lot. Traditional security systems often lack the sophistication to make these distinctions, leading to the risk of deterring genuine customers or causing unnecessary police responses due to false alarms.
Our innovative solution, Stealth’s proactive live video monitoring, effectively addresses these challenges by combining advanced technology with human expertise. Strategically placed analytics-driven cameras cover key areas such as entry and exit points and service lanes. These cameras are designed to detect genuine activities, not just simple movements, helping to ensure accurate and reliable monitoring for enhanced security and customer experience.
Once an activity is detected, it is promptly flagged for our skilled security professionals at our remote monitoring center. They meticulously assess the situation to determine if intervention is necessary. This ensures that casual visitors exploring your inventory remain undisturbed, while potential intruders are swiftly identified. For instance, if someone attempts to tamper with car doors, they can be promptly deterred through on-site speakers, informing them they are under surveillance.
In cases where verbal warnings are ignored, our operators are equipped to contact local police dispatch with real-time details of the suspicious activity. Providing live descriptions of suspects, their locations, and their actions generally results in our calls being prioritized, leading to quicker police response times. Law enforcement officers recognize that our alerts are credible and not false alarms, often resulting in timely arrests while the suspect is still on the premises.
For dealerships seeking to enhance their security while potentially reducing costs by up to 60% compared to traditional guard services, our innovative, tailor-made security solutions offer a compelling option. Contact us today to consult with an automotive dealership security specialist and receive a free quote.
Texas Private Security License Number: B14187
California Alarm Operator License Number: ACO7876
Florida Alarm System Contractor I License Number: EF20001598
Tennessee Alarm Contracting Company License Number: 2294
Virginia Private Security Services Business License Number: 11-19499
Alabama Electronic Security License # 002116
Canada TSBC License: LEL0200704
