A Stealth Monitoring security operator spotted a car behind a Dallas, Texas shopping center at 12:45 a.m. One person from the car got out and walked into the enclosed area where the dumpsters were located. Because of the suspicious nature of the activity, our monitoring operator activated the on-site speaker warning to let the trespassers know they were being watched.
Within minutes, Dallas police arrived. Our operator determined that either officers heard the warning, too or they had been following the vehicle. Police questioned the two suspects. One was apprehended and the other was released.
Dumpster diving may seem innocent, but it can cause plenty of headaches for property owners. If the dumpster is located on private property, the divers can be charged with trespassing. If they take trash from the property, they could be charged with theft. The foragers can also leave a trail of trash on your property, which can deter customers and visitors.
You can help keep dumpster divers out of your property with live video monitoring. Trained security operators monitor analytics-based cameras to watch for suspicious activity in real time. If they see something, they can take immediate action. That means activating an on-site speaker and calling local authorities.
Because police know we are watching crimes in progress, they tend to elevate the priority level, which often means they will arrive on the scene while the suspects are still there.
If you would like more information about a proactive security solution for your shopping center or commercial property, contact us.