California Auto Dealership Cameras Catch Early Morning Burglar in the Act

Auto dealership owners routinely deal with a variety of security threats to their high-value inventory. Theft of vehicles themselves, theft of parts, burglaries, and even thieves bold enough to take off with a vehicle during a test drive. 

Auto thefts have spiked across the United States, a trend that first emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic and has continued to rise. The Council on Criminal Justice reports vehicle thefts were up 33.5% during the first half of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022. 

In this Arrest of the Month video, Stealth surveillance cameras catch a would-be thief in the act at a California auto dealership- watch what happened next in the video below: 

At roughly 5:30 a.m., Stealth security operators monitoring a California automotive dealership spotted a suspicious individual on the property. The individual was observed opening and entering one of the inventory vehicles onsite, leading security operators to immediately contact police. Officers quickly arrived onsite and arrested the subject without further incident. 

Proactive Security Can Help Protect Your High-Value Inventory and Property 

The acting administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Ann Carlson, stated in a July 2023 press release that “Motor vehicle theft is a crime that costs Americans more than $8 billion per year.” With a motor vehicle stolen every 32 seconds in the US, it’s critical that auto dealerships have effective security measures in place to help deter and disperse criminal and other unwanted activity on their properties. 

Striking a balance between effective and comprehensive security while still maintaining an open and welcoming environment for after-hours browsing can be difficult. Live video monitoring can be the solution your dealership is looking for. 

Using a combination of advanced video analytics and highly trained remote security operators, Stealth’s proactive live video monitoring can help spot and respond to a wide range of physical security concerns commonly faced by auto dealerships. From thieves and burglars to trespassers, vandals, unauthorized access, even liability concerns in service areas– live video monitoring is a critical component in a comprehensive layered security solution that goes above and beyond traditional measures like guards and gates.  

Customized camera layouts allow for surveillance across your property, including key “hotspots” or difficult-to-see areas, expanding visibility, and allowing for a more complete view of the entire space. Trained remote security professionals monitor your dealership for suspicious or unwanted activity and can take immediate action when they spot someone or something out of place, sounding audible onsite warnings or contacting local police dispatch when law enforcement intervention is advisable.  

Best of all? You can effectively and proactively monitor your entire property for up to 60% less than the cost of traditional guards. If you’d like to learn more about putting Stealth to work for your dealership and how you can benefit from proactive security, contact us today and speak with a member of our automotive dealership security expert team.  

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