The lack of storefront security in Berkeley, California could not stop the property damage during a holiday weekend. According to the surveillance video footage, two juveniles caused storefront damage to more than 20 businesses in the area. The local authorities said that the suspects used a glass-etching tool to scratch the windows. The suspects also engraved obscenities and the name “Felipe” at multiple properties.
One of the victims was a restaurant owner. He said the property damage was an eyesore and an added expense. Local police arrested two suspects who were charged with felony vandalism.
The commercial security video of the activity was not watched live. Nobody was able to call the police about the crime in progress. Police generally respond faster to live video reports of crimes in progress compared to alarms. Sometimes false alarms can be triggered by a glitch or irrelevant movement near a sensor. Reports with live video evidence are verified crimes in progress. As a result, live storefront security monitoring can result in the suspects’ arrests before they leave the property.
This shopping center is not a client of UCIT.
Storefront Security Solutions
Thieves frequently target unmonitored shopping center stores. Vandalism, glass breakage, smash and grab robberies, and break-ins are some of the most common criminal activity. Security bars and burglar alarms can be bypassed or ignored. An IP surveillance camera system can be a more effective storefront security solution to help reduce and deter unwanted theft and loss.
About Berkeley, California
The city of Berkeley is located in Northern California. It is on the east side of San Francisco Bay. Berkeley is home to the oldest college campus in the University of California (UC) system. UC Berkeley is one of the biggest employers in the city.
More than 121,000 people call Berkeley, California home. Due to the policies and zoning that promote small business, there are very few chain stores for a city of its size.
Vandalism and Property Damage in Berkeley
Specific statistics about graffiti vandalism and crime rates are generally not available. The city of Berkeley has a higher-than-average crime rate, especially property crime. The probability of becoming a property crime victim is 1 in 18. Last year, there were almost 750 counts of vandalism reported in Berkeley.
UCIT Online and Stealth Monitoring are the leader in remote video surveillance in Canada and the U.S, with over 400 employees, 9 offices, and 3 live video monitoring control centers. UCIT proactive video monitoring watches over 16,000 IP and CCTV security cameras. Our security solutions feature advanced technology and can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. UCIT’s remote video monitoring can reduce or even replace security guards at a fraction of the cost. A remote surveillance operator can see suspicious activity, activate a speaker warning, and call the local police.
Please call toll-free (866) 756-7847 or contact UCIT today for more information to protect your outdoor assets. Visit the UCIT web site to see real videos of criminals being arrested at construction sites, multifamily apartments, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, auto dealerships, and other commercial real estate properties.