Affordable and reliable property theft prevention tactics, such as the use of video surveillance monitoring at commercial property development, has the potential to save American businesses and other property owners billions of dollars each year. According to data reported by the FBI in 2013, there are over 8.6 million crimes in the United States that involve property each year, with nearly 70% of those crimes involving theft and larceny, 22% involving burglary and 8% involving the theft of motor vehicles. The losses from property crime are devastating to both property owners and insurers, as property losses due to theft totaled over $16.6 billion dollars in 2013.
Thefts that occur in and around commercial property developments are especially prevalent nationwide, and losses from these types of crimes are not isolated to the value of the property that is actually stolen. Additional losses can arise from property damage that occurs during the theft.
An example of this type of additional loss occurred just last month during a robbery near Glendale, Arizona. A pair of suspects were arrested after robbing a coin vending machine in a commercial property development parking lot. The team is suspected of having robbed 8 bottled water vending machines at shopping centers and other properties in Glendale as well as 50 others in the surrounding valley areas of Phoenix, Mesa, Buckeye and Avondale. During the overnight robberies, the two burglars would conceal themselves in the darkened parking lot of shopping centers before breaking into the machines and stealing bills and coins. In addition to the face value of the money that was stolen, each vending machine will cost over $1,000 to be repaired.
The losses that are sustained during a theft are not confined to the value of the stolen property losses or damage to the property. Injuries can be sustained by employees, vendors, law enforcement officers, or bystanders during the theft. These injuries can range from minor bruises and contusions to loss of actual life. As reported in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month, three police officers in the Atlanta area were injured during the apprehension of a burglar suspected of committing over 32 armed burglaries at shopping center pharmacies and other commercial locations during a crime spree that lasted nearly six months. The officers were treated for their injuries at a local hospital before being released.
With the potential of property losses, owners are wise to take steps in theft prevention of property in their shopping center parking lots, apartment buildings, industrial complexes and other commercial property development properties by investing in products and services that will deter theft and other crimes.
None of the shopping centers or other properties listed above are Stealth clients. Stealth proactive live surveillance can detect and deter crime in Phoenix, Atlanta, and other cities in the U.S., while reducing security guard and other expenses. A Stealth operator could have seen unusual activity for property theft prevention, activated an audible warning to deter the thieves, and called the local police.
Please contact Stealth today for more information to protect your commercial property development. Visit our web site to see actual videos of criminals being apprehended at shopping centers, as well as other businesses.
