Multifamily residential properties and their communities across Southern California are facing a crisis in the form of overwhelming homelessness, and the situation causes cascading issues that can have a devastating impact on public health, commercial property security, public safety, and more.
The city of Santa Monica’s City Council went as far as declaring a local emergency for homelessness in February of 2023, supported by data from the city that shows the number of calls regarding encampments has increased about 15% from more than 1,600 in 2021 to nearly 1,900 in 2022 – surpassing a previous high of about 1,800 in 2017. Both officials and residents from the region say that the crisis throughout SoCal just continues to grow- causing both the city and county of Los Angeles, and the city of Long Beach to declare states of emergency in response.
With the high volume of issues and calls regarding vagrancy and loitering due to the ongoing surge in homelessness, getting a police response to calls for loitering and trespassing may become difficult. See how a SoCal multifamily residential community handled its issue using proactive security measures in the video below:
At approximately 12:32 a.m., alert Stealth security professionals spotted an individual jumping over an access gate and loitering on the property at a Southern California apartment community. Observing Stealth security staff immediately activated onsite audible alarms, contacted local police dispatch, and left a voicemail with the onsite security guard to inform them of the intruder on the premises. The onsite security guard was observed making contact with the trespasser, appearing to direct them to leave. Responding officers were observed speaking with the individual before appearing to take them into custody without further incident.
Help Resolve Security Concerns in Real Time with Live Video Monitoring
Traditional security measures, like passive surveillance cameras and gates, are often simply not enough to deter and disperse criminals and other unwanted activity. As can be seen in the above example- thieves, trespassers, loiterers, and vagrants will often find ways around, or simply ignore, these kinds of security measures. While surveillance can sometimes help determine that a crime has occurred after the fact, it’s ultimately a passive security measure without live monitoring.
Live video monitoring, however, is a proactive security measure that can help intervene in criminal activity in real time. Stealth’s live video monitoring solution uses a combination of high-tech video analytics to watch for activity rather than simple motion, and trained security professionals to monitor that activity and act when they spot something or someone out of place as it’s happening, in real time. Â
Stealth’s highly trained staff monitor key areas throughout your property. Security operators can activate audible warnings when they spot someone out of place, which is often more than enough to cause criminals to go running. When alarms alone don’t deter a suspicious actor, security operators can contact local law enforcement, who typically elevate our call priority thanks to our ability to provide live, up-to-the-minute details of crimes in progress.
Interested in putting a proactive, customizable, and cost-effective security solution to work at your multifamily residential community or property? Learn how you can save 25-60% versus the cost of traditional security guards when you contact us today and speak with a multifamily residential security specialist.
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
