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3 Times Video Surveillance Helped Property Managers Prevent Crime

Aug 6, 2019

As a property manager, there’s often a lot on your plate. One tenant is upset because of an increase in rent, another one is complaining about their neighbor. Meanwhile, you’re trying to keep occupancy high and expenses low.

With everything going on, the last thing you need is someone breaking into your property and trespassing, vandalizing, or even stealing from you or your tenants. Yet, if your property isn’t secured properly, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Protecting your property — and the tenants who trust you to keep them safe — doesn’t have to mean staffing up on unreliable security guard services. Instead, smart property managers invest in tools that will prevent crime from occurring.

As we’ve seen in recent posts, video surveillance has evolved beyond simply capturing crime. Today, analytics and add-ons such as remote guarding services work together to prevent incidents ranging from undesired midnight pool visitors to vandalism.

These services provide pictures, videos, and audio, so property managers like you know exactly what’s happening while you’re away, and what crimes are being prevented. See for yourself just how effective a well-designed security system with remote guarding works.

Preventing a Midnight Dip

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Many HOAs in the southwest offer amenities such as pools, spas, and hot tubs. These amenities are usually closed at night to help keep noise down. But, an empty hot tub in the middle of the night is hard to pass up for those looking for a good time, no matter who it may affect.

This video shows the same site before and after remote guarding is implemented at an HOA common area containing a pool and hot tub. Cameras clearly show a group of people drive up to the area, get into the hot tub, and start a night of drinking and casual conversation.

On the left side, a remote guard is alerted of their arrival thanks to the camera’s integrated analytics. It has detected the intrusion and warns the virtual guard to their presence. The guard then surprises the group by telling them they are trespassing on private property. Without much of a thought, they immediately get up and leave.

On the right side, video cameras that aren’t connected to remote guard services simply record the event taking place, but the group is left undisturbed. Unless someone sees them or they leave evidence of their visit, no one will know they were there, which means they’ll probably be back for round 2.

Intervening on Illegal Dumping

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Illegal dumping is not only an inconvenience for you and your tenants, but also may provide a domino effect of trash buildup, ending in unforeseen costs and an overall negative impression on the community.

In this video, a white pickup approaches two dumpsters behind a commercial property. A man gets out and grabs a large garbage bag out of his truck, then tosses it in one of the dumpsters before getting back in to leave. But before he has the chance to close the door, he hears a voice from above.

The virtual guard was notified by the site’s surveillance cameras, which were set up to create an alert any time an intruder was detected in the dumpster area. Within seconds of the truck’s arrival, a remote guard connected to the live camera footage and determined why the alert was created.

Using a talk down approach, the guard identified the man, told him that his license plate had been captured, and that authorities would be notified unless he removed the bag and left the property immediately, which is exactly what he did.

Had remote guarding not been implemented, the man would have dumped the bag and left without incident. But more importantly, with no intervention, he would have found a place where he could illegally dump garbage whenever he needed to, creating an ongoing problem for the property owner.

Taking Down a Trespasser

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Trespassers are never a good sign for property owners and managers. Not only are they unwanted in general, but they’re also often looking for easy opportunities to burglarize or vandalize the property. In this video, a lone trespasser is seen walking into a parking area and inspecting the bed of a pickup truck at night. His actions are suspicious and it’s clear he’s looking for something to steal.

Luckily, powerful camera analytics detected him the moment he stepped foot on the property. They immediately alerted remote guards of the suspicious activity. The guard watched him for a moment, determined his actions warranted a response, and used the talk down method to tell him to leave.

At first, he starts to slowly walk away, but the remote guard isn’t done. The guard tells the trespasser that the authorities have been alerted of his suspicious activity. When the trespasser hears this, he’s had enough and runs off the property.

Without remote guarding, contents from the truck and other vehicles might have been stolen, and the trespasser might decide that the parking lot is easy prey for a quick and easy burglary.

These videos clearly demonstrate the power of remote guarding when paired with effective surveillance cameras. Remote guarding offers instant crime detection and prevention that has none of the liability or high costs associated with traditional on-site guards.

Want to find out what remote guarding can do for your business or property? Learn more about your options by getting your free quote today.