Dealership Crime: Proven Strategies to Prevent Vehicle Thefts

Vehicle crimes affecting auto dealerships across the US remain a significant challenge for business owners and general managers.

Around 700,000 vehicles are stolen on average every year, with 4 in 10 of these thefts occurring at dealerships. The problem has reached new heights in recent years, with over 1 million vehicles reported stolen in 2023.

Thieves are becoming ever more brazen, emboldened by the weak security measures in place at most dealerships and the ease with which they can resell vehicles or expensive components without consequence. 

This crime epidemic is creating huge liability and profitability concerns across the automotive industry, but what practical steps can be taken to prevent dealership theft?

The security experts at LotGuard outline below several proven strategies for reducing crime at dealerships and vehicle storage facilities based on our extensive experience securing some of the country's largest dealerships. 

Understanding the Security Challenges Facing Auto Dealerships

Dealerships are almost exclusively unique in that their security challenges stem from their wide-open layouts and the need to have their most valuable inventory sat in the open. 

This makes preventing crimes such as theft and vandalism significantly more challenging than at businesses where goods can be locked away, and where perimeter fences can be installed. 

The key security threats affecting auto dealerships include: 

After-Hours Theft

In common with most commercial business crime, the majority of thefts at auto dealerships occur after hours, with criminals taking advantage of lower lighting conditions and unstaffed premises. 

Figures from the NICB (National Insurance Crime Bureau) show that 73% of vehicle thefts occur during nighttime hours.

A recent notable example involves a dealership in Shreveport, LA, which was hit for 22 vehicles. Although 11 of these vehicles were quickly recovered, the others remained at large, at huge cost and inconvenience to the dealership.

Vandalism

One of the most frustrating crimes to affect any commercial organization is vandalism. The wanton destruction of property without cause or purpose at huge business expense is a mindless and inexplicable crime that serves no purpose. 

From tire slashing, paint scratching, spray painting, and smashed windscreens, a quick search on any local news site throws up multiple instances of vandalism occurring at dealerships, most without motive, and, tellingly, little evidence of who the suspects may be. 

This was the reality faced by a dealership in North Huntingdon, PA, where 12 brand-new vehicles had their hoods scratched by an unidentified criminal without any probable cause.

Key Theft

Criminals are also known to target onsite safes in the hopes of accessing car keys. 

A luxury car dealership in Alabama was hit by the double whammy of 8 vehicles being stolen alongside more than 330 keys. 

Police reports indicated that the criminals had disabled the locally installed fixed security camera network once they had gained access to the dealership, drawing attention to the limitations of passive video recording devices.

Lot Intrusions

Due to the open nature of car dealerships, it can be almost child's play for vandals or thieves to access your lots. 

The Bureau of Justice recently released statistics indicating that unauthorized intrusions to restricted areas had risen by 15% in the last five years, highlighting the need for heightened preventative security measures. 

Understanding the most common crimes that affect car dealerships is the first vital step in mitigating these activities. 

Multi-Layered Security: Physical and Tech-Based Solutions

The key theft example at the Alabama dealership referenced above shows that having just one form of security, especially a passive recording device, is not enough to deter the sophisticated criminals that target high-end vehicles. 

Nor, in many cases, is it enough to dissuade the mindless individuals who engage in the destruction of property without rhyme or reason.

At LotGuard, we trust in the effectiveness of our mobile surveillance trailers as a standalone security solution for many reasons, Firstly, they are backed by live video monitoring, which acts as an early warning system should anyone illegal intrude on your property. 

Secondly, they are 20ft tall, equipped with flashing lights and sirens, and feature voice-down audio - all of which combine to deter 99% of criminals. 

For the rest, we dispatch local law enforcement or private security patrols to handle the situation. 

However, alongside our proactive video surveillance setup, there are other security steps we recommend:

Perimeter Fencing

High-quality fences will provide a level of added protection for your dealership lots and help to deter some low-level unauthorized access. 

The challenge with perimeter fences is that it doesn't take a significant amount of effort to breach one, and once they have been breached, a fence can provide any alert that somebody is intruding on our premises. 

From an immediate physical barrier and visual presence perspective, fences can be a great solution, but they are not a true security solution and should not be considered your only form of defense. 

External Lighting

External lighting can have pros and cons. You will see many recommendations to light up your lots as much as possible as criminals typically like to operate in darkness. 

On the face of it, this is sensible advice, and at LotGuard we understand why this recommendation is made. 

The other consideration, though, is that external lighting can actually assist criminals in identifying exactly what valuable inventory you have on-site and help them plot their ideal route through your lots as they steal or vandalize your assets.

Additionally, if you are utilizing security or surveillance cameras that provide infrared imaging and use advanced technology such as thermal detection or AI video analytics, bright external lights can sometimes reduce the effectiveness of these systems.

The nuances here are one of the key reasons we recommend trusting your security only to a professional organization that can help you find a solution ideally tailored to your specific needs.

Safes and Strongboxes

We have noted the example above where thieves took over 330 car keys from a dealership during a breaking, which highlights the need to keep these, to coin a phrase, under lock and key. 

High-quality key safes and strongboxes will deliver an additional layer of protection against this sophisticated crime type.

Surveillance Cameras

Given the example above from the Alabama dealership, where criminals were able to reactive security cameras and wipe the devices hard drives, it's important to note the clear distinction between a security camera, and a surveillance camera.

A security camera is the type of device you purchase from Home Depot, Walmart, or Amazon. They are passive recording cameras that capture video footage for retrospective reviews of events that occur (unless the criminals wipe them first!).

These devices are only slightly more effective than a perimeter fence in that they do not give determined criminals much pause for thought. 

That's why LotGuard's surveillance trailers are backed by 24/7 live monitoring from a team of security personnel who can take immediate action if an intruder is spotted at your premises. 

The Role of Mobile Surveillance Trailers

The advent of solar surveillance trailers as a key solution for security at car dealerships can be attributed to the many benefits they provide. 

Imagine arriving at your dealership each morning and finding every vehicle exactly where you left it: untouched, undamaged, and ready for sale. 

That's the peace of mind that mobile surveillance trailers backed by professional video monitoring services can provide. 

The mobile surveillance trailers aren't just another security tool; they are an all-in-one crime prevention solution - always awake, always on guard, and ready to protect your lots.

They offer a perfect blend of technological sophistication and simplicity of use:

• Rapid Deployment: Solar surveillance trailers are essentially a drop-and-go security system; whenever you need to ramp up your security, either for temporary needs or longer-term surveillance, they can be installed in minutes without any intensive labor 

• Autonomous Operation: Solar power means you don't need fixed power on site to operate a surveillance trailer, and cellular-based video transmission means there's no need to hook cameras up to your onsite Wi-Fi or internet. This self-contained operation makes solar surveillance trailers an attractive option from a convenience perspective, but it also means there are no cables for criminals to cut or tamper with the system in any way and wipe the hard drive.

• Visible Deterrent: At 20ft tall, adorned with flashing lights, sirens, and horn speakers, most criminals will take one look at a surveillance trailer and reconsider everything they had planned for your dealership. We stop criminals in their tracks.

• High-Quality Video: In almost every example we've highlighted of dealership crimes, there are no suspects, no leads, and no evidence. The high-quality cameras on LotGuard's solar surveillance trailers mean that in the unfortunate event your dealerships get hit, video evidence will be available. No grainy images here, just crystal clear footage day or night, rain or shine. 

Surveillance trailers are much more than a collection of features and technology, their true value is the ongoing reassurance they provide that you are secured. 

You can focus on running your dealership, serving your customers, and growing your business - without the threat of theft and vandalism compromising your future. 

Choosing the Right Security Partner for Dealership Security

We outlined earlier how it is of vital importance to partner with the right security firm that can help you identify the most effective setup tailored to your individual needs, but the point is worth emphasizing in more detail.

Choosing a security partner is more than just a business decision; it's about establishing a relationship with a company that understands what's at stake. 

Your vehicle inventory represents countless hours of investment, hard work, and commitment - it deserves to be protected by someone who cares just as much as you do.

When it comes to dealership security, LotGuard is the partner you've been searching for. We do much more than camera systems. We have developed a comprehensive managed service designed to provide you with the peace of mind to focus on the day job while we take care of security. 

We understand that every dealership is different and that every challenge is unique. We take the time to understand everything we can about your requirements before we suggest a solution. 

Here's how we stand by you:

Comprehensive Service

From quote to installation, we handle everything for you - equipment installation, connectivity, maintenance, live video monitoring, and ongoing US-based technical support.

When you partner with LotGuard, you never have to handle security alone. 

Customizable Solutions

No two dealerships are alike, so neither are our security setups. Whether you have one site or multiple locations, whether you need to protect additional vehicle storage facilities, we will create a custom security plan that's right for you.

Proven Experience

LotGuard has almost 25 years of experience providing mobile video surveillance technology, and we work with dealerships across the US.

We understand what makes your business tick, and we understand the crimes that you face - we are your partners in a more secure future.

Budget Efficient Security That Doesn't Compromise Quality

Security solutions are a critical investment for your business, but they don't have to break the bank. 

Likewise, systems that are budget-efficient in comparison to legacy solutions don't have to compromise on effectiveness or results. 

Think about the expense of hiring on-site guards. They might patrol your lot, but they can’t be everywhere at once, and the costs add up quickly.

Fixed camera systems? They require infrastructure, ongoing maintenance, and still leave you with blind spots.

Solar surveillance trailers from LotGuard bridge the gap between low cost and high impact by offering round the clock surveillance, lower operating costs, and a flat monthly rental fee with no hidden costs for weekend or holiday coverage. 

Summary: Take Control of Dealership Security

Securing your dealerships and/or vehicle storage units doesn't have to be complex or costly. Understanding the key security threats you're likely to encounter, implementing a layered security protocol, and partnering with a seurity expert like LotGuard will help you mitigate theft and vandalism. 

If you're ready to take the next step to better car dealership security, we're just a short contact form away.