The Dangers to Beachfront Parking Lots and How to Secure Yours

There were 2.9 billion US beach visits in 2019 and popularity has only increased in recent years, with some now desperately in need of more parking lot facilities to manage the influx of visitors.

However, due to various factors there have been an increase in security risks faced by beachfront parking lots, all of which could impact both owners and those using the facilities.

What Are the Security Risks to Beachfront Parking Lots?

Like with any parking lot and business, there have been major changes within the country which have changed the way it works and for those living here. 

Factors such as, the cost of living, environmental issues, and global politics all have impacts, even if they are indirect to you. 

For beachfront parking lots there are three main security risks:

A Rise in Homeless Encampments at the Beachfront

Although there have been recent crackdowns on encampments in public spaces such as, at Dockweiler beach, there are still a large number of unhoused individuals in the US with this only expected to increase. 

In 2023, a record high of 256,610 people who were experiencing homelessness were unsheltered. Where individuals are unsheltered, this means they will seek shelter in public spaces, even with sweeps now being legal here.

In states where there are beaches, this provides large, open space for homeless encampments to form which can pose security risks to the surrounding parking lots. Issues such as thefts, vandalism, violent crime, and drug usage may become more prevalent in these instances. 

There are three main risks to parking lots due to this:

• Security risks to vehicles - Increased risk of car and personal property theft, as well as vandalism.
• Increased risks to those utilizing the parking lot - Violent crimes and car accidents may become more common.
• Reduced visitors - Parking lots are often paid and if faced with increased security risks, beachgoers may choose to park elsewhere. 

Vehicle or Personal Property Theft and Vandalism

In general parking lots are prime targets for crime, particularly theft and vandalism, whether this be your vehicle or personal property.

Parking lots are often vast in size and offer great hiding opportunities for criminals, with many beachgoers unlikely to be close to their vehicle. This provides more chances for car crime to be carried out with less concern.

As beaches attract visitors there are many individuals that will be unaware of the risks and how to protect their vehicles, providing criminals with an advantage. 

Due to such a large influx of visitors daily, even in the daytime there are risks for such crime as the high-volume of vehicles and large space make it difficult to have security coverage of the parking lot 24/7. 

Environmental Damage

Over the years, the environmental changes have become more impactful globally and within the US. This includes impacting beaches due to an increase in stronger winds, dangerous waves, and erosion.

Aggressive waves can also bring wildlife and dangerous goods onto shore which could endanger those visiting the beach, their personal property, and any nearby vehicles. 

For beachfront parking lots, the location is ideal for the perfect beach day as visitors do not have to travel too far from their vehicle to the beach, however, this does increase the risk of facing environmental damage. 

Overall, local authorities will tend to inform you of any environmental changes that could endanger individuals or the local area, however, changes can occur quickly and sometimes without any warning. 

Issues such as erosion can occur with no prior knowledge and the aggressiveness of waves can develop rapidly, all of which could impact your parking lot.

As beachfront parking lots are often close to the beach, this places them at a chance for environmental damage, including those vehicles within it. 

Where vehicles and your parking lot are damaged, this can be costly to you depending on any compensation and repairs that may be required.

The Impact of Poor Parking Lot Security Management 

Beachfront parking lots face unique risks and keeping them secure can be complicated, however, poor security management could only make it worse. 

For owners and those responsible for parking lots, it is in your interest to maintain its protection and prevent any criminal activity, especially for those utilizing your facilities.

By not doing so you could face financial implications and lose business if regular incidents occur or a lack of security is present there. 

Poor customer experience can have a large impact on the functionality and running of your parking lot, therefore keeping security central is vital in maintaining a good reputation amongst the community. 

Speak with one of our parking lot security specialists

How to Secure Your Beachfront Parking Lot

In order to maintain a good-working parking lot with a positive reputation that facilitates beachgoers with ease, there are four steps that can be taken to help prevent the risks presented to them:

Add Signage

Signage is often used in most parking lots to communicate instructions, warnings, and any prohibitions. 

As beachfront parking lots have unique risks that other places may not be faced with, you should consider what needs to be included within your signage. 

The implementation of signage is designed to deter crime and prevent unauthorized access, therefore including information on the punishments for criminal activity with specific implications for this may be effective. 

Remember that parking lots cover large surface areas, therefore signage needs to be visible across the full parking lot. To cover your basis, you may require multiple signs situated across various points of the parking lot. 

Implement a Surveillance System

There are multiple ways to improve the safety of your parking lot, however, implementing a surveillance system is considered to be the most effective method to use for this.

Surveillance systems provide multiple security benefits such as, crime deterrence, live monitoring, and evidence gathering, all of which are beneficial for high-crime areas such as parking lots. 

For beachfront parking lots where there is high risk of vehicle and personal property theft and an increased chance of unauthorized access due to encampments forming, a surveillance solution will help to cover the varied issues they are presented with.

With LotGuard, we offer Surveillance Trailers designed to support the specific security needs of parking lots. Their rapid deployment capabilities allow for quick setup and provide portability for you to safely adjust the position yourself if required. 

Once deployed the Trailer stands at 20 ft high, with aims to deter crime, whilst offering high-quality live security monitoring 24/7 without the need for any internet connection. 

This monitoring works to prevent criminal activity by utilizing remote monitoring to assess threats and respond appropriately with sirens, blue lights, and voice-down audio to have maximum impact. 

Although not all incidents can be stopped, we ensure you are covered every step of the way by gathering crystal clear imagery for evidence if required for legal proceedings in future. 

Create Weather Defense Barriers

Coastal areas will likely have weather defenses in place as tides can vary and those in charge of the state are responsible to prevent damage from this, however, this does not stop you taking action yourself. 

Placing a small concrete barrier at the front of the parking lot facing the coast and potential around the sides may help with strong weather conditions such as high tide and debris caused by strong winds.

Also in emergencies, sandbags and other temporary measures may need to be considered if safe to do so as a method to protect the structure of the parking lot and any vehicles located in it. 

Access Control 

Parking lots need to be easily accessible to allow the traffic to flow as needed, however, with beachfront parking lots facing higher risks of unauthorized access, you need to manage the security of this as best as possible.

Implementing a surveillance system and signage is the best form of access control for parking lots as fencing or other forms of security could prevent those with access from entering it as needed. 

With the LotGuard PRO Surveillance Trailer you can even add the additional feature of License Plate Recognition (LPR) which helps to track those entering and exiting the car park if any vehicle incidents occur such as vehicle or personal property theft. 

As mentioned, signage can also be used to warn about the implication individuals can face through committing crimes within your parking lot.

Boost Your Beachfront Parking Lot’s Security Today

Any beachfront business owner would welcome visitors and residents to the beach as it helps support local businesses financially including parking lots. 

However, to maintain a good flow of visitors to your parking lot you must uphold your reputation, and without strong security management, this could be lost quicker than you think.

With over 20 years in supporting businesses with parking lot security, LotGuard’s security solutions work to support the security needs specific to you and understand the best way to do this. 

Looking to boost your beachfront parking lot security? Speak with one of our surveillance experts today about how we can support you and your parking lot's needs.

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