How Detroit Caught 60 Criminals In 6 Weeks At Construction Sites

Case study on how outdoor video alarm systems prevent lots of crime and security system false alarms.

Due to the recession, the city of Detroit closed lots of its public schools in 2009. As the old schools were scheduled for remodeling or demolition, reports of vandalism and theft began to pop up.

Like most cities, the school construction sites in Detroit were easy targets for crime. That’s because the only thing that’s typically standing between a criminal and valuable property at a construction site is a fence.

According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, close to $1 billion are lost every year because of theft and vandalism at construction sites.

In Detroit and other parts of the country, this billion-dollar problem extends well beyond construction sites.

Businesses and organizations all across the country are looking for cost-effective ways to protect property at outdoor sites.

• In cities: Local businesses are looking for ways to protect vacant buildings and stores.

• In neighborhoods: Schools and churches are looking for ways to protect against vandalism.

• In rural areas: Local farms are looking for ways to protect equipment and anhydrous tanks.

So what’s the solution?

Back in Detroit, the city found a cost-effective answer to this problem thanks to Videofied. This security system manufacturer designs outdoor video alarm systems that decrease false alarms and improve police response times from a few hours to a few minutes.

When the city of Detroit started using the Videofied system, there were 60 arrests made within the first six weeks of use. The construction sites are no longer targets for vandals and thieves. Here’s how it happened.

How Videofied Works

Detroit saw a significant reduction in property crime because the Videofied system catches criminals in the act.

The average police response time to a standard security alarm is anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour. With Videofied, police in Detroit respond immediately. Here’s why:

• Motion Detection: When motion is detected, security cameras are activated.

• Video Recording: A 10-second video is recorded and sent to a monitoring station.

• Monitoring Station: If the monitoring station sees criminal activity on the video, police immediately are notified.

This innovate process catches criminal acts while they’re happening. Because the criminal act is verified, police will immediately respond.

This verification process also eliminates false alarms, saving your company from hundreds and sometimes even thousands of dollars in fines.

How Businesses Are Using Videofied To Protect Property

Here’s what helped Detroit police make 60 arrests in six weeks and protected the school construction sites.

Videofied security systems can be set up just about anywhere. That’s because the security system uses wireless signals.

Whether it’s on the streets of Detroit or on a farm in rural California, there are no limits. The system can operate up to four years on one set of batteries. It also can work in extreme temperatures (-20 degrees F to +140 degrees F).

Here are some other areas where outdoor video alarm systems can successfully be used:

• Construction Sites: Protecting against copper, tools and machinery theft.
• Stores And Restaurants: Protecting against vandalism and theft in outdoor areas.
• Schools And Churches: Protecting against afterhours vandalism around school and church property.
• Farms: Protecting against theft of farming equipment and anhydrous tanks.
• Utility Companies: Protecting power stations from people stealing copper and other precious metals.
• Events: Protecting outdoor festivals and events where temporary security is needed afterhours.

These are just some of the areas you can use this system. Because the system is wireless, it can be used just about anywhere.

What Type Of Results Are Businesses Getting?

There are success stories all over the country involving outdoor video alarm systems.

As noted earlier, the city of Detroit saw 60 arrests in six weeks. To date, the number of arrests has expanded to more than 100. Here are some other success stories:

• In California, a gang was stealing thousands of solar panels from wineries across Napa Valley. The crime spree had cost businesses more than $400,000. When police installed the outdoor video alarm system, they were able to catch the gang of thieves.

• In Arizona, an outdoor video alarm system was responsible for 40 arrests in four months.

• In Georgia, a roofing company had more than $23,000 of goods of stolen. After getting an outdoor video alarm system, police were alerted during the next heist. The thieves were scared away and the company has not had any thefts since.

The Security Mistakes You Don’t Want To Make

For every story of success, there are stories where the criminal is never caught. Property is lost. And businesses learn valuable lessons.

Here are some security mistakes you won’t want to make if you’re looking to protect property in a remote area or at an outdoor site.

• You Rely On Fences: A fence is a great first line of defense for protecting a construction site or anything outdoors. However, it’s easy for criminals to break through this first line of defense.

• You Use Security Lighting: Security lighting is great for areas where people are nearby. But security lighting doesn’t make a difference in remote areas where no one is around.

• You Get Guard Dogs: Dogs are better as pets. Keeping aggressive dogs on the site that you want to protect is a liability. The dogs could get lose and bite someone. It’s a lawsuit waiting to happen.

• You Hire A Guard Service: Guard services give the appearance of protection. However many services do not stay on the site the entire time. They have other locations to monitor. Guard services that stay on site the entire time are very expensive.

• You Use Indoor Security Equipment: Indoor surveillance cameras and DVR equipment can be very expensive to protect an outdoor location for a short period of time. It’s also very difficult to install on remote sites.

Avoiding these mistakes will keep your property safe and help you avoid a lot of headaches down the road.

What Are The Benefits Of Outdoor Video Alarm Systems

There are several important reasons why you should consider using an outdoor video alarm system. These reasons include:

• Quick Response Time: Because a central monitoring station watches video feeds 24/7, police are immediately notified of criminal activities. This improves police response time from hours to minutes.

• No False Alarm Fines: Because a central monitoring station is viewing the triggered alarms via video feeds, police will not be dispatched to false alarms. This saves your company money in fines that you would accumulate with standard security systems.

• Easy Installation: These systems are easy to relocate and install. There are no wires and installation can be done faster than traditional indoor security systems. This ensures your site will be protected as soon as possible.

• Reasonable Price: In comparison to other security options, using an outdoor video alarm system is a much more cost-effective option than using standard security equipment or hiring a guard service.

You Can Do This

It is possible to find an outdoor video alarm system that fits your budget. These systems are flexible and easy to use.

Whether you need an outdoor video alarm system for a construction site, a farm or a neighborhood event, you can’t go wrong with this type of security system.

It even has the backing of the National Sheriffs’ Association.

The National Sheriffs’ Association endorsed Videofied’s outdoor video alarm system. In their report, the association said the Videofied system is one of the most reliable outdoor video alarm systems on the market. The report also said Videofied significantly reduces property crime.

We’re Here To Answer Your Questions

At Hue & Cry Security Systems, we have been helping businesses protect their property for years.

We have extensive experience keeping businesses safe and we’d be happy to answer any questions you have on outdoor video alarm systems.

Feel free to call us at 1-800-762-3196 if you’d like to learn more about outdoor video alarm systems. You can also contact us 24/7 on the Hue & Cry Contact Page.

Also don’t forget to become a fan on the Hue & Cry Facebook Page. There’s lots of exclusive information to help keep your business safe.