Dealerships present a complex security challenge for multiple reasons. Dealerships stock high-end models for the public to see, and thus are placing high-value assets out in the open, where theft and damage can occur. This approach is imperative to the success of their business as open and customer-friendly venues attract and invite buyers; so, virtually no dealerships have fences or barriers to prevent access. They also have indoor and outdoor areas that require security including repair depots, show rooms, service bays, paint shops, and more. While car dealerships invite customers to browse, they also need to seek protection from unauthorized personnel accessing the site after hours.
Auto dealership owners must strike the right balance between serving customers and operational costs associated with protecting their business and assets. On-site security guards may seem like an effective option, but the added costs of paying salaries, benefits, and providing the necessary equipment to effectively respond can add up quickly. Further, human error, constant monitoring, and personnel risk add to the cost of this approach.
A typical CCTV system with a DVR or NVR might record a crime, but not actively alarm and alert the proper authorities to prevent a crime. In many localities, visual verification of a threat is also required even before police are dispatched. So the typical auto dealership might have appropriate security to provide forensic evidence after a crime, but why not employ pro-active preventative measures to prevent a crime? Auto dealerships should have an effective & reliable security system for the lowest possible cost to support their business model.
A trigger for the security monitoring not at the perimeter but when a showroom glass window is broken, setting off motion detectors, is was way too late — significant damage and crime has already occurred.
The Xtralis solution for perimeter protection provides early detection at the edge of a property with intrusion detection. Using few security cameras and video content analytics (VCA) running on a Remotely Managed Multi-service Gateway (RMG) will detect and alarm for perimeter intrusion threats with great reliability to allow for preventative action. Xtralis claims that its detection solution is a true electronic first responder; with audio talk-down from a remote location many threats can be eliminated before they escalate. In extreme circumstances, Xtralis solutions also assist police and first responders with real-time visual situational intelligence.
There are a variety of detection capabilities on the market. Xtralis’ is based on testing on thousands of hours of actual footage, ranging from environmental, seasonal, and time of day variations to ensure analytics achieve low false alarm rates while maintaining high detection probability and reliability. The Xtralis video content analytics employed in the Xtralis IntrusionTrace engine is i-LIDS certified as a primary detection system for operational alert in sterile zone monitoring applications. This standard, for Intelligent Detection Systems (i-LIDS) is the UK government’s benchmark for video analytics (VA) systems. It has been developed by the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) with the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). IntrusionTrace is deployed worldwide for the primary protection of perimeters. The i-LIDS certification for IntrusionTrace is a badge of excellence in security. Xtralis solutions have maintained this certification for over ten years.
Protecting car dealerships is complex because the system has to be immune to false alarms associated with swaying vegetation, flags, clouds, animals, insects, and more. Xtralis says that its IntrusionTrace delivers the highest rate of detection combined with the lowest rate of false alarms. Xtralis also offers LoiterTrace, a video analytic to detect unauthorized loitering in a protected zone. LoiterTrace has seen deployments in car dealerships in Europe.
Once the intruder has been detected by intrusion detection, transmission of the alarm and visual verification is imperative to establish the threat, evaluate the situation, and deliver the appropriate response. An Xtralis RMG with IntrusionTrace and LoiterTrace analytics delivers early detection and ensures reliable transmission of the threat event to a remote monitoring station. Depending on the RMG selected, a system can scale up to 32 IP HD cameras with up to 32 channels of analytics running simultaneously.
ACI Protection (www.aciprotection.com), a US security company and central monitoring station that protects car dealerships throughout the United States, uses Xtralis solutions to provide detection, visual verification, and remote response. The system enables operators to act as soon as a potential threat is detected. Each operator can support multiple dealerships, because they don’t need to constantly view surveillance cameras waiting for a threat event to occur; IntrusionTrace alarms and directs them to the appropriate site and camera viewing the scene. The operators can visually verify the threat and remotely warn off the intruder with audio talk-back. Potential intruders can be notified in real-time that they are being watched and that the police have been informed and are enroute. In most cases, the intruders leave the premises upon hearing the audio warning – preventing the crime.
Another aspect to consider is the remote monitoring and situational awareness. Xtralis provides applications for smartphones and tablets to monitor & manage a site from anywhere in the world. ADPRO iTrace for Apple and Android devices enables a user to connect to a site and display live camera views from an RMG in addition to event views, bi-directional audio capability, and commands for opening/closing doors, turning on/off lights, etc. ADPRO iRespond for Apple devices provides remote event notification and verification for first responders and site owners to provide situational awareness. Visit www.xtralis.com/cardealership.
