Protecting Vehicles and Garages with Park Surveillance: The Future of Parking Security
Parking garages are convenient, but they come with risks. From vandalism and theft to door dings and hit-and-runs, vehicle owners and garages face a range of potential damages. Unfortunately, many of these incidents are unresolved due to a lack of video evidence.
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Driver Benefits
Insurance Claims
Theft and Vandalism Protection Operator Benefits
Security and Liability Protection
Customer Confidence
Operational Efficiency and Data Insights
Protecting Drivers and Their Property
With as many as two thirds of drivers admitting to distracted driving in parking facilities, it’s no wonder accidents occur frequently. Without camera-based evidence, parking garage incidents are frequently unresolved, leaving car owners to deal with the financial and emotional burden. Issues commonly faced by drivers who park in facilities with limited or no monitoring in place include:
- Lack of evidence for insurance purposes: Every year, thousands of drivers return to their parked cars only to find damage—with no information on who caused it. According to a study by ValuePenguin, nearly 70% of drivers who experience damage in parking facilities never discover the cause. When the responsible party is unknown, insurance companies often require the victim to pay the deductible, and in many instances, the claim can result in increased premiums.
- Theft and vandalism: Parking garages are frequent targets for car break-ins and vandalism like keying or broken windows. Without proper surveillance of parking spaces, these crimes often go unresolved, leaving drivers with costly repairs or insurance claims. Many traditional parking facilities lack cameras covering individual parking spaces, making it difficult to identify perpetrators or recover stolen property. This lack of security can make drivers feel unsafe and hesitant to park in certain locations, ultimately impacting their overall experience.
Thankfully, with modern technology these concerns and risks can be significantly limited. The Park Assist Solution, an Automated Parking Guidance System (APGS), from TKH Security utilizes smart-sensors with HD cameras to monitor parking, space by space, and provide increased security. An optional advanced feature known as Park Surveillance can be integrated to enhance safety even further. By integrating Park Surveillance, these sensors record high-definition streaming video whenever motion is detected, or continuously, in and around parking spaces. This comprehensive coverage offers a unique vantage point, enabling the system to capture incidents such as vandalism, theft, or accidents in and between parking spaces—locations often overlooked by traditional security cameras.The footage is stored and downloadable for up to 90 days. The recordings are invaluable for investigating incidents, supporting insurance claims, and deterring criminal activity, thereby ensuring a safer environment throughout the garage for both vehicles and their owners.
Proof in Insurance Claims
Park Surveillance technology relies on high-tech cameras that can continuously monitor in and between parking spaces. This level of coverage provides invaluable evidence for drivers facing insurance claims. For example, in this video, our HD camera on the smart sensor captures incredibly detailed video footage so crisp that license plate numbers and faces need to be blurred to protect personal information. When faced with a hit-and-run incident, this kind of evidence can prove crucial for insurance purposes and identifying the offender.
In situations where the at-fault driver is identified, insurance companies may seek reimbursement from the offender’s insurance. This can make a significant difference for vehicle owners who would otherwise bear the financial burden of someone else’s mistake. But identification is the key, and that’s where traditional security measures fall short. With space-by-space monitoring and integrated license plate recognition (LPR), vehicle owners no longer have to rely on witness reports or blurry CCTV footage, the Park Assist Solution ensures a reliable record.
Protection Against Theft and Vandalism
Since each smart sensor has up to two HD CMOS digital cameras, an APGS with Park Surveillance records every monitored parking space, continuously or when motion is detected. Unlike traditional security systems that may only place cameras near elevators or stairwells (leaving most of the garage unmonitored) our single space parking sensors are installed in the parking garage at regular intervals above the driving lane, with each sensor covering up to six spaces. This ensures comprehensive coverage for monitored spaces, significantly increasing the likelihood of identifying thieves and vandals after a crime has occurred. And with an APGS, garages can provide authorities and insurance companies with crystal-clear footage, making it easier to hold offenders accountable.
Beyond providing evidence, the mere presence of highly visible and well-distributed HD cameras acts as a powerful deterrent. Criminals are far less likely to target vehicles in garages equipped with a camera-based parking management system, knowing that their actions are being recorded in real-time. This proactive approach not only protects individual vehicle owners but also contributes to overall garage security, making parking facilities safer for everyone.
“The Park Assist Solution with Park Surveillance has significantly enhanced our coverage in our garages and has proven to be instrumental in providing a full scope of events during incidents such as thefts, accidents, vandalism, or vehicle break-ins. Traditional parking garage setups often lacked adequate coverage across all areas, resulting in unsubstantiated claims due to insufficient coverage,” said Margarito Chavez, Assistant Director of Surveillance, Southern California Casino.
A Transformative Shift in Operations with Park Surveillance
For parking facility operators, security is more than just an added perk, it’s an essential factor in customer satisfaction and risk management. An APGS with Park Surveillance enhances safety, improves the garage’s reputation, and helps mitigate liability concerns, ultimately creating a more profitable and trusted parking environment.
Enhanced Security and Liability Protection
For parking facility operators, implementing Park Surveillance enhances safety, improves customer trust, and minimizes liability risks. A well-monitored garage reduces crime and discourages reckless behavior. Garages equipped with Park Surveillance technology could benefit from reduced liability insurance costs since they can provide clear evidence. According to U.S. Risk Insurance Group, proper surveillance and liability mitigation strategies are crucial for parking management.
“Our Park Assist system has been an invaluable asset to our operations, providing substantial support in several key areas. It has enabled us to effectively disprove false claims made by guests alleging their vehicles were stolen from the parking garage. Additionally, it has proven essential in verifying property damage claims and investigating instances of criminal activity,” said Liberty De La Cruz, Surveillance Manager, Southern California Casino.
Using Park Surveillance, facility managers can provide law enforcement and insurance companies with high-quality HD footage, recorded in real-time, expediting investigations and reducing the time spent handling disputes. This means fewer fraudulent claims, quicker resolutions, and an overall more efficient parking operation. By reducing legal exposure and creating a safer environment, parking operators can ensure smoother daily operations and a lower risk of costly lawsuits.
“Our technology has assisted clients in saving hundreds of thousands of dollars by providing crisp video evidence of incidents in their parking facilities. Last month, one of my clients was able to quickly dismiss a fraudulent damage claim regarding a parked vehicle because they had a clear recording of what happened,” said Jeff Sparrow, Director of Sales, North America.
Increased Customer Confidence
A parking facility that prioritizes safety and security attracts more customers. When drivers know their vehicles are protected, they are more likely to choose garages equipped with HD camera monitored spaces. This trust translates to increased usage and revenue for parking operators, making an APGS with Park Surveillance an investment in both safety and profitability.
Beyond increased patronage, security also plays a role in long-term customer retention. Drivers who have experienced incidents in unmonitored garages are far less likely to return. If drivers are regularly parking overnight (for example, in mixed-use settings), their car insurance rates may even be affected based on the security features of the parking facility they use. In contrast, facilities with an APGS offer a level of protection that fosters loyalty.
An APGS does more than monitor spaces—it also provides valuable data that can optimize facility management. By analyzing footage, garage trends, and usage reports, operators can identify high-risk areas, improve traffic flow, and make informed decisions on infrastructure and business improvements. This proactive approach allows garages to streamline operations.
“We have experienced a transformative shift. The system allows us to track the duration of a vehicle’s stay in a specific spot and monitor its movement if it relocates. This capability has proven instrumental in addressing criminal activities beyond our property and has greatly supported local law enforcement in their investigations,” said De La Cruz.
Using the APGS software, INX, parking operators can remotely monitor parking facilities and swiftly respond to incidents if needed.
“The INX platform has been a valuable tool in our investigative processes. It offers features like the ability to search for the length of stay of vehicles of interest. This helps you identify patterns in the dates these vehicles or Persons of Interest (POIs) tend to frequent,” said Chavez.
The Future of Parking Security
Combine an APGS with Park Surveillance and the days of mystery damage in parking garages are coming to an end. This essential combination provides peace of mind for vehicle owners, strengthens security for parking operators, and prevents fraudulent claims with undeniable evidence. Whether it’s catching hit-and-run drivers or improving the overall parking experience, TKH Security’s parking guidance system is shaping the future of parking management solutions.
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