Written by: Jon Kromroy
A few years ago, I worked as a GM responsible for thousands of vehicles in inventory. Truth be told, I took security very lightly. We were fortunate to be in an upscale area surrounded by other auto businesses that also had little theft. While we performed the basics, we did not go out of our way for crime prevention. One stormy night, lightning struck. My business had been taken at a loss for thousands of dollars. The following week was one of the worst weeks in my career. Police reports, interviews, video footage, public news broadcasts and being cast into the limelight made me a sleepless wreck.
Finding a Solution
Quickly we began a search to increase our security, with the hopes of never feeling vulnerable again. We wanted to make the right choice and feel confident it would bring a stop to future crime on our property. I reached out to industry peers who all seemed to have security problems as well. CCTV could not stop the criminals and police could do nothing to pursue someone even if the image was clear enough. Guards couldn’t stop crime either.
Help from a Stranger
In the end, it took an unsolicited email to point me in the right direction. The email went like this:
“We recently heard about your unfortunate events of crime on property. Threats exist everywhere. They will continue to exist and they will continue to evolve, but luckily there are some tried and true methods to lock down your assets that will continue to make your auto dealership a hard target for thieves.
- Use a fencing system or other barrier controls
- Use gates that can be locked
- Leave padlocks in closed position at all times, so they are not switched out
- Motion-detection cameras that relay to a central control station. Remote Guarding
- Use block parking at the end of aisles and all entries
- Park vehicle with emergency brake on and wheels sharply turned to make it difficult to tow
- Use wheel and tailgate locks
- Keep landscaping well-trimmed
- Post security and no trespassing signs
- Maintain all lighting for the building
- Have a diligent key control system
- Inventory count daily
If you would like assistance in implementation of these and more security methods I am available to speak with you”.
Peace of Mind
I was hooked, and what I learned from hiring this security professional to advise me on the right direction to take was invaluable. In the end, I selected a service that let me sleep at night. To my knowledge, even after several years of being separated from my GM gig, I hear my choice in protection has stopped many crimes from occurring.
Coming full circle in life as we often do, I remembered the confidence the security professional gave me in securing my assets. I was still hooked years later. So much so, that I pursued a career in crime prevention consulting and advice countless professionals in the same manner I was advised years ago.
Security methods are nearly endless. A good security consultant will know what your business needs after a forensic analysis. Get help, shut the criminals down and save yourself do it right the first time.
Jon Kromroy is a Regional Director at Elite Interactive Solutions with years of experience securing auto dealerships. Email Jon at jkromroy@eliteisi.com to learn more about Remote Guarding security solutions. You can also find Jon on LinkedIn by clicking here.