Airport parking lots, both on-site and off-site, offer incredible convenience to travelers who don’t want to fuss with waiting on an Uber or juggling luggage on public transit to get to the airport. But airport parking lots have a huge problem – theft due to a lack of proper perimeter security.
According to FBI statistics, 1/3 of total violent crimes happen in parking lots and garages.
This statistic isn’t just bad for the public, but for airport parking lot owners, too. When a crime happens on your lot, you can bet that your reputation, business, and profits will take a nose dive as well. After all, your business runs on the expectation that you’ll keep your patrons’ vehicles safe.
Car theft is on the rise. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, vehicle theft jumped more than 16% between 2020 and 2021.
The most stolen vehicles in 2020 were Ford and Chevy pickup trucks. Coming in second was the Honda Civic. If you have these cars parked on your lot, that makes your lot a hotter target for car thieves.
Other Crimes At Airport Parking Lots
Vehicle theft may be the most costly property crime that can happen at your airport parking lot facility, but it’s not the only crime that can ruin your business’s reputation. Airport parking lots are also hot spots for:
- Catalytic converter theft
- Break-ins
- Vandalism
- Parts theft, such as stealing rims and tires
- Sexual assault
Light the Way to Better Security With Lot Lighting
One of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent crime at your airport parking lot is to install ample lot lighting. Criminals depend on the cover of darkness to commit their crimes. Dark lots give criminals the leverage they need to access your lot, grab what (or who) they came for.
75% of Commercial Burglaries Are Committed at Properties That Lack Adequate Security Lighting.
Lot lighting is a psychological deterrent. While it can’t physically keep criminals off your property like an electric fence can, lot lighting makes criminals think twice before entering your property because they know there’s a higher chance that they’ll be seen, police will be called, and they’ll be apprehended.
And when you combine lot security lighting with a video monitoring system, criminals are even leerier of commit a crime. Criminals know there will be video evidence to help find and convict them.
Protect Your Business With AMAROK
Airport Parking Lot Lighting Solutions
Your airport parking lot probably already has some lighting, but if you’re reading this article, you’re probably asking yourself, “Is it enough?” Here are the types of lighting you can add to your lot to increase the safety of your patrons, employees, and your reputation:
- Continuous Lighting: This is likely the type of lighting you already have on your lot. It comes on at dark and stays on throughout the night.
- Emergency Lighting: Emergency lighting clicks on automatically if your normal lighting fails, such as in a power outage.
- Moveable Lighting: Moveable lighting is portable lighting that supplements your current lighting system.
- Standby Lighting: Standby lighting is triggered by a timer or motion sensor, illuminating target areas.
Critical Areas To Utilize Security Lighting
Lighting your entire lot is ideal, but sometimes, it’s not feasible because of cost or lighting regulations. If you can’t illuminate your entire lot, make sure you at least focus on these areas.
- Perimeter: Your perimeter is the most important spot for illumination. Lighting creates a strong barrier to keep criminals off your property.
- Entry points: Gates, doors, and windows are where criminals would most likely enter your property, so they need ample lighting.
- Out-of-sight areas: If certain areas of your lot are not in sight of your guard station, make sure they are well-light to deter thieves.
- Wait stations: When patrons are waiting for transportation to and from their vehicles, they’re sitting ducks for criminals. Add lighting to increase their safety and peace of mind.
Intrusion Prevention for Airport Parking
While security lighting is a crucial deterrent, airport parking lots need a multi-layered approach that combines lighting with intrusion prevention technology.
Perimeter Detection Systems
These systems identify breaches at vulnerable points like entry gates and fence lines where criminals commonly access the lot.
Gate Access Control
Modern gate systems with RFID or keycard authentication prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering restricted areas, dramatically reducing the potential for theft.
Video Surveillance with Monitoring
Security cameras paired with 24/7 remote monitoring capture real-time footage and enable immediate response to suspicious activity. This provides evidence for law enforcement while actively deterring criminals who know they’re being watched.
Does Your Airport Parking Lot Lighting Shine?
AMAROK offers free professional lighting assessments to help you discover gaps in your current lighting and perimeter security. Click here to schedule yours now.
