Along with colder temperatures and shorter days, winter introduces seasonal security challenges for commercial properties. Despite the common misconception that crime hibernates during the winter season, property crimes persist throughout the cold months, especially with reduced staffing and extended holiday closures.
This guide explains the seasonal risks and year-round threats facing commercial properties in the winter, and how you can secure your valuable assets 24/7/365.
Why Winter Demands Strong Perimeter Security
While some violent crimes may decrease as temperatures drop, there tends to be an increase in property crime during winter and in colder climates. Undeterred by the cold, criminals adapt their tactics to the season. And businesses must do the same with their security strategies.
Factors that make winter a critical time for perimeter security include:
- Lower visibility: Research indicates that property crimes may increase as daylight hours decrease during the winter months, since there are more opportunities for intruders to approach undetected, especially in large outdoor yards or parking areas. Businesses with poor perimeter and access point lighting, inadequate fencing, and surveillance blind spots are especially vulnerable.
- Reduced staffing and holiday closures: Many businesses scale back staffing, cut operating hours, or close entirely for the holidays, creating windows of opportunity for winter theft and vandalism. With fewer employees around, criminals are quick to target unattended vehicles, trailers, or equipment. Cargo theft, for example, tends to spike in December and January, and recent years have seen increasing rates of these incidents.
- Slower responses: Security guards may be hesitant to conduct thorough patrols in cold weather, and they can be hindered by poor visibility. Snow and ice can make it more challenging for security guards or law enforcement to intervene when suspicious or criminal actions are detected.
Building a Resilient Winter Security Strategy
The most resilient approach to winter perimeter security is one that is multi-layered. Here are the key lines of defense to protect your business throughout the cold months.
Electric Fencing
Electric fencing is your most reliable year-round deterrent against external theft. An electric fence delivers a safe but memorable pulsed electric shock to stop would-be intruders before they can breach your property. The imposing height and visible warning signs enhance the psychological and physical barrier to entry, and they are typically enough to dissuade most criminals from attempting a breach.
AMAROK’s electric fencing is engineered to withstand snow, ice, and freezing temperatures, thanks to insulated wiring and weather-resistant components that help ensure consistent performance. The solar-powered electric fence remains operational even during weather-related grid outages and can store enough energy to run for days without direct sunlight. That said, we recommend using a de-icer and snow broom to keep your solar panels clear of snow and ice, so they can absorb as much energy as possible from every minute of winter sun.
Video Surveillance and Remote Monitoring
Electric fencing is the first line of defense, and once that solution is in place, integrating video surveillance cameras adds a critical layer of visibility and verification. High-definition cameras, positioned to keep watch over the entire perimeter, provide visual confirmation for law enforcement and valuable evidence in the event of court proceedings in the future.
Remote and mobile monitoring is especially valuable during periods of reduced staffing, such as holiday closures or severe weather events. Live monitoring allows a dedicated team to respond to alerts, verify threats, and coordinate with law enforcement if necessary. This approach helps to address every potential incident promptly, minimizing the risk of downtime and loss.
Alarm-Based Lighting
Alarm-based lighting systems are designed to activate only when an attempted perimeter breach is detected. Once activated, they illuminate even the darkest winter’s night with ultrabright LED light for a set period of time. This sudden brightness draws attention to the intrusion attempt, encouraging the would-be intruder to flee. Lighting solutions also help improve video camera quality and support a rapid response among security personnel.
Gate Access Control
Gate Access Control monitors and controls movement in and out of your property, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. This is especially valuable if your site has multiple entrances and exits. This system can integrate with electric fencing and video surveillance, creating a seamless security experience that’s tailored to your facility’s unique layout and vulnerabilities.
Integrating access control measures like license plate recognition with a motorized gate is particularly valuable during winter, when snow and ice can make manual gate operation challenging. By automating entry and exit protocols, businesses can maintain security without sacrificing efficiency.
Proactive Maintenance
A resilient winter security strategy is only as strong as its weakest link. That’s why ongoing maintenance and support are essential. Choose a perimeter security provider that offers maintenance, repairs, and equipment upgrades to ensure every component of your security system remains in peak condition despite harsh winter weather.
Take a proactive approach by asking your perimeter security technician to check for weak points before criminals can exploit them. Regular inspections, system checks, and rapid-response services help prevent small issues from becoming major vulnerabilities. Taking these steps protects your assets while also saving time and money by reducing the need for larger repairs or replacements.
Choose AMAROK for Winter-Ready Perimeter Security
Between the long nights and harsh conditions, winter can be a challenging season for safeguarding your assets and your peace of mind. AMAROK is your relentless, year-round perimeter security partner, and our track record of preventing 99% of external theft for over 8,000 happy customers shows that we’re up to the challenge.
Choose AMAROK for perimeter security solutions that stop crime in every season. We are the trusted defender of businesses that value:
- Comprehensive solutions: From The Electric Guard Dog™ Fence to alarm-based lighting, video surveillance and monitoring, and Gate Access Control, we create multi-layered, winter-ready security systems tailored to your needs.
- Proactive service: Our team provides regular maintenance and rapid repairs to keep your systems operating at peak performance, all included in your manageable monthly fee as part of our security as a service model.
- Proven ROI: We install your custom perimeter security system at no upfront cost, and the average AMAROK customer sees a 5X ROI on their security investment.
If you’re ready to secure your site for the winter, contact your local AMAROK expert for a free threat assessment. We’ll identify your site’s vulnerabilities, recommend customizable, multi-layered security solutions, and handle every step from permitting and installation to lifetime maintenance. Request your free threat assessment today.
