Summer is a time when people everywhere travel across long distances in RV’s or campers that make adventures of all kinds possible. What happens when thieves steal this valuable inventory and leave businesses and buyers reeling from the consequences?
A time when everyone should be enjoying the great outdoors...
With the summer season almost upon us, many people will be enjoying the weather and taking to the road with their RV campers. Many RV dealerships will be putting their best foot forward, aiming to drive sales by pairing customers with the dream RV that will make their road trip aspirations come true.
But what happens when thieves strike and steal this highly valuable inventory? Who do RV dealerships turn to protect and secure these sought after vehicles, and ensure the keys end up in the hands of buyers instead of thieves?
RV dealerships struggle with the ongoing threat of theft:
In December 2022, a thief stole two luxury campers from an RV dealership in Edmonton, Alberta. The two campers, worth over $300,000, were taken in a brazen theft where the suspect used power tools to cut the fence line and gain access to the dealership. The criminal then proceeded to hitch the stolen RV to his pickup truck and make a clean getaway – twice in one night. (1)
Police believe the suspect visited the dealership previously, posing as a customer to get a better look at the RV’s and formulate his plans to strike later. Despite their large footprint, RV’s aren’t always found & recovered. Once stolen, they’re often taken off grid to wooded areas where they are much harder to locate. Thankfully, Police were able to recover the stolen vehicles several weeks down the line, but not without an extensive investigation to locate the suspect, and make the arrest. (2)
In May 2023, a similar theft occurred at an RV dealership in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, where a thief stole an RV worth $50,000; committing the crime during weekend off-hours when staff were not present.
There were security cameras set up on the property, but they were not being live monitored and discovery of the theft was not made until the following Monday morning. By that time, the suspect had fled and Police were left to put the pieces together of what occurred and track down the stolen RV’s. (3)
With most RV dealerships, their inventory is often outside and exposed to thieves who are looking for their next heist. This creates an environment where both crimes of opportunity and crimes that are meticulously planned are a threat. Many RV dealerships, like other small businesses, are locally owned and operated and thefts like these can be devastating to their livelihood.
A proactive approach to security can help to secure valuable inventory and deter criminals from striking.
How can proactive security help protect RV dealerships?
Live Remote Video Monitoring
Dealerships are often sprawling properties, with many different sections where vehicles are stored, and additional areas that need security coverage. Our proprietary Video Security Units are modular and adaptable to the specific needs of any site.
The unit operates with several different components working seamlessly together to provide ample security coverage – beginning with two high-resolution stationary cameras. These cameras are utilized for situational awareness, and to provide perimeter coverage. A powerful video security tool accompanies these stationary cameras: a high-resolution PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera that can zoom in on the action to collect details, and capture high quality footage.
Each camera is observed from our UL Certified Video Monitoring facility by our Remote Video Monitoring team, who keep a watchful eye on the site to provide full protection to the property and secure valuable inventory.
syncroDetect Wireless Alarm System
In addition to the RV inventory contained on a dealership lot, there may also outbuildings and storage units that need protection.
That is where our syncroDetect wireless alarm platform is deployed. Wireless Door & Window contact sensors, and Indoor Motion Detectors provide the ability to outfit storage trailers with an additional layer of security that integrates easily into our Remote Security Monitoring system. Our syncroDetect alarm system is a robust solution that helps prevent the theft of valuable inventory from RV dealership lots.
LTE Wireless Technology
All of our units operate independently in a completely wireless communications environment. Our proprietary Cellular LTE platform is the key to wireless security and allows each unit to continue operating even in the unlikely event that one of the units in the security grid fails.
If an RV dealership is lacking in hardwired Internet infrastructure across the entirety of the lot, our wireless units can be easily installed and up and running within minutes. All video data is sent back to our monitoring facility utilizing Cellular LTE signal, which is secure and reliable at the most critical times.
Video Review and Investigations
The ability to review security footage is also key to discovering necessary evidence and preventing future losses. If there is an incident of theft that cannot be prevented, our Investigations team has the ability to look back through footage archives to get an accurate picture of what occurred.
Our cameras record 24/7, even outside of standard monitoring hours and that footage is available to view instantly. Our high quality footage can assist businesses and law enforcement with collecting video evidence that supports investigations, providing the necessary information that can help make a break through in the case.
syncroReports Information Reporting Dashboard
A key facet of our security solutions is our syncroReports platform, which allows our clients to view live feeds of their site and review security log reports in real time. syncroReports provides a digital console where all the security information from your site is up front and easily accessible. This creates an environment of transparency; what we see is also what you can see, and our Live Monitoring Team provide detailed Log Reports that provide a summary of any incidents that may have transpired.
The theft of RV’s continues to be an issue, at a time when many travelers look to enjoy the summer months, and businesses hope to connect them with their dream excursion. Our proactive approach to security can help to protect these assets and keep everybody on the road to the great outdoors.
Resources:
- “Theft of luxury trailers worth $300K caught on video in Acheson”, Dan Grummet, Global News, December 7, 2022
- “Man faces 31 charges in relation to stolen campers, other items”, Meaghan Archer, Global News, January 4, 2023
- “50,000 motorhome stolen off Salmon Arm dealership lot”, Chelsey Mutter, Castanet, May 31, 2023