Do Parking Garages Have Cameras? (Answered 2023)
Many people may wonder: do parking garages have cameras? While the majority of parking garages have some sort of camera system, some do not. Various parking garage camera types, installation locations, and other security forms will all be explained in our post!
The parking garage industry has evolved along with technology, which is constantly changing. Over the last 20 years, automated gates, security systems, and improved surveillance have significantly improved parking garages.
Using security cameras in parking garages is important to keep the area safe and secure. Installing surveillance cameras allows you to keep an eye on everything that happens and creates a permanent record of what transpires.
Keep reading to find more about cameras in parking garages.
Why Are Parking Garages Prime Targets for Crime?
Parking garages are a burglar’s paradise. Where else would there be such a variety of abandoned and frequently unlocked vehicles? A determined thief wouldn’t think twice about breaking out a window even if the car was locked in order to steal something.
An interview between a police detective and a vehicle burglar who had admitted to breaking into vehicles was featured in an article in a Tennessee news source, and the burglar provided his insights into what thieves are seeking. He said, “Apartment complexes were good targets due to many cars in one area, plus there aren’t typically many security cameras like in subdivisions.”
Do Parking Garages Have Security Cameras?
This query will elicit a variety of responses. Although the majority of parking garages have some sort of camera system, some do not. Most parking lots aren’t required to have cameras, but they can gain companies protection from liability on their property.
Many garage owners will set up a number of cameras that cover a sizable portion of their property. To ensure that they have the best possible line of sight, they must pay close attention to prevent any potential accidents, crimes, or other mishaps.
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Advantages Of Using Cameras In A Parking Garage
There are many benefits of using security cameras. Criminals have nowhere to run from security cameras. If you correctly set up your surveillance cameras, you’ll be able to keep an eye on everything that occurs in the parking area and be aware of anyone who is attempting to hide.
If there is ever a criminal situation in your parking garage, you will also have strong video evidence on hand. The police and other authorities have evidence of criminal activity thanks to security cameras.
When you have a monitored video surveillance system protecting your parking garage, you’ll also instill a sense of trust. Customers will feel much safer parking at your establishment because they will be shielded from the potentially dangerous criminal element.
Read More: Do Security Cameras Have Audio?
Different Types Of Parking Garage Cameras
You can probably visualize a few of the various types of cameras that are used in parking garages today. There are brands that have options that range from the older CCTV-type analog cameras to network video recorders that will allow for remote feed viewing.
There are many cameras with features you might want to take into account for your garage:
- Night Vision – These cameras will have excellent low-light vision. If your garage isn’t very well lit, this will be to your advantage.
- Motion Sensing – Since they can follow moving targets, turn on floodlights, and focus on key details, motion-detecting cameras can be effective deterrents for criminals.
- High Resolution – You will be able to see what’s happening in any scene more clearly with the aid of high-resolution cameras. CCTV systems are infamous for capturing hazy images of unidentified criminals. Keep your resolution, and don’t let it fall through when it counts.
- Water and Weatherproof – This will be crucial for the cameras that are mounted on the exterior of your facility. If your cameras aren’t made of sturdy materials, water can quickly ruin them. If your camera is damaged by moisture, it will cost much less not to have to replace it.
Best Places To Install Cameras In A Parking Garage
It is important that you install cameras to cover all blind spots. It is best to overlap feeds to ensure that nothing will be missed. Place cameras to cover all entries, exits, and stairwells to make sure everything is being scanned. To ensure that the images your cameras capture are usable, try to provide adequate lighting.
To make sure you are not overlooking crucial details with the security of your facility, it is also advised to hire a skilled security consultant.
Tips For Installing Security Cameras In Parking Garages
- Proper lighting: It is important to reiterate this point because it will help to create a safe environment for your customers. A well-lit garage will deter crime on its own, but it also offers improved security footage in case something happens.
- Good Traffic Flow: You will be able to monitor the daily traffic flow in the garage, which is one advantage of installing cameras. Make sure your cameras capture these daily patterns so you can plan for high-traffic times by blocking off areas or taking other measures like hiring traffic directors.
- Anticipate Incidents: Checking stairs, railings, and elevators for dangers will help you maintain and secure your garage and the area around it. Make every effort to create a more secure and aesthetically pleasing environment.
Security Cameras Are Facing Potential Crimes
A parking garage is a potential setting for a wide range of crimes. Vehicle theft is the first and, arguably, most obvious. Parking lots typically have a lot of unattended vehicles in them. The parking garage is quite large and typically has few visitors at any given time. This makes it a very alluring location for car thieves.
If you want to staff your parking garage with attendants and security personnel, it can become very expensive and time-consuming. Keeping an eye on every area of a parking lot in person is nearly impossible. Security cameras in parking garages are useful in situations like this.
Unlike security cameras, which can be installed to cover the entire area of a parking lot or parking garage, people can only see so much at once and are only physically capable of being in one place at a time.
Using security cameras does not have to have the limitations that people do. When installed correctly, they can effectively, affordably, and consistently provide unhindered access to every area of the parking complex.
Keep in mind that there are other crimes that can occur inside a parking lot besides car theft. Criminals frequently hide in the garage and wait for their victims there under the cover of cars or other obstructions. A parking garage could be the scene of robberies, assaults, vandalism, kidnappings, rapes, and many other illegal activities.
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Takeaway: Do Parking Garages Have Cameras
Because parking garages are known for being high-risk locations, they frequently employ multiple forms of security. Here are some of the most popular additional forms of safety:
- Emergency Stations: It will be better for people to go to an emergency station where they can call the police with a single button press if they feel unsafe or like they are being followed in garages. Emergency stations can be towers or wall-mounted phone boxes, with blue lighting being the most common type.
- Charging Station Communicators: As more people own electric cars, some garages are installing ways for users to get in touch with the police close to the chargers.
- Controlled Areas: With the help of access points, many parking garages try to restrict who is allowed inside. These points will have a manned guard or fee station, automatic gates, and keycard systems. By more closely monitoring who is inside a garage at any given time, this technology keeps them safer.
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FAQs About Security Cameras
Are There Cameras In Parking Lots?
Many UK city parks now have a series of CCTV cameras installed to surreptitiously monitor park visitors.
How to Tell If a Parking Lot Has Cameras?
You can locate a camera in a parking lot either by its visibility or the blinking light which is usually red in color.
Do School Parking Lots Have Cameras?
Yes, it is pretty standard for schools to implement security cameras systems for the parking lots and moreover around the building.
Does Starbucks Have Cameras Outside?
Cameras in Starbucks would be private surveillance cameras, not public so that wouldn’t help much.
Do Hotels Have Security Cameras in Parking Lot?
In general, hotel parking lots are less secure than airport lots. Security cameras and guards on duty are typically present at airports to monitor parking lot vehicles and ensure their safety. Hotels normally don’t offer this type of protection.