Auto-related theft is on the rise. In Denver alone, car thefts have doubled over the last two years and auto-related theft now accounts for nearly half of all crime statistics in the area. Auto-related theft comprises everything from theft of entire vehicles to vehicle parts and even items left inside.

Many auto repair shops are squarely in the crosshairs of opportunistic thieves because they are a smorgasbord of expensive tools and equipment, a stock of replacement parts, and even customer vehicles on a lot—which can be stolen in entirety or harvested for parts.

For example, the theft of catalytic converters spiked to an all-time high in 2022, with a 540% increase over 2020. Tires and rims are also valuable commodities for thieves, who can easily resell these in-demand parts before anyone even realizes the items are missing.

In short, if you own an auto repair shop, you need to take firm measures to secure it, and your customers’ property within.

New Technologies Make Securing Auto Repair Shops Easier

Securing auto repair shops has historically been a difficult proposition. Many customer vehicles are parked inside fenced, locked areas—but this defense is quickly overcome by thieves with bolt cutters or similar tools. Once inside, they can quickly harvest the parts they want and leave undetected. That is why smart auto repair businesses are leveraging new, smart technologies to help keep their facilities properly protected.

Here are some tips for improving the physical security of your shop:

1. Assess Your Vulnerabilities

Risk assessment is key to finding the right physical surveillance strategy for your business. It helps to identify potential risks that could arise from a physical security breach and helps you to develop a plan to mitigate those risks. By assessing potential threats, you can determine what type of surveillance system would be most effective in protecting your assets and personnel.

Risk assessment also allows you to determine the cost-effectiveness of different types of surveillance strategies so that you can make an informed decision about which one is best suited for your business.

2. Use Security Cameras

Security cameras can be a great asset for auto body shops, providing an extra layer of protection and peace of mind. With the right security cameras installed, you can monitor your auto body shop from any location with internet access. You can also set up motion-activated alerts to notify you if someone is on your property and view live or recorded footage of any suspicious activity.

Installing digital video recorder (DVR) security cameras in your auto body shop will not only help secure the premises, but also provide evidence in case of an incident. These cameras capture video from digital and analog sources and can offer images that can be searched by time and date.

3. Install Access Control

Access control systems such as swipe readers, facial recognition cameras, or other technologies are essential for providing physical security at auto body repair shops. These systems help to prevent unauthorized access and keep the shop secure. They can also be used to monitor who is coming in and out of the shop, as well as track employee activity.

By using access control systems, auto body repair shops can ensure that their premises are kept safe from theft or vandalism. With the right system in place, they can also reduce their insurance costs and increase customer satisfaction by providing a safer environment for staff and customers alike.

4. Stay Abreast of Changes

Don’t relax your security stance once physical surveillance systems are installed. Criminals are always developing new and more sophisticated ways to gain access to your business and valuables, whether those are digital or physical.

Partnering with a third-party expert in physical and digital security can help ensure that your business continues to have access to leading-edge strategies for maximum protection.

Blue Technologies—Your Physical Security Experts

At Blue Technologies, we understand both physical and digital security. Our team of experts can help identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in your brick-and-mortar location and, if necessary, your IT infrastructure. Then, we can suggest a security strategy that can directly address each vulnerability for optimal safety for you, your employees, your customers, and your valuables.

Get access to leading-edge physical surveillance technology and expertise. Contact a Blue Technologies consultant today and discover how we make securing auto shops easier and more cost-effective than ever.