Both used and new car lots are a notoriously popular target for vandals and thieves alike.

In fact, vehicle thefts are responsible for nearly $5 billion worth of losses every year. And only about half of stolen vehicles are ever recovered.

Thankfully, modern security systems for car dealerships combine a suite of state-of-the-art technologies that minimize these and other risks. They include sophisticated video surveillance cameras with remote video monitoring. Most also incorporate alarm systems that can notify your security staff at the first sign of suspicious activity.

At SMG, we understand that every dealership has a unique set of security concerns and needs. And to ensure we satisfy each of these needs, we design custom security solutions for every client. As a result, our auto dealership security systems provide the protection you need to keep your inventory, employees, and customers safe.

Custom Security Systems for Car Dealerships

Camera Systems

Security cameras have consistently proven to be one of the biggest deterrents for thieves. But for the cameras to be effective, it’s essential to eliminate or at least minimize blind spots. Given the size of the parking lots in which most dealers store their inventory, this can be a challenge.

Our security experts will work with you to design security camera systems that provide comprehensive coverage of your facilities. Or, if you already have a system in place, we can identify holes in its protection and fill them. Our systems also include monitoring software that’s compatible with virtually any hardware. This allows you to view live feeds from anywhere, even from your mobile device.

Alarm Systems and Monitoring Services

Camera systems are an excellent deterrent and provide valuable information for law enforcement after the fact. But alarm systems and responsive monitoring services allow you to respond to threats as they unfold.

SMG’s AES-IntelliNet alarm monitoring system offers unmatched signal response times. The technology is quicker than both landlines and cellular networks. Plus, it isn’t susceptible to interference the way that those older systems are.

But an alarm is only as effective as its monitoring service. With this in mind, we designed and run a central station locally to immediately respond to all alarms. We’ll here 24/7 for panic buttons, burglar alarms, fire alarms, and everything in between. Once the alarm triggers, our highly-trained operator will reach out to your preferred contact and the appropriate authorities.

Access Control

Like most businesses, car dealerships typically have areas that are off-limits to customers and perhaps even some employees. Our various access control systems make it easy to restrict access to these areas. They do so by using card detectors, fingerprint scanners, Bluetooth-capable devices, or a number of other means.

These systems allow you to manage access to your restricted areas for each employee individually. Plus, they provide you with a record of every interaction with the system. So you’ll be able to see exactly who accessed restricted areas and when they did.

System Inspections

To get the most out of your system, it’s important to regularly put it to the test. It’s common to go months or longer without an alarm sounding when the security systems for your car dealership are working. And it’s equally common for this downtime to breed complacency.

Regular system inspections allow us to catch problems that may otherwise go overlooked. In many cases, business owners actually have a legal obligation to test their fire alarms on a regular basis. We highly recommend providing the same attention to detail to every aspect of your security system. Doing so ensures that your business always enjoys the highest level of protection.

Security Training

Your security system is only as strong as its weakest link. In many cases, the weakest link is an individual who made a simple mistake or had a momentary lapse of judgment. Whether or not your auto dealership employs dedicated security guards, security training can be an invaluable resource.

We design trainings for both security personnel and other employees based on your needs. It’s natural to forget how to respond to a threat when they occur infrequently. But periodic training and refresher courses help to cement the appropriate responses into the minds of your employees.

The Best Security Systems for Car Dealerships in Chicago

Ultimately, auto dealership security systems must provide the business with a level of protection that justifies their cost. We know that at the end of the day, your business’s bottom line matters above all else. That’s why we provide every client with custom security systems for their car dealerships.

We can and have designed and installed systems that are so secure that it would be virtually impossible for criminals to subvert them. But the cost of such impenetrable systems rarely makes sense for car dealerships.

So to provide your dealership with the most effective protection, we help you perform cost-benefit analyses for every risk factor with a variety of systems. In most cases, we’re able to reduce clients’ monthly security costs. And in every case, we make our clients’ businesses more profitable in the long run.

If you own a car dealership or plan to open one, SMG Security should be your only choice when it comes to keeping it safe. Even if you already have a security system in place, we can almost certainly reduce your costs and/or provide a higher level of protection.

Call us today at 847-593-0999 for a free estimate.