Honda Dealership Uses Video Analytics Technology To Prevent Thefts
DVTel Inc. recently announced that the ioimage-powered Visentry monitoring solution, Virtual Sentry, has prevented at least two major thefts at a Honda dealership located in Paramus, N.J.
ioimage and its suite of video analytics appliances and solutions was recently acquired by DVTel.
Virtual Sentry is a centrally monitored, outdoor perimeter protection solution designed to detect in real time any intrusion of the perimeter of a car dealership, or any other commercial entity, to prevent theft and vandalism.
Virtual Sentry combines advanced video detection technology with expert remote monitoring at Visentry’s Central Station manned by experienced security personnel. Virtual Sentry utilizes DVTel ioimage ioicam and ioibox products within the solution, and uses the DVTel intelligent Security Operation Center (iSOC) to manage overall surveillance video data.
The Honda dealership is located on a busy highway in a very dense part of New Jersey and had been experiencing multiple thefts and acts of vandalism for some time. After contracting with Visentry, now everyday at closing Virtual Sentry begins to remotely monitor the extensive car lot areas.
To automatically monitor the perimeter of the entire property, Visentry is using ioimage video analytics. The system is designed to immediately alert monitoring staff in the event a person or vehicle enters the protected areas.
According Barry Magnus, general manager at DCH Paramus Honda, “We have three acres containing nearly $16 million in new car and used car inventory.”
On the evening of November 29, 2009, the Virtual Sentry system at Paramus Honda, using a video analytics PTZ “tour,” detected suspicious vehicle activity in the storage lot located at the back of the dealership.
The Visentry agent on duty received real time alerts and video from the system showing two individuals attempting to steal tires from new parked vehicles. Immediately, the Visentry agent used the system’s outdoor loud speaker to warn the thieves, and then quickly called the Paramus Police Department.
Upon the police officers’ arrival, the Visentry agent was able to provide the exact location of the thieves to the police. As the officers moved in on the perpetrators, they were assisted by the agent who was viewing the unfolding events live and relaying crucial information to the officers on the ground through the Paramus Police dispatch.
As a result of these timely, joint efforts, the police were able to apprehend the intruders and prevent any damage or loss to the dealership. Subsequent to the November 29th event, thieves again struck the dealership on December 14th, and again the advanced Visentry video analytics capabilities and real-time monitoring were instrumental in assisting the police to thwart this second robbery attempt.
As confirmed by the Paramus Police Department, it was video detection technology combined with remote monitoring resulted in the on-scene arrest of car burglars on two occasions at Paramus Honda.
“Our officers were provided real-time information that not only alerted them to criminal activity at the dealership, but then aided them in locating thieves hiding within the large car storage lot,” said Paramus Police Chief Richard Cary.
“Video analytics, when deployed in the right way with the right technology, has come into its own in terms of effectiveness,” said DVTel President and CEO, Eli Gorovici. “For a relatively modest investment, car dealerships and other businesses carrying a large amount of high-value assets can contract with a company like Visentry, employing ioimage advanced video analytics technology, to prevent thefts and vandalism and paying for their security investment many times over. Such technology is also very effective for the police. They can now catch the bad guys in the act, instead of taking the robbery report after the crime has been committed.”