California Mall Reduces Theft With Avigilon Technology

Avigilon recently announced that Arden Fair Mall in Sacramento, Calif. has deployed the Avigilon HD Surveillance System as a key component of its security initiative aimed at reducing crime and increasing patron safety. Committed to excellence in customer service, the goal is to ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for its 10 million annual visitors.

According to Steve Reed, a former Sacramento Police Department officer and the manager of security and guest services at Arden Fair Mall, Avigilon’s top selling feature is the system’s image quality.

“Even when we zoom into the smallest detail from hundreds of feet out, the clarity is amazing -- it’s like watching HDTV,” Reed said. “Using Avigilon Control Center Enterprise software, we can retrieve clear, readable, and indisputable evidence, which has led to a 60 percent reduction in auto theft and a 90 percent prosecution rate.”

Arden Fair Mall manages the Avigilon HD Surveillance System using Avigilon Control Center Enterprise Network Video Management Software (NVMS) with HD Stream Management, which was built from the ground up to manage HD surveillance video.

The mall installed Avigilon HD 2 megapixel cameras to monitor entrances, several Avigilon HD 16 megapixel cameras to monitor parking lots and all access points, an Avigilon 180-degree Panoramic HD Dome Camera to monitor the play area, and an Avigilon HD 5 MP camera to monitor the security and guest services area -- the mall’s hub.

Avigilon analog video encoders were installed to improve the performance of the mall’s existing analog cameras, though Reed has plans to transition the entire system over to Avigilon as budget allows. Three Avigilon NVRs store 40 days of continuous surveillance footage -- a big improvement over the previous solution, which could only store one to three weeks of footage.

Arden Fair Mall has reduced the rate of auto theft by 60 percent and boasts a 90 percent prosecution rate due to Avigilon’s image clarity, zooming capabilities, and ease-of-management.

Avigilon’s reliable performance in low-light conditions also improves the mall’s ability to capture usable footage at all times of the day and night. Avigilon Control Center time syncing and mapping features enable security to quickly and effectively locate the information required to prevent or resolve incidents. By leveraging the system to capture irrefutable evidence, Arden Fair has implemented an ‘observe and report’ security model, reducing the need for security staff to be too ‘hands on’ in potentially risky situations.

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