Logistics and warehouse security issues are a big concern for operation managers. Warehouses and yards are constantly changing and bustling with lots of activity all day long. Keeping employees and visitors safe and reducing the risk of theft is essential to the success of your facility and business.
Cargo theft Costs Canadians $5 billion/year
Cargo and warehouse crimes are often underreported. According to InsideLogistics, $35 million in cargo theft losses were reported in 2019, a steep jump from $2.1 million five years earlier. Thefts from warehouses and storage facilities jumped from 10% in 2019 to 25% in 2020. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) estimates cargo theft costs an average of $5 billion per year.
Some common logistics and warehouse security issues include theft of cargo or truck parts from parked vehicles, pilferage often from within your organization, and unauthorized visitors accessing your facilities. With the proper security setup, you can reduce these and other risks and protect your business. There are many ways you can lessen your risks, including fencing, security cameras, lighting, and security patrols. This post will break down three logistics and warehouse security issues and provide some guidance on mitigating them using security cameras and systems.
1. Lower Cargo Theft with Security Cameras and a VMS
External logistics and warehouse security issues include cargo theft from loaded trucks, vehicle damage and stolen parts. A good security camera system can reduce the risk of cargo theft. However, most security cameras only record, act as a deterrent for crime, and are the tool to piece together an incident after the fact.
To stop external theft, you need to invest in a proactive video surveillance system that incorporates commercial-grade security cameras with built-in video analytics and a user-friendly video management system (VMS). A video analytics system can send alerts in real-time when an unusual event occurs at your facility. when people enter your site after hours.
A top-rated video analytics system is Avigilon. They provide excellent quality cameras, a strong video management system, and come with features such as people and vehicle detection, loitering detection, and unusual motion detection.
For more protection, send the video alerts to a Live Monitoring Station
Adding live video monitoring to your security camera system can also increase security while saving on the costs of security guards. With live video monitoring, any alerts from the video analytics are sent to a central monitoring station. When a threat is spotted on a camera, the operator will turn on a siren and strobe or perform a voice-down on the speaker as a warning. To see this in action, check out how well our video monitoring solution works.
Make sure to capture License Plates
Although challenging, capturing license plates is an important requirement when investing in a video surveillance system. Be sure to purchase the right camera, have it mounted at the proper height, and ensure that the camera is at the correct angle and the area has excellent lighting.
A big mistake most businesses make when purchasing a security camera system is thinking that a high-definition camera on the exterior of the building will read license plates 100% of the time. To capture license plates, you need a dedicated camera setup for this purpose.
2. Make Pilferage and Internal Theft a Non-Issue with High-Quality Camera
Another warehouse security issue is employee theft. In June of 2021, three Amazon employees were arrested and accused of stealing more than US$50,000 of merchandise in North Haven, CT. The police apprehended the individuals with the help of surveillance video. Warehouse operators and owners can lower their risk of internal theft and pilferage with a reliable security camera system.
Cameras strategically placed within your facility allow you to watch your shipping and receiving areas, racks, and entryways. And with an easy-to-use video management system with simple search features such as Milestone XProtect, a warehouse manager can quickly review videos and identify potential issues. For excellent image quality, cameras from Axis or Avigilon will provide the details you need.
For a hybrid cloud solution that combines the performance and reliability of local recording with the convenience and flexibility of the cloud, consider OpenEye. OpenEye manufactures a line of cameras, recorders and software that focuses on easy-to-use software interfaces.
3. Stop Unauthorized Visitors with Access Control
A warehouse security issue that should not go unchecked is unauthorized access. With an access control system, you can control visitors entering your facility without proper clearance. Adding card readers to exterior doors and intercom or entry systems is an excellent way to control who comes and goes from the facility. By adding card readers to interior doors such as IT rooms, storage rooms, and cages, you can control employee access within the building.
For an easy-to-use system that you can manage from anywhere, look at manufacturers such as Brivo Access, a cloud-based access control system. For an enterprise-level web-based access control platform, LenelS2 is easy to install, user-friendly and scalable that seamlessly unifies the management and administration of access control, intrusion detection, and video applications.
Logistics and warehouse security issues continue to plague operation managers. Between cargo theft, employees stealing, and unauthorized entry, keeping your people, facility, and goods safe can be a challenge. But with the right tools, you can reduce your risks. Installing a reliable security system as part of your overall strategy will provide the assurance you need.
Spotter Security will help you gain control over your business security. We will install a customized security system to work with your current structure. To learn more about warehouse security issues and ways to mitigate them, call us at 1-877- 557-3175 or fill in our form to get in touch with us.
