Last year, eight cars were stolen from a Mazda dealership near San Diego on a Saturday morning. In another case, about 45 Infiniti vehicles were taken from a dealership’s overflow lot in Torrance. The dealer didn’t realize the cars were stolen until one of the vehicles was involved in a car chase.

Car dealers have millions of dollars’ worth of inventory parked on their lots, in show rooms, in overflow locations and in parking structures. With cars averaging about $30,000 apiece, dealers have to take extra precautions to protect their investment.

By now, most dealers have installed security cameras throughout their properties; however, they don’t do much to prevent theft. A car could be long gone by the time staff reviews security video and calls the police.

Vehicle tracking devises are excellent for recovering a stolen car, but won’t prevent a car from being stolen in the first place.

Onsite Auto Dealership Security

One of the most effective means of preventing dealership car theft is onsite auto dealership security guards. Not only will onsite security deter theft, but if thieves insist on attempting to steal a vehicle, security staff can respond immediately. They can thwart thieves from leaving the property until police arrive.

Vandalism is also a concern. In one instance, 105 vehicles were vandalized at Pacific Auto Center in Fontana. A security presence will do much to prevent these types of acts as well.

Guards can patrol 24/7 inside the dealership and around the grounds—wherever vehicles are displayed or housed. With such a large investment so vulnerable, it makes sense to add this important layer of security.