SubscribeCar Dealer relies on modern surveillance equipment to prevent theft, vandalism.
"I sleep better with Smart Interactive Systems keeping watch. I don’t think there is a better way to protect your dealership."
Jeff Davis, General Manager, Herb Chambers Honda-Infiniti, Boston
- Save Money
- Protect Profit and Improve Margins
- Reduce Policy Insurance Claims and “Self
- Insurance” Hits
- Keep Your Inventory in Flow
- Produce Evidential Quality Video
- Reduce the Cost of Guard Force Labor
Until the fall of 2003 there were too many hiding places on the sprawling Herb Chambers car lots that make up the better part of a city block in downtown Boston. Now there are none. Herb Chambers chose Smart Interactive Systems (SIS) of New York to protect their entire facility using SIS’s live audio/video monitoring security solution. “It’s been like night and day since we have used Smart Interactive Systems” says Jeff Davis, General Manager of Herb Chambers Honda-Infiniti Boston.
The downtown Herb Chambers facility is part of The Herb Chambers Companies, New England’s largest automotive dealer. It is actually five dealerships side by side — Porsche, BMW, Saab, Infiniti, and Honda. Previously, the buildings and lots were covered by a single security guard. Because of the size and complexity of the facility, the guard was ineffective. Once installed, the Smart Interactive solution not only protected their entire lot simultaneously, but Herb Chambers also benefited by having a state-of-the-art CCTV system. In addition, their monthly security budget was reduced. Within a month of installation in October 2003, the new surveillance system led to the arrest of three men attempting to steal car parts. In the 10 years prior to the installation of the new system, there were many thefts but no arrests.
“I’d say the old system was obsolete,” says SIS Regional Manager Bill Harrow. “A guard cannot monitor such a large facility effectively. Cameras alone without anyone monitoring them only provides recorded video, it does not respond to intrusion.”
In the past, it was not uncommon for a facility to deal with separate vendors for three basic security needs: an alarm/ access-control system, a CCTV system, and a guard service. But Herb Chambers relied on SIS to put together a customdesigned system that includes all three security needs as well as live video monitoring and audio interception of intruders.
For this comprehensive security package, SIS partners with Vision Systems of Norwell, Massachusetts. Vision Systems offers the ADPRO line of products, designed for the surveillance of multiple high-security sites by a centralized monitoring station (CMS) that can be many miles away. There are more than 30,000 ADPRO systems worldwide. A key component of the system is the ADPRO Pro 250, a highly sensitive, passive infrared motion detector designed for perimeter protection.
It is a long-range device that detects motion up to 300 feet away in any weather, even heavy snow, rain and fog. Used in conjunction with ADPRO interactive management software, the equipment instantly alerts the system operator to an intrusion and pinpoints the intruder’s location. The SIS operator at Command Center in New York assesses video of the situation and responds accordingly. ADPRO’s VM22 two-way audio system permits the SIS operator to broadcast an audio warning to the intruder, who can talk back.
When necessary, the SIS operator calls the Boston police. When police are called to the scene, the SIS operator in New York can direct the responding officer using the two-way audio, or can direct them through the help of the police dispatcher. “Our main goal is to scare intruders off,” Harrow explains. “In the case of the would-be car-parts thieves, the intruders heard the audio warning, however the police response was so quick they were still on the property when the authorities arrived.”
“Before an installation is completed, we go to the local police and give them a demonstration of exactly how the system works,” says Harrow. “They love what they get with us because they know what to expect when responding. Traditional burglar systems produce false alarms. An officer responding to an alarm he has no idea if it’s a bad guy with a sawed-off shotgun or a system malfunction.”
All pertinent video and audio is stored for potential use by lawenforcement agencies. ADPRO’s FastTrace is an advanced “black box” — a digital video recorder (DVR) that instantly retrieves up to 120 days worth of evidence-quality archived video in addition to providing live video of the monitored site. Smart Interactive’s Command Center also does redundant recording of all incidences. The FastTrace’s advanced imagecompression capability is complemented by Video Central Gold software, which “talks to” the DVR and supplies the operator with a 4-picture “snapshot” of what caused the alarm.
An extra benefit of the SIS system to Herb Chambers is an onsite system that enhances the company’s capability for internal policing. Managers have ADPRO Video Central Lite software on their personal computers and can access live surveillance video and up to 30 days worth of archived video. This can help management determine causes of damage to cars as they are moved around the lot. In the past, there was little hope of learning which employee caused a dent or “ding”. Now management has recorded video of all activity 24/7.
“I sleep better with Smart Interactive Systems keeping watch,” says Jeff Davis, General Manager of Herb Chambers Honda- Infiniti, Boston. “Not only does Smart Interactive effectively protect our facility at night, they also provide us with the tools to help me better manage my business. I don’t think there is a better way to protect your dealership.”
