Most violent crime that takes place on commercial property happens in the parking lot, not in the building. But only 17% of these crimes are witnessed or recorded on camera. Courts often find the business partially responsible for the crimes that take place in the parking lot. So what can you do to protect yourself and your customers?

The most basic precaution is to have a well-lit, highly visible, open lot. This increases the chance that a crime could be witnessed, whether through store windows or by street traffic. Remove any unnecessary obstructions that would shield your parking lot from view of the buildings and the street.

Once lighting and visibility issues are resolved, the best resource for deterring potential criminals is a set of security cameras. There are many, small cameras on the market that blend in with your outdoor light fixtures. But you may wish to purchase large, conspicuous cameras instead, to send a message to perpetrators that nothing will go unnoticed, or unrecorded. It is also a good idea to set up signs advertising this fact; the law in some cities requires it.

It is best to start by recording the areas closest to the building,

and then expand the reach of your video surveillance to the outer edges of the lot, using your existing light poles. The resolution and memory capabilities of the cameras you choose will depend on the distance between cameras, whether they will be used in daylight or at night or both, and how the footage will be monitored.

If your property is large, high-traffic, and has many blind spots, you might need to invest in a security patrol service, to keep your customers and employees safe.