Happy Monday, and hope everyone is staying warm with this winter weather. Here’s a quick security update for the Memphis area, with a focus on the commercial/industrial areas like 38118, 38141, etc. Don't worry, there are some helpful tips for those of you huddled up at home, too.

**TL;DR:** Theft is edging down, but **business burglaries in 38118–38141 are still running hot**—it is important to tighten after‑hours coverage and alarm rules now.

**What’s trending:** Property & retail theft dipped slightly month‑over‑month, but business burglaries in the **38118–38141** corridor (Lamar/Airways → Hickory Hill/Parkway Village → southeast Shelby) remain **above seasonal norms**.

**Why this matters:** Those ZIPs include dense clusters of warehouses, light‑industrial bays, and strip retail with rear‑door exposure—prime targets after hours. There are always going to be a few vacant operations in these areas, which can lure owners into complacency while burglars pivot to softer perimeter gaps that aren't being managed or monitored.

**Camera coverage checklist for warehouses, distribution centers, etc:**

* Cover **front door, rear door, loading dock, and parking lot approaches** with overlapping fields of view (no blind spots at corners). * Use **fixed 4–8MP turrets** for doors and **varifocal bullets** for long approaches; lock exposure to avoid headlight blowout at night. * Set **People/Vehicle detection** zones at **15–40 ft** from doors to cut false alerts and catch loitering. If you have an older camera system, it may be time to upgrade to cameras with on-board motion detection. * Keep **IR reflection** down: mount 8–10 ft high, tilt minimally, clean lenses quarterly. Your security camera vendor should be able to schedule cleanings as part of the service agreement for your system. If not, it may be worth looking into a new partnership. * Virtual Monitoring **allows for deterrence** and immediate response to intrusions, visual verification of an event to reduce or eliminate false alarms.

**After‑hours alarm/monitoring tips:**

* Arm **stay vs. away** schedules tied to business hours; add **auto‑arm** with manager override. * Route **video‑verified** alarms to monitoring so dispatch gets an actual clip, not just a beep. * Create **open/close** exception alerts (late closings, early opens). * Require **two‑factor** for remote disarms; pin unique user codes by role.

Next steps?

**Commercial Owner, Manager, On-Site Operations:** Prioritize **dock doors, side alleys, and fleet parking**; add **gate‑line License Plate Readers (LPR)** if you’ve had catalytic‑converter or trailer theft attempts.

**Memphis area homeowners/renters:** Even with the dip, keep **porch/driveway cams** tuned for **people/vehicle detection**, use **package zones** for your doorbell camera, and audit your **garage and backyard gate** coverage—common entry points.

Want a 10‑minute “camera & alarm health check”? Message me at (901)571-1046 and I’ll share a quick punch‑list tailored to your address.

Stay warm, safe and see you again on Tuesday!