July/August 2010 Parking - 18

Safety Management for  Parking Professionals Kathy Phillips
Parking Lot Security: What Role Do Lot Owners Have in Non-Owned Operations?
Certainly, valet services do not have a primary or direct role in securing a facility, and a parking lot attendant is certainly not a licensed security guard. However, you and your employees may have a role in helping to reduce vandalism and/or theft. Security studies reveal that 80 percent of criminal acts occur at the respective parking lots of shopping centers, strip malls and business offices. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the parking lot owner to ensure reasonable care. Security services, cameras and surveillance, lighting, even piped in music has been proven to help. But what role do parking operators play? What liability, if any, do you bear? And, how can you assist your business partners in an effort to deter crime, improve security and provide a safe atmosphere for your customers? Most significantly, parking lot valet and attendants, while not licensed as security and therefore not directly liable, can help to create a safer more secure environment by addressing some simple, but significant signs. Instruct your employees to look for or report the following to the owners:
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Dark hidden spots within the parking structures, garages, etc. High shrubs, trees and/or foliage that create issues with visibility or reduce lighting Graffiti on the premises or on neighboring businesses Loitering or evidence of loitering due to concentrated trash, cigarette butts, empty alcohol or other containers Unusual or suspicious activities on or near the property

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Valets and Theft: Taking Preventive Measures to Protect Your Clients and Your Business
If it hasn’t happened to you, you most likely have heard of a valet service having a car stolen. How can you prevent it from happening to you? The best way to avoid a theft is by following specific preventive measures. The following three suggestions will help you develop a preventive process. 1. Prior to hiring, perform background checks on your employees. Take the precautionary steps to ensure that your hired parking employees are clear of any criminal background and, when possible, get references. Although background checks are only a step in the screening process, they can provide important information on who not to hire. 2. Even non-registered criminals, when presented with an opportunity, can find it difficult to resist the temptation of an expensive vehicle, particularly with many people struggling financially. Therefore, instruct your employees to follow a careful ticket procedure. Consider the valet ticket is the same as a car key. What happens if your client loses a valet ticket inside the restaurant? Can someone else take it to the attendant, get into a car, and drive away? Unfortunately, in many cases—yes. Often times all that is needed to claim the car is the valet ticket. This is a major flaw in the ticket procedure. Even in the fast paced/hurried environment of a valet

National Parking Association PARKING July/August 2010

July/August 2010 Parking

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July/August 2010 Parking