Summer is often a welcome change of pace, but unfortunately for facilities, it’s not all sunshine. While staff schedules thin out and activity slows across many commercial properties during the warmer months, opportunistic criminals often see this seasonal lull as a green light to steal and vandalize.
For businesses, that means now is the time to assess and reinforce your security posture. Summer brings specific risks—reduced foot traffic, more frequent deliveries, extra daylight hours—and each one creates potential vulnerabilities that bad actors are quick to exploit.
Seasonal Crime Trends Demand Proactive Defense
Research shows that property crimes such as burglary and vandalism typically increase in summer. That uptick is driven by several factors including:
- More vacant buildings;
- Relaxed security routines due to vacation schedules; and
- Longer days that provide more visibility for would-be intruders to scope out a site.
Certain industries, such as construction, retail, and auto dealerships, are especially vulnerable. Expensive equipment, poor nighttime lighting, and open perimeters can create a perfect storm for theft or tampering. But any facility that experiences reduced activity or oversight in summer is at risk.
Common Summer Security Gaps
Facilities should pay particular attention to seasonal blind spots. One possible fault is unattended areas such as outbuildings, storage yards, and low-traffic entrances that often go unmonitored. Additionally, with summer often comes relaxed protocols. Seasonal staff or rotating shifts can lead to lapses in following standard security procedures.
The summer heat can be relentless, but so can thieves. Leaving doors propped open for airflow or convenience can create unsecured access points. Another common physical security pitfall is nature itself. Landscaping can become overgrown, providing cover for intruders and creating environmental blind spots—even blocking the view of surveillance cameras.
5 Steps to Tighten Security This Summer
You don’t need to overhaul your entire security system to stay safe this season. Here are five straightforward steps that businesses can take:
- Review and Adjust Monitoring Hours. Already leveraging a remote video surveillance solution? Make sure it’s set up for success! If your team is adjusting work schedules or planning time off, your monitoring strategy should adapt too. Confirm that any onsite or remote surveillance coverage is aligned with your summer schedule. Whether you’re using in-house personnel or third-party monitoring services, be sure to communicate changes in operating hours and expected activity to avoid coverage gaps.
- Think Like a Thief. Before taking vacation or scaling back staff presence, do a full site inspection. Walk your facility and think like a thief. Look for potential weak points: overgrown landscaping, dim lighting, damaged fencing, or blocked camera views. Check that all surveillance equipment is clean and unobstructed. Dirty lenses and shifted angles can create blind spots that intruders exploit.
- Audit All Entry Points. Doors, gates, loading docks, and emergency exits should be tested and secured. This includes rarely used access points, which may be overlooked during slower months. Verify that access control systems are working properly and that temporary staff or vendors haven’t been given unnecessary permissions.
- Reevaluate Security Coverage. Your facility may have evolved over the past year. Is there new equipment outdoors? Has inventory grown or shifted locations? Take time to reassess whether your current security setup adequately covers all high-value and high-risk areas. Adjusting camera placement or increasing coverage for vulnerable zones can provide an extra layer of protection.
- Reinforce Staff Protocols. With rotating schedules or new seasonal hires, it’s easy for security procedures to slip through the cracks. Reissue key security reminders: how to lock up, how to report suspicious activity, and who to call in an emergency. Ensure all personnel understand access rules and know the location of surveillance devices and lighting controls.
Don’t Let Summer Catch You Off Guard
The key to seasonal facility security is preparation. As the temperature rises, so does the incentive for crime. With a proactive, layered approach, businesses can help ensure that summer stays protected, both for the people inside the facility and the property itself. And as always, if you aren’t sure what changes to make or if your defenses are up to par, consult an expert before trouble strikes.
By planning ahead and addressing summer-specific risks, you can keep crime where it belongs: out in the cold.
Jeremy White is the founder of Pro-Vigil, a provider of AI-enabled remote video monitoring solutions.