Ford dealer’s security cameras thwart false claims

When Todd O'Reilly decided to open a 34,000-square-foot Ford showroom with an 11-acre vehicle lot roughly two years ago, he knew he needed a top-notch security system.

O'Reilly, co-owner and general manager of Gjovik Ford in Plano, Ill., figured a sophisticated system of cameras and alarms was necessary to deter would-be criminals from stealing or damaging products, which became especially vital as inventory grew scarce because of the microchip shortage.

What he didn't realize was that the security system by BTI Communications Group would save him thousands per month simply by keeping his customers honest.

"You'd be surprised how many people say we've scratched their car or dented it, and a lot of times you just don't want to argue," O'Reilly told Automotive News.

Now he doesn't even have to argue — because he has video proof to refute such claims.

"I think we probably save between $3,000 to $4,000 a month in damages that people said we caused," O'Reilly said. "It's a lot more than I expected."

The security system, which includes about 42 cameras inside the dealership and 28 in the lot, monitors all angles of a vehicle in high definition, and the feed can be accessed from an employee's computer, phone or other device.

The store can determine whether a scratch or dent was already there when a customer drove onto the property. Or, in cases where the dealership did cause the damage, management can pinpoint when and how it occurred.

"We pretty much can monitor a car from the day it gets there to the day it leaves," O'Reilly said. "We've had people come up and say 'You damaged our car,' and we pull up the video and say 'I'm sorry, but the damage was here ahead of time.' "

The dealership's service center also has a camera system specifically for big trucks. That has saved O'Reilly money on tool replacement for customers who falsely accuse service employees from stealing items out of their work trucks.

Not only is O'Reilly saving money on unwarranted scratch and dent repairs, he's increasing revenue by upselling those customers on repairs for the issues.

He said the system also deters theft among employees and makes them more careful working around vehicles.

"Nobody can hide with the camera system," he said. "Once they all know you can see everything, I think it helps the work efficiency also."

O'Reilly said the system has deterred vehicle thefts on his vast lot. At all three entrances, high-definition cameras capture license plates so ownership can know who's accessing the property at all times. The system can be set up to send text alerts to O'Reilly's phone when anyone drives on or off the lot outside business hours.

Within the showroom, the alarm system, which is fully integrated with the cameras, can pinpoint which door was opened and when.

O'Reilly said the system cost over $100,000, which he is paying off at $1,800 per month as part of a no-interest, five-year lease.

He said the system will more than pay for itself and that he's so happy with it, he's working with BTI to upgrade the phone and camera system at a General Motors dealership he recently acquired.

He likes how BTI is able to provide everything necessary for the security system. Previous systems, he said, included multiple vendors that often didn't communicate.

"It's good if you can get one provider to do everything, because it's just one call," he said. "It just makes life a lot easier."