A regional retail property management company overseeing several retail strip centers in the Midwest and central states — typically anchored by large grocery stores or movie theater complexes — required tailored security solutions to address unique challenges at each site.
The property management company engaged Hudson Services, a division of American Security & Investigations, a regional security provider based in St. Louis, to enhance the security of their properties. Hudson Services has a 90-year legacy of providing comprehensive security solutions, including armed and unarmed security personnel, off-duty police officers, mobile patrols and more. Known for their personalized, state-of-the-art security services, Hudson Services was tasked with addressing the growing security concerns at several of the company’s key properties.
“When I joined the team, I was told they’d been working with a company called RAD,” said James S. Gabel, security solutions specialist, Hudson Security. “The second I saw the devices, I thought, ‘OK, this is something I can get behind.’”
The property management company faced significant security issues at their properties, particularly in urban areas like St. Louis. Homeless individuals frequently rummaged through dumpsters, leading to damage and increased clean-up costs. Non-residents often loitered around the properties, creating a sense of insecurity among tenants and visitors. A high incidence of vehicle break-ins, especially at one location, caused concern among tenants and attracted negative attention from local law enforcement. Despite employing security guards, the guards’ limited coverage and inability to be everywhere at once left gaps in security. Additionally, police response times were often slow due to higher-priority incidents elsewhere.
“We had a lot of solicitation, loitering, and even damage at vacancies,” said a representative from the property management company. “Guards couldn’t be everywhere at once, and police response times were sometimes hours.”
Hudson Services proposed deploying RAD’s advanced security solutions to address these challenges. The company decided to implement seven RAD RIO 360 units and five standalone RAD ROSA (Responsive Observation Security Agent) devices across a few of their properties. ROSA is a compact, self-contained security and communication solution that can be deployed in about 15 minutes. ROSA’s autonomous response capabilities, including flashing lights and audible alerts, ensure that any suspicious activity is promptly addressed.
“We walk around our world and we know there’s cameras everywhere,” said Gabel. “Guess who else knows that? The criminals and they don’t care. You can put up all the cameras you want and all the signs that say, ‘You’re being monitored, and you’ll get 1,000 pictures of the middle finger as they break into cars. The RAD solution utilizes AI and has the ability to trigger somebody to respond instantaneously.”
Gable continued, “There’s technology out there that enables the cameras to trigger, but by the time a camera triggers you to the time I get on my phone, I put my thumbprint in, I log in, and I then open the app to see what’s happening, it’s already gone. It’s over. Traditional cameras are our forensics. You can see what the criminal did five minutes ago, but the RAD solution provides an instantaneous response, alerting the criminal to tell them, ‘You’re being watched.’”
RIO (ROSA Independent Observatory) is a versatile, mobile surveillance unit designed for large areas such as parking lots and construction sites. RIO combines all the capabilities of ROSA with enhanced portability via its solar powered trailer, making it ideal for outdoor use and providing extensive coverage. The flexibility of RIO allows it to be repositioned easily to adapt to changing security needs.
Hudson Services worked closely with the property management company to strategically place the units for maximum coverage and deterrence. The units were installed on light poles and building walls to provide optimal surveillance of critical areas. During the installation process, the team conducted thorough site assessments to identify the most vulnerable areas and ensure comprehensive coverage. The collaborative approach between Hudson Services and the property management team ensured that the deployment was tailored to the specific needs of each property.
“Depending on the location’s issues, we can set the RAD devices’ automatic response time however we like,” Gabel said. “After 30 seconds, after a minute, after five minutes, figuring out what that sweet spot is can be tricky. You need to work closely with your customer to find it. For example, one location behind a movie theater, we have it set so that if you’re in camera view for more than 30 seconds, it’s going to start going off and alerting people, because it has such a high frequency of break-ins. So I literally took a stopwatch there, and I went to the farthest parking spot away, opened my car door and walked to the movie theater to see how long it took. It took 26 seconds. Therefore I set it to 30. So if you’re in frame for more than 30 seconds, it’s going to do a talk down.”
Incidents of trespassing, solicitation, and loitering decreased significantly. Since implementing the RAD units, car break-ins at one location have dropped by 75 percent, the company reported. The visible presence of ROSA and RIO units deterred potential intruders and vandals, creating a safer environment for tenants and visitors. Specific examples include the prevention of multiple attempted break-ins and the deterrence of unauthorized individuals from accessing restricted areas.
“We’re no longer getting negative comments on social media or pressure from the police,” said a company representative. The improved security measures also fostered a greater sense of community and safety among the residents and visitors. Tenants expressed appreciation for the enhanced security measures, noting that they felt more secure and confident in their decision to remain at the properties.
The company said the ability to pull footage quickly and efficiently in response to incidents was a game-changer. “We had a break-in, and the footage was analyzed and sent to the police within 45 minutes,” said the representative.
Given the positive impact on security and operational efficiency, the property management company is considering expanding the deployment of RAD units to additional properties. Considering the success of the initial deployment, the company is evaluating other properties within their portfolio that could benefit from similar security enhancements. This expansion aims to standardize security measures across all managed properties, ensuring consistent safety and protection. The company is also exploring opportunities to integrate RAD units with other advanced security technologies, such as drones and automated patrol systems, to further enhance their security infrastructure.
“We’re planning for 2025, and so far, it’s worked out well for 2024,” said the representative. “The police department appreciates the system, and it’s helping us manage our properties more efficiently.”
Not only has the deployment of RAD’s RIO and ROSA devices been highly beneficial for the property management company and its tenants, but it has also yielded significant advantages for Hudson Services. By implementing RAD’s cutting-edge security solutions, Hudson Services has greatly enhanced its operational capabilities and strengthened its reputation as a leading provider of innovative security services.
“Implementing RAD’s RIO and ROSA devices has been a game-changer for us,” commented Nate Zoellner, executive vice president, security solutions, American Security and Investigations. “These advanced security solutions have enabled us to capture this key retail property management client, displacing the existing security guarding company. The success of this deployment has opened new opportunities for us, and we look forward to leveraging RAD’s technology to further expand our client base and enhance our service offerings in the future. Additionally, the entire RAD team has been exceptional to work with, from the sales process to deployment specialists, making the integration seamless and highly efficient.”