West Cancer Center Reduces Parking Lot Crime by 100% With Flock Safety Falcon® LPR Cameras

Memphis, Tennessee | West Cancer Center is a prominent leader in adult cancer care and research with a legacy of four decades dedicated to oncology. 

The center was facing a growing challenge of increased criminal activity on its premises, primarily in its parking lots. These issues included car thefts, break-ins, and vandalism, raising concerns among administrators about the safety of staff and patients.

The Challenge: Leading Cancer Center Sees Spike in Crime Prompting Action for Patient and Staff Safety 

The uptick in crime in West Cancer Center’s parking lot prompted concerns among administrators about clinical staff and patient safety on the premises.

Although the center already had an unarmed guard and surveillance cameras, the need to enhance security became evident. Administrators began searching for effective solutions to keep patients and staff safe.

The Solution: Implementing a Virtual Security Perimeter Powered by Flock Safety Falcon^® LPR Cameras

Following conversations with local law enforcement and recommendations from the mayor, West Cancer Center identified Flock Safety license plate reader (LPR) cameras as a clear solution to their security concerns.

LPR cameras enabled monitoring of all incoming and outgoing vehicles in the parking lots, helping deter crime and providing crucial evidence in the event of incidents. 

Ultimately, the Center deployed Flock Safety Falcon^® LPR cameras around the property's perimeter to ensure coverage of all vehicles entering and exiting.

Addressing Privacy Concerns

While the benefits of Flock Safety LPR cameras were clear; the executive team expressed concerns that there would be an uptick in law enforcement presence, causing distress among patients and their families.

To address these concerns, the Center worked with law enforcement to develop a response plan that would not alarm patients and families should there be any known offenders in their parking lot. This approach allowed for a balance between security and privacy.

The Results: Parking Lot Crime Is Reduced by 100% After Flock Deployment

Before the LPR cameras were installed, West Cancer Center encountered attempted crimes almost every other week. Since deploying the LPR perimeter, the facility has experienced a 100% reduction in property crime, with no attempted car thefts or break-ins reported in its parking lot.

Increasing Staff Safety: Using LPR Cameras to Create a Secure Environment

The introduction of LPR cameras had an additional positive impact on staff safety. When an employee shared concerns about a domestic violence situation, the administration gave them the option to place the vehicle on a Flock custom Hot List so that security could be alerted and take appropriate action if the person’s vehicle entered West Cancer Center’s parking lot. Upon learning about this capability, the employee noted they appreciated the proactive efforts from the administration to keep them safe. This added layer of security ensures the safety of employees in the event that a threatening vehicle arrives on the premises.

Gaining the Evidence Needed: Solving a Hit-And-Run Car Accident on Premises

Flock Safety’s Falcon^® LPR cameras also proved valuable when a patient’s car was hit in the parking lot while they were inside receiving treatment. The driver had fled the scene, leaving the patient frustrated and distressed. Fortunately, the West Cancer Center team was able to help the patient quickly identify the offender’s vehicle using data from Flock’s Falcon^® cameras. The patient was grateful for the help as they now had enough vehicle information to file a police report. 

Flock's LPR cameras provide proactive security to deter crime at West Cancer Center while preserving patient privacy. The unobtrusive design of the cameras prevents undue fear, allowing West Cancer Center to effectively pursue its mission to improve the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care for all patients for years to come.