We recently heard of a shocking true story that really stuck with us. A warehouse in San Francisco’s Bay Area recently lost approximately $7 million worth of product overnight. It was taken abruptly, in an area that didn’t have any surveillance or video coverage. There was no footage of the heist, leading investigators, police, and the insurance company to call this a cold case.
Cargo Theft Is on the Rise – Fast
Sadly, these types of situations are not uncommon. Cargo theft is on the rise, with reported cases increasing 46% in the first quarter of 2024 in the United States (CargoNet).
Geographically, California and Texas experienced the most significant increases in theft activity. California reported a 33% rise in incidents, while Texas saw a 39% surge. Together with Illinois, these three states accounted for 46% of all cargo theft in 2024.
What Happened and Why It Matters
The driver of the freight trailer recounted the story, explaining how his boss had received a shipment of high-value computer chip products. The products were stored in a local warehouse, located in San Francisco’s Bay Area shipping yards. Part of the process, the products are usually stored overnight and then transferred to freight trucks for shipment and delivery. During the late hours of the evening, thieves targeted this successful small business and stole seven million dollars worth of product in a matter of hours.
While the insurance company managed to cover a partial amount of the loss, the business owner was still responsible for covering approximately a million dollars in losses. During the investigations, he was unable to provide concrete evidence of the product and how much of the loss suffered. These types of numbers may not seem like a lot to a large-scale operation like Amazon, but they deeply hurt owners who work diligently on their businesses.
Due to this unfortunate series of events, lack of surveillance and indoor cameras, the owner ultimately filed for bankruptcy and sold his business.
Small Businesses are Most at Risk
These stories are not rare. According to a 2023 report by FreightWaves, cargo theft involving electronics has surged (FreightWaves, 2023). Many thefts occurred in unsecured or minimally surveilled warehouses. The absence of camera footage is often cited as the primary reason insurance claims are delayed or denied. These recurring stories are showing a growing pattern, especially within the small and midsize business spaces. Many business owners have assumed that their warehouse locations are unlikely targets, when in reality, they’re the most vulnerable.
Alternatively, theft doesn’t always come in the form of a break-in or high-end heist. Sometimes losses occur internally or through gaps in day-to-day business operations. The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has linked nearly 30% of small business fraud to billing and non-cash misappropriation. These types of losses can be mitigated with the presence of internal surveillance (ACFE, 2022). The highest risk areas are not always obvious. Stockrooms, break areas, and supply rooms are usually unmonitored. Many times, these spaces are not intentionally ignored, but become afterthoughts when businesses set up basic security measures.
Indoor cameras help track deliveries, time of access, employee safety, and much more. It creates a stronger foundation for daily operations and security concerns.
Steps to Take to Protect Your Business
There are several steps you can take to begin protecting your business. Some of the things you can do are to start with a walkthrough, physically analyze your space, and assess what areas are most at risk. Where are the blind spots? What areas usually go unnoticed?
The good news is that you don’t need an enterprise-level solution. According to a 2022 survey by Software Advice, small businesses ranked local storage and ease of use as the top features when selecting surveillance equipment. More than 40% preferred systems without recurring subscription fees, opting instead for cost-effective, standalone setups. (Software Advice, 2022).
Indoor surveillance like the Psync Camera Genie S checks all those marks. It is specifically designed for ease of use, clear 360-degree coverage, powerful LED lights, and smart motion tracking without requiring cloud storage or monthly payments.
- Built-in local storage
- Clear 2K resolution
- Easy Multi-Camera Management
- No subscription fees
The bottom line is that setting up simple indoor security cameras isn’t about catching “bad guys.” It’s about providing context, support, and evidence when you need footage.
Indoor Cameras are Great for Business
Security doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t have to set up a complex system with monitors and wires to be prepared for the unexpected. You need an easy, simple solution that works quietly in the background and gives you full access to your system, anytime, anywhere.
If you run a business in a warehouse, offices, shop, or brick-and-mortar space, you need to think about the spaces you wouldn’t consider to be a risk.
For National Small Business Week, take a small but meaningful step towards securing your professional spaces with Psync Camera Genie S. Now is the time to stay informed, prepared, and focus on the work that matters most.
Are you ready to make a small investment for your business? We’re offering a special deal to all our small business owners. If you buy any two bundles, you can get one 32GB bundle for free. To take advantage of this special offer, you’ll need to add all three bundles to your cart and use ‘SBW2025’ at checkout.
