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Car Break-Ins: What Multifamily Operators Are Seeing

Car Break-ins Survey

The following poll was conducted during our Car Break-Ins, Auto Theft, and Legal Liability webinar.

Q1: How frequently do car break-ins occur at your property (or properties you manage)?

Poll Results

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Poll Results – Q1: How Frequently Do Car Break-Ins Occur?

  • A few times a year — 24 (39%)
  • Multiple times per month — 11 (18%)
  • Rarely (once a year or less) — 9 (15%)
  • Once a month — 7 (11%)
  • Not sure / No data — 6 (10%)
  • Never — 5 (8%)

Five Key Takeaways

Recurring issue for many. Nearly half of respondents reported incidents at least a few times per year, confirming that car break-ins remain a persistent challenge.
High-frequency hotspots exist. 18% experience break-ins monthly or multiple times per month, indicating certain properties may be targeted repeatedly.
Low but not negligible inactivity. Only 5% have never experienced a break-in, showing that complete immunity is rare.
Data gaps limit awareness. 6% are unsure or have no incident data, suggesting some properties lack adequate tracking or reporting processes.
Opportunity for targeted prevention. The range of incident frequencies highlights the need for adaptable security strategies tailored to each property’s risk profile.
Summary: Most multifamily properties face car break-ins on a recurring basis, with some experiencing frequent incidents. Few are untouched by the issue, and a notable share lack clear incident data. This underscores the importance of proactive security strategies — including tools like AI surveillance and remote guarding — to both deter incidents and improve reporting accuracy for better long-term prevention.

Q2: Beyond the safety of your residents, what is your biggest concern when it comes to parking?

Poll Results

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Q2: Biggest Concern About Parking (Beyond Safety)

  • All of the above — 34 (55%)
  • Legal liability if something happens — 8 (13%)
  • Resident attrition due to safety concerns — 8 (13%)
  • Negative online reviews or reputation damage — 4 (6%)
  • Cost of implementing new security — 4 (6%)
  • Increased insurance premiums — 0 (0%)
  • Not a major concern — 4 (6%)

Five Key Takeaways

Parking problems are multi-dimensional. Over half (55%) believe multiple risks, legal, operational, and reputational, are interconnected, so solutions must address all at once.
Legal and retention stakes are high. The top individual concerns were legal liability and resident attrition (13% each), showing both compliance and tenant satisfaction drive decision-making.
Cost isn’t the main obstacle. Only 6% saw implementation costs as the biggest issue, suggesting budgets aren’t the primary reason parking issues persist.
Reputation is a secondary effect. Just 6% cited negative reviews as their main worry, implying reputation damage is seen as a consequence of other problems.
Insurance impact is negligible. With 0% selecting increased premiums, stakeholders don’t view parking issues as a driver of insurance costs.
Summary: Respondents view parking challenges as more than just a safety matter, with most recognizing multiple risks spanning legal exposure, resident turnover, and reputational harm. Addressing these concerns requires a holistic strategy, integrating technology such as AI surveillance and remote guarding can help mitigate liability while improving resident satisfaction and community reputation.

Q3: What level of security currently exists in your parking areas?

Poll Results

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Q3: What level of security currently exists in your parking areas?

  • Cameras + patrols — 19 (31%)
  • No security presence or surveillance — 15 (24%)
  • Security cameras only — 13 (21%)
  • Cameras + remote monitoring + patrols — 8 (13%)
  • Security patrols only — 7 (11%)

Five Key Takeaways

Hybrid security is most common. The largest group (31%) reported having both cameras and patrols, suggesting many properties favor a blend of surveillance and human presence.
A quarter have no security at all. 24% lack both surveillance and physical presence, representing a significant vulnerability that could be a target for improvement.
Cameras dominate over patrols.  21% have cameras only, compared to just 11% with patrols only, showing a heavier reliance on technology than manpower.
Advanced multi-layer setups are rare. Only 13% use cameras + remote monitoring + patrols, indicating that fully integrated solutions are still uncommon.
Room for tech-human integration. The gap between simple camera setups and fully layered systems suggests opportunities to upgrade properties to smarter, proactive security models.
Summary: Parking security varies widely, from layered camera-patrol systems to no coverage at all. While cameras are prevalent, few properties combine them with remote monitoring and patrols for comprehensive protection. Expanding to include AI-driven surveillance and real-time remote guarding can help close security gaps and deliver around-the-clock deterrence.

Know Your Law

See where and how these laws might affect your property

Turn Insights Into Action

Poll results are valuable — but the real impact comes from applying them.
Schedule a call with Cloudastructure to explore how AI-powered surveillance and remote guarding can help prevent car break-ins, reduce liability, and improve resident safety at your properties.
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