Security lighting is vital to insure effectiveness of security personnel and closed circuit television by increasing the visual range of both the guard and the CCTV. Lighting also has value as a psychological deterrent to potential criminals, and as a positive sense of security for your customers. When evaluating your lighting, remember guards and CCTV surveillance systems must be able to identify people, observe activity, inspect vehicles, spot illegal entry attempts, and notice unusual or suspicious circumstances.  The most obvious problem is illuminating the small narrow spaces formed between parked cars. In order to get some light into these areas, it is recommended that any point in the entire parking lot be provided with illumination from multiple sources or light poles at a minimum height of 20 ft. 

Lighting requirements for CCTV are often considerably lower than those required for direct visual observation depending on the type of system selected. CCTV cameras must be oriented so they are not blinded by the rising or setting sun, automobile headlights and reflections from parking lot lighting.

The layout of a parking lot can sometimes provide an advantage for natural surveillance and patrol observations. Private lots can most easily be designed to facilitate these security measure. Parking lots for retail centers are unique because there is no way to control who has access.    For layout of parking for retail centers, first look at the potential parking sequence and determine if there is a way to increase natural surveillance.  By routing incoming and outgoing traffic through the parking lot to pass by the more remote areas, natural surveillance is increased and criminal opportunity is reduced. Pedestrian corridors between cars at strategic locations also concentrates foot traffic and increases natural surveillance by retail patrons.

Surveillance and adequate lighting without proper security patrols does not effectively provide a safe environment. Patrols should be conducted in clearly marked patrol vehicles that are equipped with emergency lighting.  In areas where lighting is marginal these mobile patrol vehicles should be equipped with spotlights and/or "alley lights" to help illuminate potential trouble areas.  These lights also provide a significant visual deterrent to the would-be thief.  Implementing a proper patrol regiment  that is able to not only deter incidents, but respond rapidly to customers needs, creates a comforting atmosphere for visitors.

Implementation of these measures is a function of risk and risk management. The asset at risk in parking lot security is the personal property and well being of your customers and employees. How much effort you put into theses measures, is a signal to people, of their value to your organization. If there are other shopping centers to shop at, or other places to work where your customers and employees feel safer...they will go there.