COVID-19 developments broadcast every day and has the public eye focused on new statistics, restrictions and methods of avoiding infection whilst security concerns have been placed on the back burner. However, experts insist crime is not any less of a worry.
Increase in Crime
Police and the FBI have noted a decrease in general crime and an increase in burglaries and shootings.
“As of July 20, there have been a total of 310 mass shootings across the nation. That’s a 34% increase compared to the same time period last year, and 74% of 2019’s total of 417 mass shootings. […] In Los Angeles, city-wide burglaries dropped 10% while retail theft jumped 67%, and more vehicle thefts [have occurred] during the pandemic lock-down than during any other time period in the past decade. That adds up to 5,744 vehicles that were snatched between April and June—an increase of more than 57% over the prior year.”
SafeWise
Denver Police Department’s data shows local burglary occurrences were up 50% in April 2020 compared to the same time last year. Whilst home burglaries rose 25% and business burglaries nearly doubled. Other research shows commercial burglaries have risen 44% in Seattle and 17.5% in New York.
Facial Recognition Innovation
Face coverings can make identifying criminals difficult, even with an eye witness. In anticipation of this issue, facial recognition companies are improving their algorithms to identify a person wearing a mask. The area of the face between the eyebrow and the chin is the most recognizable making it easier for a person to be identified. Companies have been approving their software’s algorithm to broaden the legible range of the face, since discrepancies may throw off the program, such as mask color and type. Facewatch claims they have adapted their program to identify a person wearing a mask by analyzing the brow and eye area. Facewatch’s spokesman, Stuart Greenfield, stated the eyes and brows are fixed points on the face and do not vary much over time. It is yet to be tested in real world scenarios where lighting and angles aren’t often favorable. The future of security technology is looking optimistic.
An obscured face can cause a host of problems in situations where facial recognition and cues are needed to gauge a person’s expressions to determine their emotions and intentions. The human mind is subconsciously looking for faces, even in objects, patterns, and textures where there are none. The mouth and nose are the most recognizable parts of the face when it comes to emotions. Since masks obscure half of these important features, the threat detecting mechanisms are handicapped. Experts conjecture this newfound nationwide anonymity can breed a sense of insecurity within our society and increase a potential for aggression. Sgt. Ryan Abbott of the King County Sheriff’s Office WA, attests recognizing a criminal or possible threats will now heavily rely on scrutinizing body language and trusting your instincts. It’s likely you’re correct about a situation if something catches your eye or if you get the feeling something is off, even if not there is always benefit in remaining diligent and cautious.
What can we do to protect ourselves?
Despite these new challenges, precautions can be taken to protect your business. Banks have initiated new subtle guidelines that do not compromise the safety of employees or customers, such as verifying the customer’s ID or account details at the door before they enter the building, restricting customers to wearing masks that only cover the mouth and nose, and prohibiting sunglasses and hats worn in conjunction with masks. COVID-19 or not, security is a vital cornerstone of a functioning business that should be updated and reviewed often. Without security precautions your inventory, profits or property may be in jeopardy, not to mention employees who may happen to be onsite at odd hours.
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