Wireless Surveillance Technology Ontario Canada
Wireless Surveillance Technology Ontario Canada, to address rising crime in its Hayward, California location, Costco partnered with Safe and Sound Security to overhaul its parking lot security system. The project involved implementing 24/7 wireless video surveillance and license plate recognition technology, significantly enhancing safety for both customers and employees—without disrupting the parking lot infrastructure.
The Challenge: Crime in the Parking Lot
Costco’s Hayward store, though situated in a well-maintained area, faced frequent vehicle break-ins. While interior surveillance was already in place, the parking lot lacked sufficient coverage, leaving customers and staff vulnerable.
Initially, a security vendor proposed installing wired cameras—but this would require digging up the lot to lay conduit, a costly and invasive option. Costco sought a more innovative solution.
The Solution: Wireless, Scalable Surveillance
Safe and Sound Security engineered a wireless system that avoided any underground wiring. The design used existing infrastructure—light poles and rooftops—to mount cameras and transmit video signals wirelessly.
System Components:
- 22 Avigilon H5A License Plate Recognition Cameras
- 9 Ubiquiti Nanobeams (wireless transmission devices)
- 3 Ubiquiti Rockets (roof-mounted sector antennas)
- 9 Multi-port PoE switches in weatherproof NEMA enclosures
These components created a point-to-multipoint wireless network, sending footage back to Costco’s Avigilon video management platform without requiring cable trenching.
Installation Hurdles & Technical Expertise
Network engineer Zachary Palmquist led the project. One major hurdle was ensuring the wireless signals didn’t interfere with surrounding networks. To solve this:
- A Wi-Fi analyzer was used to scan for frequency saturation.
- The system was tuned to operate on unused frequencies to prevent interference.
Additionally, power was added to timed light poles, and unused fiber optic pairs in Costco’s network were leveraged to isolate camera traffic from internal systems—ensuring both security and performance.
Key Benefits
✅ License Plate Capture
Every vehicle entering or leaving the parking lot is logged, helping law enforcement identify suspects more easily.
✅ Remote Management
With managed PoE switches, Safe and Sound technicians can reboot or update cameras remotely—eliminating the need for costly lift rentals.
✅ Cost Savings & Scalability
The solution avoided expensive trenching and introduced a system that can be scaled and replicated across other Costco locations.
Future Enhancements
Due to the success at the Hayward site, Costco is now expanding this model across its West Coast stores. New deployments will use multi-lens panoramic cameras, which:
- Offer 360-degree views
- Combine the functionality of four cameras into one
- Reduce hardware and software license costs
- Simplify maintenance
Conclusion
Costco’s parking lot surveillance upgrade is a prime example of smart, scalable security innovation. By choosing a wireless, high-tech approach, the company significantly improved safety, avoided construction disruption, and laid the groundwork for future-ready security systems across its locations.
