S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute Analyzes 850,000 Big Data Entries
An S-1 dispatch officer is providing free security consulting to the store owner at an unmanned store.
There are concerns that intrusion crimes, which increase during holiday periods, will target unmanned stores rather than houses this year. This change is a result of the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. On the 27th, S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute stated that the pattern of intrusion crimes is changing due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation. This conclusion was drawn from analyzing big data from 850,000 customer locations.
Last year, intrusion crimes decreased by 25.2% compared to the previous year, and by 56.6% compared to 2019, before the outbreak of COVID-19. Specifically, residential intrusion crimes sharply declined. Last year, residential intrusion crimes decreased by 72.7% compared to the previous year. This is because social distancing measures led people to work from home on weekdays and refrain from going out on holidays, making houses less of a target for burglars.
On the other hand, unmanned stores have become a new target for crimes. Intrusion crimes at unmanned stores increased by 85.7% last year compared to 2020. As the contactless trend has become widespread, unmanned stores in Korea have expanded to various sectors such as convenience stores, PC bangs, pet shops, and cafes. The industry estimates that about 100,000 stores are currently in operation. As the number of unmanned stores increases, the exposure to crimes naturally rises as well.
Looking at the timing, January and February of last year accounted for 26.5% of all intrusion crimes, making it the period with the highest number of such crimes. Compared to 2020, this is a 10.4% increase. Even though intrusion crimes have generally decreased overall, holiday-related crimes have increased. S-1 stated, "Traditionally, intrusion crimes tend to occur frequently at the beginning of the year and during the Lunar New Year holiday period," and added, "As with last year, we are strengthening quarantine measures ahead of this year's Lunar New Year, so intrusion crimes targeting stores such as unmanned stores rather than houses are expected to become more rampant."
Consequently, inquiries for contactless security solutions are also increasing. In the case of S-1, the number of unmanned convenience store customers increased by 40%, and unmanned PC bang customers increased by 79% last year compared to the end of 2020. S-1’s contactless security solution for unmanned stores installs an advanced biometric access control system on the entrance door, allowing identity verification through facial recognition without direct contact with security cards. Inside the store, intelligent CCTV equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) solutions is installed. It automatically detects theft, property damage, disturbances, fires, and other incidents inside the store and sounds an alarm. The control center can remotely broadcast warnings inside the store to prevent crimes. If necessary, security personnel are dispatched immediately.
S-1 actually apprehended a suspect who broke a bill exchanger and stole cash at an unmanned claw machine store last year. The S-1 Crime Prevention Research Institute said, "Having secured meaningful data by analyzing customers’ big data to identify types of intrusion crimes during the Lunar New Year holiday period, we will actively carry out free security consulting activities."
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