The Philly Voice reports that a SEPTA employee stole $638,000 worth of train parts. SEPTA, short for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, serves Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties. The employee allegedly stole parts from six different SEPTA properties to resell for amounts much lower than their value. Montgomery County authorities can date his activity back to as early as January 2015.

Approximately 500 batteries, 260 catalytic converters, 100 spools of wire, and a variety of parts specific to SEPTA’s El trains were found to be stolen by the employee, but only after a manager spotted him on May 11 of this year. The employee was not scheduled to be on the property and hid his face from the manager while driving through the parking lot of one of SEPTA’s facilities in Plymouth Township.

While this case involved unusually expensive parts, employee theft isn’t an uncommon phenomenon. The U.S. Chamber of commerce estimates that employers lose between $20 and $40 billion each year due to employee theft. When employees aren’t monitored, they have a greater accessibility to merchandise. However, if they were aware that video surveillance systems were put in place, they would probably think twice about these crimes of opportunity. By installing video security systems, employers can cut their theft losses by 80% and increase employee productivity as well.

There are different types of video security solutions available for businesses, including closed-circuit television surveillance (CCTV), which allows a surveillance company to notify authorities of suspicious activity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rather than triggering an alarm on-site. Employers have enough on their plates as is. Adding time to monitor security systems will spread them even thinner, not to mention they may not catch every theft that happens.

Affordable, high-resolution cloud-connected cameras are available, and allow the footage to be accessed on multiple monitors in multiple locations. This makes it possible for the surveillance company as well as the employer to look at any footage or possible evidence pointing toward theft.

If you are a company struggling with employee theft in the Delaware or Philadelphia areas, contact ARG Communications. We can provide you with top-notch security systems that will help your business stay in check.