The risks that are specific to dealerships
Vehicles on a forecourt are visible, valuable and mobile. The main risks are theft of vehicles and parts, vandalism, misuse of test-drive vehicles and keys, and theft from the workshop.
Some of these are inside jobs or paperwork failures. For that reason, process matters as much as a guard.
Key control comes first
Vehicle theft often starts with a key. Keep all keys in a locked cabinet or safe, with a sign-out register that records who took which key, when, and for what.
Never leave keys in vehicles overnight. Count the keys at close and open, and investigate any difference at once.
Stock control and test drives
A daily stock check against the register, by VIN or stock number, finds a missing vehicle in hours rather than weeks. A guard can help by checking vehicles at set times and recording what is on the lot.
For test drives, record the driver's licence and ID, the time out and expected return, and the vehicle. Staff, not the guard, should handle the sale and the licence check. The guard's job is to log movements at the gate.
What a night guard should do
At night, a guard on the forecourt provides a visible deterrent and an early warning. The guard should patrol on irregular times, check the perimeter, gates and workshop, and log each round.
A lone guard should have a radio or phone, a clear alarm procedure and a supervisor who visits. Guards should observe and call for help, and never chase.
Lighting, cameras and alarms
Good lighting across the lot is among the cheapest deterrents. Cameras should cover entrances, the lot and the workshop, with recordings kept and reviewed. Alarm signals need someone responsible for answering them.
Workshop, parts and handovers
The workshop is a second risk area. Customer vehicles, parts and tools sit behind the showroom and are often less watched. Keep the parts store locked with a sign-out register, and record the odometer and condition of customer cars at check-in and handover.
Handovers are a moment of confusion. Make sure the right person collects the right car with the right keys, and that the guard sees a signed release before a vehicle leaves.
Long weekends and sales events
Dealerships are often busy on Saturdays and closed on Sundays and public holidays, and offenders know it. Make sure the guard cover is checked before a long weekend, and that everyone knows who to call if the alarm sounds.
On launch days and sales events, crowds and extra vehicles on the lot call for more eyes. Brief the guard, mark restricted areas and keep test-drive vehicles under control.
What to put in the contract
Ask your provider for these in writing before the guard starts.
- PSiRA registration of the company and of each guard.
- Written post instructions for opening, closing, patrols and test drives.
- Who supervises, how often, and how visits are recorded.
- How incidents are reported to you, and how quickly.
- Who is liable if a vehicle is lost on a guarded site, and what insurance the provider holds.
Questions people ask
Do I need a guard if I have cameras?
Cameras record, but a guard deters and can raise the alarm. For a lot with many vehicles, both are usually worth having.
Should guards handle test-drive paperwork?
No. Keep licence checks and the sales process with staff. The guard logs movements at the gate.
Does my insurer care?
Often yes. Insurers can set conditions on key storage, lighting and alarms, so check your policy.
Mtunzini Group is a family-run, PSiRA-registered guarding company in Cape Town that actively manages its officers with field supervision.