Interface Systems, a provider of managed services including remote video monitoring and commercial security solutions, recently concluded a successful pilot of its Virtual Perimeter Guard™ system with fast-food chain White Castle. The trial was conducted at a high-risk restaurant in St. Louis and aimed to enhance security through the use of AI technology.
The pilot initiative demonstrated established reductions in loitering and security incidents during late hours while enhancing overall safety for both employees and customers.
White Castle’s concern for this specific location arose due to its history of after-hours security challenges, such as loitering, open-air drug use, disturbances in drive-thru lanes, and recurrent vandalism costing thousands in damage per occurrence.
Within the first month of implementation, 91% of perimeter security issues were resolved through AI-driven detection and live voice deterrence, minimizing loitering and eliminating the need for frequent escalation calls. As a result, White Castle noted an improvement in employee morale and a more comforting environment for customers waiting in drive-thru lines.
“Sometimes we don’t even realise something bad may be happening, and the Interface Security experts are already intervening and telling potential criminals to leave,” said Cheryl Soest, District Supervisor at White Castle. “That allows our team to focus on serving customers instead of worrying about what’s happening outside.”
Distinguishing itself from traditional security cameras and prerecorded warning systems, Virtual Perimeter Guard combines AI-powered detection and live interventions with escalating voice downs and strobe lights, enhancing its deterrent capability. The security system is activated nightly, addressing diminished exterior visibility.
“People don’t take prerecorded messages seriously,” Soest added. “When the lights come on, and a live person speaks, they move. They don’t wait around.”
Steve Womer, Senior Vice President of Product at Interface Systems, remarked on the positive shift towards proactive security. “What this deployment of Virtual Perimeter Guard demonstrates is the shift from reactive security to proactive prevention,” he explained. The system merges AI detection with live human intervention, curtailing potential issues before they evolve into more severe incidents.
Detailed weekly reports from Interface Systems streamlined management insight, negating the necessity for on-site staff engagement in monitoring footage, explained Soest. “They handled installation, testing, and walked us through everything step by step. The whole process was very easy.”
Not only did this initiative improve safety, but it also heightened employee confidence and improved customer experiences, particularly during late-night operations where perceptions of safety are crucial. White Castle is now assessing broader application of this system at the pilot location and other venues facing similar challenges.
“If customers feel safe coming onto your lot, and team members feel safe working there, it improves your business,” Soest noted, highlighting the broader implications of enhanced security on business operations.
