Big Brand Tire and Service Combats Vandalism and Break-Ins with Interface’s Virtual Perimeter Guard
Big Brand Tire & Service is one of the nation’s fastest-growing independent tire and automotive service providers, with over 300 locations across the United States. Established in 1969, the company is well-known for offering a full range of tire brands and automotive services. To keep employees and customers safe and protect valuable inventory, the company recognized the need to enhance security measures around its store perimeter.
The Challenge
Big Brand Tire and Service locations faced persistent after-hours security threats that turned outdoor areas into hotspots for criminal activity. Incidents ranged from theft of high-value items like tires and tools to unauthorized trespassing, illegal encampments, and vandalism that included repeated window damage and property defacement. These issues strained resources, created safety concerns, and took a toll on employee morale.
“We constantly had people in the back alley, and our managers had to regularly deal with transients on the property, some of whom became hostile. Some of our locations were facing frequent break-ins, and someone would have to come in the middle of the night to often board up a window.”
Johnny Wedell
Retail Commercial Operations Representative
Big Brand Tire and Service
Even minor incidents, such as a broken window, could cost more than $1,000 to repair, while a single break-in led to damages exceeding $15,000. These events not only drove up costs but also raised safety concerns, diverted staff time, and disrupted day-to-day operations. The company quickly realized that reactive measures were not enough and that a proactive solution was needed to stop threats before they turned into incidents.
The Solution
Interface deployed its AI-powered Virtual Perimeter Guard (VPG) at a high-risk Big Brand Tire location to validate the effectiveness of the solution. The VPG was configured with cameras monitoring the front door, front window glass, and in front of the garage bay doors – areas where the site had previously experienced break-ins. In addition, behind the site, Interface setup an additional camera monitoring a fenced area where merchandise is stored and the dumpster. This camera was deployed to prevent vagrants from entering the fenced area and preventing illegal dumping.
During the initial calibration phase, the AI system learned the site’s environment and activity patterns, to optimize its ability to accurately detect potential threats. The solution was deployed as a standalone security solution using the existing network infrastructure, ensuring there was no interruption to daily operations.
VPG leverages advanced AI-powered cameras to distinguish between genuine threats, such as people or vehicles, and environmental false alarms with precision. When a threat is detected, the system triggers a multi-layered deterrent that includes strobe lights paired with a commanding pre-recorded audio warning that asks intruders to vacate the premises. For non-compliant threats, the system escalates seamlessly to Interface’s U.S.-based Interactive Security Operations Center (iSOC), where trained security professionals deliver live voice-down interventions and coordinate with law enforcement as needed.
Results Delivered
The Virtual Perimeter Guard pilot transformed site security almost immediately, delivering measurable reductions in threats and a renewed sense of safety.
Break-ins ceased entirely after installation, and trespassing and weekly monitoring reports showed a steep drop in trespassing and loitering as habitual offenders stopped returning. The system resolved 91 percent of events through its automated deterrence, without needing human intervention, and overall security activations fell by 65 percent within weeks.
This efficiency extended to daily operations. Employees ended shifts without lingering anxiety, and the reduction in nighttime alerts eliminated late-night trips to secure the property.
Encouraged by these outcomes, Big Brand Tire is now evaluating a broader rollout to additional locations and making Virtual Perimeter Guard a key part of its security strategy.
"The Virtual Perimeter Guard has resolved many of the security issues we were dealing with at this location. The biggest benefit is the peace of mind that comes from knowing we’re no longer facing overnight break-ins."
Tim Handel
Loss Prevention and Risk Management Manager
Big Brand Tire and Service
