Patrols and guarding for car parks
SIA licensed officers patrol, guard and lock up car parks for offices, retail sites, business parks and residential developments.
A car park holds a lot of vehicles in one place, often with no staff around for long stretches. On Guard Security provides car park security in Edinburgh and Glasgow, using SIA licensed officers for mobile patrols, static guarding and lock-up. Every visit is time-stamped, with a written report each shift. Get in touch and we will send a tailored quotation and loss prevention plan for your car park.
The right cover depends on the size of the car park, its layout and its opening hours. Services include:
Car park security sits alongside our commercial security across Edinburgh and Scotland.
Police Scotland recorded 4,898 thefts of a motor vehicle in 2025-26, up 3% from 4,753 the year before. Thefts from a motor vehicle fell 17%, from 1,857 to 1,537.
Source: Scottish Government, Recorded Crime in Scotland 2025-26, Crimes of dishonesty.
For a car park owner or manager, a time-stamped record of each patrol gives a dated account of the checks made and anything found.
Every site is different. Tell us about yours and we will send a tailored quotation and plan.
Komoo, an Edinburgh business holding customers' cars for repair, had us guard its premises overnight from 9pm to 6am. Officers walked the site, and on the hour, every hour, sent the client a site report and a time-stamped walk video to prevent car theft.
Each type of car park has its own busy and quiet hours. We cover car parks across both cities and the central belt, including:
No two car parks are laid out the same, so cover starts with a site audit of the layout, entry and exit points, pedestrian routes and how people move through the car park. We then agree the number of patrol visits, how the times vary and what each check covers, and set this out in your quotation and loss prevention plan.
Cover can run evenings and weekends only, overnight, or as rotating 24/7 teams where a car park needs an officer at all times. We keep the same officers on your site wherever possible, and every shift is supervised. For regular checks, see our mobile patrols and keyholding in Edinburgh; for an officer on site throughout, our manned guarding in Edinburgh. Our guide to manned guarding vs mobile patrols compares the two.
Every patrol is time-stamped and logged, with a written report each shift. Depending on the package, hourly walkthrough videos and WhatsApp updates go straight to your mobile, so you can see your site is checked without being there.
Illustration. Updates depend on the package.
Coverage
Examples of where we work. If your location is not listed, get in touch.
FAQs
On Guard Security either agrees a patrol schedule or places a static officer on site. Patrol officers check entrances, exits, stairwells, lighting and parked vehicles for signs of damage or entry, then lock gates and barriers where needed. Every visit is time-stamped and written up in the shift report.
Yes. Car park lock-up is part of our out-of-hours patrol service. Gates and barriers can be opened and closed at the times you set, with each visit logged so you have a record of when the car park was secured.
For private car parks, yes. On Guard Security can provide parking enforcement and permit checks on private land and has done so for clients before.
We do not publish set rates. The price depends on the size of the car park, the number of patrol visits, the hours covered, whether a static officer is needed and the notice given. Overnight shifts may carry a surcharge. Quotes are free and most arrive within 24 hours.
Yes. We work regularly across Glasgow on events and commercial contracts, and car park patrols and static guarding are available in both cities with the same supervision and reporting. See our page for the security company covering Glasgow.
Is your car park left unattended overnight or outside opening hours?
Contact us on WhatsApp or email us today to receive a written quotation and loss prevention plan.
Google reviews
"Dean and his staff are always professional, reliable and well-presented at every event. They handle situations calmly and confidently, while also staying approachable and respectful to guests and staff."
"No matter the location, whether it is Larbert, Troon, Aberdeen, Livingston, Bathgate, Inverness, Shetland, Stornoway or anywhere in between, the standard of service is always professional, reliable and well organised."
"Working alongside their team is always an absolute pleasure. Their staff is highly trained, incredibly reliable, and handles event operations with the utmost composure."
"After the first day Dean pointed out a potential security risk which I was not aware of. He also came to the site several times to check if everything is ok."
"Dean and his team are professional, reliable, well-presented, and understand the fairground and attractions industry extremely well."
"Absolutely fantastic service from the team at on guard needed last minute security and they were spot on 10/10"
"Dean and his team have been excellent. Flexible, professional and clearly understand the best approach to each individual situation."
"As an SIA-certified Close Protection specialist, his strategic preparation was spot on, and the subsequent execution left nothing to be desired."
"Dean is always a great asset in the team and his staff all align with our values of delivering above and beyond service."
"We use On guard for many of our events around Scotland. There a great bunch of guys & gals with great management and knowledge of licensing and policies."
Learn about us
A Scottish event and site security company with more than 65 SIA licensed personnel, led by founder Dean Waters, who has over 15 years in the security industry. We work across Edinburgh, Glasgow, the central belt and beyond, for events, commercial sites, construction and private clients.
Watch the video below to learn more about us
Contact us
Tell us your location or locations, dates and what you need covered. We will learn about your requirements and send a written quotation and security plan, usually within 24 hours.
Or call +44 7348 955836 · dean@onguardsecurity.uk