The takeaway: Construction site theft is real and growing, particularly in warm-weather locations where work can go on all year. Here are seven proven strategies for stopping it.
Construction site theft is bad and getting worse. Thanks largely to high material prices for items such as copper and lumber, and the high value of construction equipment, construction site theft is now a $1 billion problem for American builders, who stand to lose not just piping, front loaders, and drills, but also significant project timeline delays and associated financial losses.
Construction site theft is particularly problematic in places like Texas, Florida, and California, where high construction activity often meets year-round construction seasons. The sites most prone to theft are those that are the most difficult to protect–remote sites with little traffic and where equipment is hard to secure and prone to extended periods of being left unattended.
Here are seven proven methods for combating construction site theft that you can implement right now.
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Enhance Perimeter Security
A well-secured site boundary is the first line of defense against construction site theft. This can include gates, high fencing, lighting, and signage.
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Track and Inventory Your Assets
A key step in stemming thefts is knowing precisely what you have on site. With some materials delivered early, and some tools and equipment used intermittently, missing stuff can go unnoticed for weeks, complicating the recovery process.
Begin by creating a detailed inventory of tools, equipment, and materials. Audits should be conducted daily for high-value items and regularly for other items to catch discrepancies early. As possible, equipment should be marked with your company’s logo or etched with another unique identifier to thwart resale attempts. Consider active GPS trackers for heavy machines and expensive but easy-to-steal tools and equipment. Geofencing tech can send real-time alerts if something leaves a designated area.
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Set Up an Affordable Security Camera Network
There have been major leaps in security camera technology in recent years. No longer do you need complicated hard-wired CCTV networks to protect your assets–new tools like those from DEFEND provide truly wireless motion-activated 360-degree security cameras that operate on rechargeable batteries and solar power and send instant notifications using 4G cellular networks. Even more affordable cameras like the original DEFEND Cam offer 4K photo resolution and a 100-foot IR flash range. Since they are wireless and operate on 4G, you don’t need electricity at the site or Wi-Fi, and the cameras can be moved from site to site and even within sites in minutes. Imagery is stored on the cloud for easy retrieval in case it’s needed for sharing with police or insurance providers.
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Control Site Access
The risk of insider theft and theft from unwanted visitors can be reduced significantly by controlling site access. This can include limited entry points, a check-in/check-out system, ID badging, and even background checks on subcontractors.
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Properly Secure Materials and Equipment
Make it as difficult as possible for valuable goods to mysteriously walk off. This can include strategic storing of some materials, such as parking heavy equipment around smaller, more portable items to create a physical barrier, and ensuring the keys are stored off site, as well as disabling some machinery by removing batteries and fuses. Valuable tools and smaller equipment can be stored in locking containers or sheds.
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Partner With Law Enforcement and Neighbors
Relationships can help deter theft. Consult with local law enforcement to build rapport–this can help with extra patrols and in the case of theft investigations. Locals can assist you as well by reporting unusual or suspicious after-hours activity.
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Make Security Part of Your Work Culture
Finally, building security into your work culture can be an effective theft prevention method. This can include the establishment of formal theft-prevention policies and communication, a zero-tolerance stance on theft, education of team members about security protocols and proper shutdown procedures, training on how to identify and report suspicious activity, and the implementation of a system for employees to report suspicious activity anonymously.
DEFEND cameras and accessories provide security for every setting, with tough, dependable, hard-working cameras that anyone can set up and use in minutes. With data plans starting at just $5 a month and coverage wherever you can get a phone signal, there’s no reason not to use this cheap security cam option. Get started with simple wireless 4G security today.