Criminals look for construction sites because, in the mind of a criminal, they are an easy target. They’re vacant after hours, have plenty of high-value goods, and often have minimal security to keep the bad guys out.
Theft is a significant problem for the construction industry, amounting to nearly $1 billion in lost assets annually. There are over 11,000 theft incidents reported at construction sites annually, compounding the issue for managers, investors, and insurance companies, just to add insult to injury.
With so much at stake, it’s time to take a stand and fight back with robust, secure measures that deter theft and prevent potential thieves from stealing goods. Old-school tools, such as lighting, physical barriers, and signage, join high-tech solutions, like construction cameras and services from companies like TrueLook, to create security layers that mitigate criminal risk.
Throughout today’s article, we discuss the rising issue of larceny, what you can do to support construction site theft prevention, and how technology is arming you with data that covers more ground than security personnel.
The Rising Issue of Construction Site Theft
The average theft incident costs companies, contractors, and subcontractors around $6,000. More often than not, stolen construction equipment is gone for good. When materials and valuable equipment go missing from the jobsite, it causes project delays and increases costs.
Thieves tend to go after a few common items, so securing them with locks, lights, security cameras, and motion sensors each night is a must. Here’s what to lock up:
- Heavy equipment: Secure equipment such as excavators, backhoes, pavers, and scrapers using chains, locked cabs, immobilization methods, and trackers.
- Tools: Hand tools, power tools, tool boxes, and belts are easy to walk off with and turn up at pawn shops unlabeled. Place these loose items in locked buildings, sheds, or storage areas.
- Vehicles: Work trucks are common targets and often carry the most value. Ensure crew members lock doors, park in well-lit areas, and install GPS tracking devices to prevent theft.
- Copper and building materials: Copper is target number one, with thieves going as far as ripping it from walls. Secure all building materials, and don’t allow any loose material to lay around, especially as the day ends.
Theft hurts the bottom line and causes timeline issues. It also contributes to climbing insurance premiums, demoralized workers, and new safety concerns. Even if your construction site looks secure, you can put yourself at an increased risk for theft.
Key Strategies for Construction Site Theft Prevention
One of the best things you can do for the security of your construction sites is to develop a comprehensive security plan. Aside from a detailed blueprint, deploying a few basic security strategies can make a world of difference in preventing suspicious activity.
Establish Perimeter Security
The perimeter of your jobsite is the first line of defense against thieves. The first step is to install an industry-standard six-foot-tall fence around the perimeter. Couple your fence with clear signage every 50 feet to make it clear that the construction site is off-limits to the general public.
Additionally, you should install adequate lighting at 100-foot intervals to illuminate hiding spots after dark. Construction cameras with built-in infrared or thermal technology are ideal for enhancing visibility in low-light areas, providing reliable night vision to monitor the site around the clock.
Limit Access to Jobites
A locked gate is another fundamental security measure that now has more advanced options. Padlocks and chains are rudimentary, and many construction companies are switching to electronic badged entry to kill two birds with one stone
Other control measures include delivery tracking systems and inventory management platforms with time-tagged scanning. These access controls prevent unauthorized individuals from getting their hands on material or equipment.
Surveillance Cameras
Cameras serve multiple purposes, from preventing criminal activity and tracking incidents to viewing project progress remotely. Fixed cameras usually provide a wide field of view and are ideal for capturing continuous, high-quality footage of a single area 24/7. This makes them especially useful for monitoring high-risk areas, such as entry/exit points or locations where valuable tools and equipment are stored.
On the other hand, pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) cameras offer 360-degree viewing and can be directed to specific areas as needed. PTZ cameras can capture high-quality images comparable to fixed cameras, but they can only focus on one angle at a time, with a smaller field of view. Many customers integrate both types into a security plan, using fixed cameras for consistent coverage of high-risk zones and PTZ cameras for flexible monitoring of lower-risk areas. Others may opt for a single PTZ camera that can be moved as needed, defaulting to high-risk areas and shifting in response to detected motion.
Advanced features like AI-driven tracking, time-lapse recording, and live monitoring further enhance site security, enabling quick documentation and reporting for insurance or law enforcement. Some construction camera providers even offer monitoring teams who watch sites after hours and alert authorities in case of a potential threat.
Lighting and Alarms
Audiovisual deterrents, like alarms, motion-activated lights, and talk-down speakers, dissuade would-be criminals through blaring sirens and flashing visual warnings. Proper deployment of audiovisual deterrents is especially valuable during non-working hours when criminals are most likely to strike.
Inventory Management and Tracking
Inventory management systems keep tabs on materials, allowing you to uncover internal construction equipment theft. This updated log of tools, equipment, and building supplies is also handy for insurance purposes, as you can produce a log of valuable assets should you have to file a claim.
The Role of Technology in Preventing Jobsite Theft
Low-tech solutions to prevent construction site theft include motion-activated lights, perimeter fencing, and signage. While somewhat effective, the introduction of more advanced forms of security does more to mitigate theft and catch criminals.
CCTV has a long history of catching thieves, but with new live camera viewing and intelligent alerts, you can respond to security incidents in real time. That’s what the team at TNT Tuckpointing did when they installed PTZ cameras with AI-powered motion detection alerts.
Advanced cameras and AI have sprung into action to catch criminals in the act and save precious tools and construction materials from being walked off the work site. Read all about how TrueLook’s jobsite monitoring saved TNT Tuckpointing in this case study!
Safeguard Your Construction Site with TrueLook
Construction site theft used to be an unavoidable part of doing business. Today, however, it’s preventable through a combination of security practices, construction site technology, and jobsite monitoring.
The rise in theft in general and, more specifically, construction theft means we must take greater precautions to prevent falling victim. Technology is filling the gaps by adding additional layers to our security strategies that prevent some of the most common occurrences, like material theft, vehicle theft, and internal theft.
Despite the rising crime, you have more options than ever to protect your construction sites.
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