Theft of anything from tools to hefty machinery is a widespread problem in the construction industry. Theft at construction sites may have serious negative repercussions such as decreased productivity, higher expenses due to the need to rent or buy replacement equipment, and possibly even higher insurance rates. Costly fines may also be imposed on construction companies in response to deadlines.
Although exact figures are unavailable, most professionals in the construction industry believe that yearly losses caused by theft at construction sites exceed $1 billion. Therefore, it is crucial that you discourage and mitigate theft in your construction site.
In this article, you will learn how you can prevent thefts from happening on your construction site or stop any ongoing thefts and vandalism.
Let’s get started!
Why Construction Sites Are Targeted
Several valuable materials are situated on construction sites, and unfortunately, thieves have been conditioned to assume that these sites are easy prey. To a large extent, this is true.
The vast majority of these sites have inadequate lighting, are deserted for long stretches of the day, and usually employ minimal security measures, if any at all. This gives criminals a great opportunity to make money by stealing valuable items and reselling them at cheap rates.
The 6 Most Stolen Items from Construction Sites
Certain items are more likely to “grow wings” and disappear from construction sites than others. Also, criminals are more likely to target construction supplies now than ever before due to the increasing demand and low supply.
Here are the top six (6) items commonly stolen from construction sites:
1. Power tools
Many reviews found that power tools were the most commonly stolen items from construction sites. Examples include jigsaws, drills, sanders, grinders, routers, etc. Considering the high resale value of these power tools, it’s no surprise that many buyers are ready to overlook red flags like the tools’ origin or why the seller is offering them at a heavy discount as long as they can get their hands on them.
2. Small hand tools
Thieves often target construction sites because small tools like hammers and saws are easy to move, are regularly left lying around on-site, and can be easily resold. A single missing wrench, saw, or hammer might not seem like much at first, but over time, it could really hurt your business.
3. Appliances
Stolen household appliances are a common occurrence on home construction sites, especially when multiple new homes are being built at once. In order to entice prospective buyers, many property owners make their sites easy to access, but this also make them more vulnerable to theft. Carting away appliances is more easily achieved because residents aren’t bothered by the sight of unfamiliar faces visiting surrounding homes since they are used to seeing construction workers there.
4. Heavy equipment
Even though theft of heavy pieces of machinery like bulldozers, forklifts, or skip loaders is more difficult because of their size, it does occur. Construction site equipment is usually rather expensive, making its resale a lucrative business.
5. Copper
The theft of copper from construction sites is both prevalent and financially devastating to property owners. The loss of equipment may be easily remedied by simply replacing it, but the damage caused by copper theft extends far beyond its market worth. Theft of copper wire or pipe can cause substantial setbacks to a construction project since the thieves could destroy the product of several days’ or even weeks’ worth of labor.
6. Lumber
Stacks of framing lumber that may sit idle at a construction site are becoming prime targets for thieves since lumber is quite expensive. Thieves target deserted work sites to steal timber in the middle of the night and resell them on the black market. It’s also not uncommon for workers to steal a plank of wood for their own use or a side project. They can do this if they believe there isn’t enough of a system of checks and balances in place.
The Ultimate Solution to Construction Site Theft
You can keep an eye on the construction site’s perimeter and stop crimes before they happen using live, remote video surveillance.
In order to deter would-be intruders, security cameras will be strategically placed around the site, with some cameras placed in clearly obvious areas. To further deter would-be burglars and vandals from residential construction sites, clear warning signs announcing the presence of security cameras can be installed.
The video monitoring team keeps a careful eye on a person’s actions in real-time to ascertain their motives and take corrective action if required. Intruders are warned via voice commands that their activities are being monitored and the cops have been notified.
When a site is being monitored in real-time, it’s as if a virtual guard is keeping a constant eye on everything from a wider range of vantage points. If the camera catches something unusual, the officer will immediately raise an alert and contact the authorities.
In addition, it has also been shown that, should a crime occur, video footage is crucial in identifying perpetrators and supporting an insurance claim.
Therefore, to avert theft at construction sites, it’s best to invest in live video monitoring, especially since it has been proven to have a 98% success rate in deterring criminal activity.
Summary
The need for preemptive security measures at construction sites is more crucial than ever before as the global incidence of construction site theft continues to climb. Protecting your construction tools and machinery from theft ahead of time is possible with the aid of live video monitoring systems and technology. Consequently, you can rest easy knowing that your properties are safe and secure, while avoiding anguish, anxiety, project delays, and monetary losses that could have ensued from construction site theft.