Month: September 2022

Construction is one of the largest industries in Britain – it’s hard to find a city which doesn’t have a construction project going on. Unfortunately, the construction industry is also the frequent target of thieves and vandals; it is estimated that the British construction industry loses £800 million every year due to theft, vandalism, and health and safety issues. Surveys have found that 21% of construction industry professionals experience weekly theft from their sites – 92% saying that they suffer from theft on a monthly or annually basis.

Construction sites are popular targets for thieves for a variety of reasons; construction sites usually have an abundance of expensive equipment as well as raw materials (especially metal). Copper and other metals are frequently the target for theft and resale. Fuel has also become a popular target for theft; many thieves break into sites to siphon fuel from vehicles and equipment.  Not only does this result in costly losses in terms of fuel, but the process is liable to seriously damage the equipment as well. Many cases of theft are the result of poor or lacking security. Construction sites are often large, open places which if not properly protected are easy (and appealing) targets for thieves.

Theft is obviously a major problem; not only does it increase insurance premiums, but it also slows down work, damages morale, and has the potential to result in accidents (especially in cases of fuel theft given the serious damage it can cause to the equipment).

In this article we’ll look at some of the approaches you can take to protect your construction site from

Construction Site Theft and Prevention

There are a variety of effective approaches you can take to prevent construction theft. Below are just a few of the approaches you can take.

Putting Equipment Away and Securing Materials

Putting equipment away and securing it in storage lockers is a fantastic way to stop theft.

Thieves are only interested in easy targets; unsecured handheld equipment, loose appliances, fuel or easy to access metals (or other materials) are frequently what will draw the attention of thieves.

If equipment and materials are put away inside of a locked building or secured inside of a storage locker, then they become significantly less vulnerable to thieves. This often reduces insurance premiums as well in the unfortunate case a theft does take place, as there is clear evidence an effort has been made to protect site equipment and materials.

CCTV

CCTV is one of the most effective ways for a building site security.

CCTV systems are effective for a wide variety of reasons. Firstly, CCTV acts as a great deterrent. Thieves know if they are caught on camera then their chances of being caught and prosecuted are raised significantly – and many thieves will avoid a property equipped with CCTV as a result. Secondly, CCTV backed with remote monitoring services can be used to alert police (and or manned guarding services) if an intruder is detected on the premises.

Not only will CCTV keep your site safe, but in a worst-case scenario that a crime does occur, they can help to ensure the criminals responsible are caught and prosecuted.

CCTV is often required by insurance policies but can also help to reduce premiums. There are a wide variety of CCTV systems available as well. Rapid Deployment CCTV is a popular approach for construction sites, as it can be quickly set up without the need for existing infrastructure or utilities. The tall profile and distinct silhouette of Rapid Deployment CCTV Towers also helps to dissuade potential intruders.

CCTV can be integrated with other measures such as Alarms and Manned Guarding to create truly comprehensive security.

Alarms

Alarm systems are a superb choice for keeping a construction site safe.   

Alarm systems act as a strong deterrent to intruders and thieves. The visible presence of alarms is often enough to scare off would-be intruders, as they are aware tripping an alarm is more than likely to see them apprehended by the police. Alarm systems are often required by insurance policies and will also help to reduce insurance premiums.

Manned Guarding Services

Manned Guarding Services are a great way to protect a construction site.

Often just called security guards, manned guarding is probably what most people think of when they think about security services. Not only is the physical presence of the guards often enough to deter thieves (as well as vandals and other intruders, who usually have no interest in confrontation) but it also significantly increases the chances of prosecution of any would-be intruders.

Manned guarding services are an excellent and flexible choice and a superb way to keep a construction site safe. Furthermore, manned guarding services can be integrated with approaches such as alarms and CCTV to create a comprehensive security approach.