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Construction Site Surveillance

One Monday morning, an employee from a large construction company returned to the job site in California and discovered that thieves had stolen a 2007 Case Backhoe sometime over the weekend. The theft was immediately reported to police, who activated the GPS location System hidden in the backhoe. Just 15 minutes later, police and members of an auto theft task force received the silent signal emitted from the backhoe and located the equipment in a field on the outskirts of Modesto. Within an hour of reporting the theft, the $50,000 backhoe was returned to its owners undamaged.

Fortunately, there was a happy ending to this all too frequent story of construction equipment theft. All too many times, the ending is not so pleasant. In fact, the National Insurance Crime Bureau estimates that more than $1 billion in construction equipment is stolen each year. The current economic situation definitely isn't helping matters.

Professional thieves see construction theft as a low-risk, high-reward theft opportunity. The risk of being caught is low because equipment is difficult to trace and is often located on remote, unsecured job sites. Since construction equipment carries a hefty price tag, the rewards for thieves are high. That's precisely why equipment owners need to have a solid action plan to protect their equipment and their businesses from theft.

Low Risk

Construction equipment and fuel theft is considered a "low-risk, high-reward" opportunity for a number of reasons. Equipment is often left at unsecured construction sites where thieves can easily get in and do their dirty work. Additionally, the open cabs and unlocked fuel caps of construction equipment provide thieves with easy access. Also, equipment often has a "one key fits all" ignition, making it all too simple to jump into a backhoe and drive off.

High Reward

The "high-reward" piece of this equation comes in because many pieces of heavy equipment carry a hefty price tag, some as high as $150,000. For example, backhoes can range from $45,000 to $55,000; skid-steer loaders from $25,000 to $35,000; generators from $25,000 up to $150,000 for trailer mounts; forklifts from $12,000 to $50,000. Quick money has caused a spike in the number of professional theft rings, many of which are involved in international operations.

A recent study by California Builder and Engineer, showed that professional theft rings are on the rise, with law enforcement discovering a rise of activity through tracking and recovering stolen equipment that was equipped with the GPS location equipment. Police recovered more than $3 million in additional stolen assets.

In one theft ring bust alone in Los Angeles, police tracked a GPS transmitter equipped skid steer loader and recovered it along with almost $800,000 in additional stolen construction equipment - much of which was intended for shipment overseas to Russia and Europe.

Construction site and Equipment lot Vulnerabilities:

Lack of Electric Supply

Lights, video cameras, motion detectors - all these typically require electricity. A lack of electricity can severely limit standard security options, which is why the Mobile Solar Surveillance Unit is such a needed product. This Mobile Surveillance Unit has a Crystalline PV Array Solar Modules, Deep Cycle Batteries, and alarm notification for equipment low voltage and intrusion.

High value, easily stolen equipment and supplies in temporary storage, skid steers, generators and compressors remain the highest job site theft items year after year. Their prevalence - and the necessity of temporary equipment yard storage - make job sites highly vulnerable targets for theft, especially those close to major transit routes.

Proximity to High Traffic, On/Off Ramps and Interchanges

Thieves always look for a quick way in and out. The closer your job site is to a highway or interstate the more vulnerable you are to loss by theft.

Security Tips:

1. Protect Your Power Source

Thieves can and will cut power lines. Ideally power lines stay at a height of 24 feet or higher. Further, electric meter boxes can be targets as well so if your site has one, be sure to protect it well or find some other power source. Ideally you'll have a Mobile Surveillance Unit for your construction security surveillance and lighting.

2. Invest in Pro-Active Surveillance Technology

Surveillance cameras with remote guards and onsite deterrents provide the same crime stopping power of a guard at a fraction of the cost. We don't just watch from our state of the art command center, we have the ability to utilize two-way audio communication with the secured location. We are also able to warn and deter unauthorized visitors that either a guard or police have been dispatched.

3. Disable Equipment at Night and During the Weekend

Disabling tools includes actions like taking out batteries and spark plugs, and be sure to remove any key boxes that may be on your site if possible. We've seen Conex boxes bashed in with forklifts - it is vital that you keep your heavy vehicles immobile when your crew is not at the site.

4. CCTV - Closer Circuit Television

CCTV provides a very important deterrent in the form of evidence. Recorded evidence is something any criminal wants to avoid at all cost. We offer CCTV, Access Control, Permanent Installation and Remote Monitoring.

5. Establish an End of Day Security "Lockdown" Routine

An end of day security routine includes things like locking all access points, ensuring that all materials and equipment are locked down and that all Conex boxes are secured. This must happen at the end of each day as sometimes employee thieves make the site ready for their theft by leaving locks open or keys in or near the ignition of machinery. This routine is best enforced by the person you make solely responsible for jobsite loss prevention.

6. Install and maintain security fencing.

Fences provide both physical and psychological crime deterrence benefit to your property. Adequate fencing makes climbing difficult, includes barbed wire (especially in urban areas) and has minimal access points. Further, we recommend that employees park outside of the fencing, making quick, impulsive theft of small equipment and tools more difficult. Fences only delay intrusion though, so you will need further layers of security to stop theft at your location.

7) Keep Access Points in Clear Camera View

Gated access points are your points of highest vulnerability for thieves who plan to load up your materials and equipment on their trucks. Chain-link gates are easy to lift and the chains or locks are easy to cut. Keep your access points in clear view of your live video surveillance monitors.

By utilizing the tips we outlined above you can greatly reduce jobsite theft. This puts more profits in your pockets and reduces more than just the dollars lost to replacement. The hidden costs of construction site theft include man hours for material and equipment replacement, increased insurance costs and the paper-work cost of handling police and insurance claims. Stop loss today by following these suggestions.

Call 800-520-1863 for a free, no obligation assessment of your security needs and see how much money you can save.