Theft from construction sites can cost you a lot of time, money and stress. You will need to buy new tools and delay your project until they arrive. It’s much easier to steal smaller tools than heavy machinery. Smaller worksites are just as vulnerable to theft as much larger construction areas.
You need to protect your materials and tools with some simple security measures.
Avoid leaving tools in your vehicle
Do not leave your tools in your vehicle, especially one with windows. It’s best to remove your tools in the evening and store them at your home office or home. If someone breaks into your van while your tools are in it, you will have lost everything in one go. Try to distribute your tools to reduce the chance of this happening. Protect your home with security cameras so you can catch anyone trying to break into your van.
Equip the site with alarms and CCTV
Your worksite should be covered with security alarms and CCTV cameras. Put up posters to warn thieves that you have security in operation, and they will be caught on camera. You can also display ‘No Trespassing’ signs outside the site. Physical barriers are often your best bet with worksites. You can use tall fences to keep people out and barriers to stop vehicles from freely driving through.
Use good lighting
Your construction site should have overhead lights at night. With proper lighting, you can work past sunset in the winter months and keep your workers safe on site. Lights can also deter thieves from entering – particularly motion sensor lighting.
Store tools in locked boxes
Padlocks are a fantastic way to secure fences, gates and doors. Use strong locks to prevent unauthorized entry on-site. If you have an office on-site, use a padlock on the door to stop people from breaking in. Invest in a Milwaukee packout to store and protect your most valuable tools.
Inform the police
When you start up a new project, let the police know that a building site is in progress. Your worksite is a prime target for thieves in the area. The police need to be aware so that they can watch out for any burglary calls.
Equip machinery with GPS chips
Put GPS chips on your high-value power tools and machinery in case they get stolen. The police can use these chips to track your device and, hopefully, retrieve it.
Take a regular inventory
You need to inspect your site every day to check for any missing or damaged items. Your trespassing signs might be defaced, or a few handheld tools may be missing. Check the CCTV to be safe, and catch any thieves quickly. They could come back and steal much bigger tools if you let it slide.
Stay on top of your security measures, and keep thieves out of your worksite.
