Construction sites are often the victim of theft and vandalism amongst many other crimes.
Theft alone costs the UK around £800M per year which doesn’t include unreported incidents. Scutum shared that 70% of workers witness theft on-site each year, and 19% said they experience it every few months.
This high level and consistency of crime can lead to increased costs to replace stolen or damaged equipment which in turn causes project delays. Delays and added costs then lead to unhappy customers.
Alongside this, safety issues can cause misuse of equipment and injury to workers and members of the public.
What are the types of security and safety breaches?
Injury to staff and public
Construction sites can be busy, loud, and distracting. When a site is based in a public area and lacks foolproof security, this creates an opportunity for members of the public and unauthorised people to stumble into the site, causing safety issues for themselves and the workers.
Theft & Vandalism
Without reliable and high-quality security measures on-site, construction sites may become victims of theft and vandalism crimes. If unauthorised people can access the site with ease, and without being detected then this is a huge safety breach that can have negative consequences and impacts on the site itself, workers, and the profitability of a project.
Terrorism
In some cases construction sites may become a victim of terrorism, sometimes these can happen to delay or prevent construction or can be through pre-positioning of devices and materials that can allow destructive action against the building at the end of construction.
Why is theft on the rise?
92% of respondents in a survey by the Chartered Institute said they experience theft every year, which is likely rising because the current economic state of the UK has caused a scarcity of construction essentials such as copper, aluminium, and lumber which makes the materials higher in value. Adding this to the “economic downturns and high resale value of construction materials and machinery” it’s clear why construction sites are a primary target for this type of crime.
Construction sites are easy targets for criminals
We know that sites are primary targets for theft particularly, but what makes them easy and worthwhile to steal from?
Expensive goods
From handheld tools and machinery to valuable materials, building, and construction equipment is largely expensive, and on-site, those tools and materials are everywhere you look.
Construction sites can often be busy and vast, the opportunity to swipe a tool or two when workers are distracted comes easily.
A transient workforce
On-site work sees many tradespeople and subcontractors coming and going every day, alongside the high turnover rates of staff it’s almost impossible to keep track of who is authorised to be there without proper access control solutions.
This creates the perfect opportunity for a thief to pose as a worker to access the site and end up walking away with thousands of pounds worth of tools and materials.
Lack of proper security
Crime is often carried out by opportunists, meaning the crimes aren’t premeditated. If an opportunist walks by a site and notices the lack of security or a weak spot in access they’ll likely seize the moment.
Unfortunately, construction sites are notoriously unsecured and often have many weak spots in security. So the opportunities are a lot higher than other buildings for crimes such as theft.
How do you protect your site?
Visible Deterrents
Visible security solutions such as CCTV Towers and cameras can dissuade criminals from attempting to steal from your sites, as the chance to get away with a crime is slimmer.
A well-lit site
Investing in products such as lighting towers can ensure your site doesn’t have dimly lit corners or areas that opportunists would take advantage of to sneak around unnoticed.
If every inch of your site is lit and visible, your security and workers can spot suspicious activity and unauthorised people on site quick and easily. Not only this but the thieves themselves may not even try to steal from your site as the risk of being noticed and prosecuted outweighs the value of the stolen goods.
Short-term price for a long-term solution
Buying high-quality security solutions can be a large upfront spend, but considering how much you’ll save from crime prevention makes it a worthwhile investment.
You reduce the risk of the cost of theft, and delayed projects, whilst also giving your staff the piece of mind that their tools and equipment are safe so they can focus on the work at hand.
Being secure out of hours
Whether it’s overnight or during public holidays, sometimes you can’t always guarantee your site is protected by on-site security officers. Creating an always-on security solution is the best way to protect your site at all times.
Access control systems and other remote security measures can prevent unauthorised people from accessing the site even when no one is there.
Why choose SmartWatch for your security needs?
Bespoke security solutions
SmartWatch offers a large range of security options to suit any business, and these products can be flexed to meet your specific needs. Whether you need CCTV or Access Control you can find the solutions that will help create robust and reliable site security.
24/7 customer support, 365 day of the year
SmartWatch Solutions has been providing innovative solutions and excellent customer service since 2006, when you invest in their security solutions you get more than just the product. You gain access to their team of accredited experts to assist you with all your needs all day, every day.
Remote Assistance
As well as being available at all times, SmartWatch has remote assistance services that allow fast response to your concerns and queries. So you’ll never have to worry about not fixing an issue in time.
For more information on how you can protect your site from crime, check out our range of reliable and robust security solutions here.
