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[show]Construction sites are high targets for thieves. We look into the recovery rates and how to reduce equipment theft from construction sites.
Over the last year, more than a third of construction, engineering and infrastructure companies have encountered equipment and material theft.
The construction industry alone incurs losses of a staggering £800+ million annually due to equipment and material theft.
These losses stem from the cost of replacing stolen plant machinery, loss of business due to equipment unavailability, penalties for project delays and increased insurance premiums.
High levels of opportunist theft can significantly impact the profitability and sustainability of the industry, so what can be done?
One of the most effective ways to mitigate this issue is to enhance site security measures.
The Opportunity
Construction sites are targeted for theft because they tend to be low-risk, high-reward targets.
Sites are packed with high-value goods, and often, the security measures fail to meet the required standard to prevent thieves.
According to the latest Plant and Agricultural National Intelligence Unit (PANIU) figures, Mini Excavators are the most frequently stolen plant machinery, with 90% of these never being recovered, causing serious project disruption.
This is likely because these machines have fewer registration marks and records, making it easier for them to disappear without detection.
Low Risk – High Reward
With it being difficult to track such items to their original owner, plant equipment offers a low-risk – high-reward situation for thieves.
Thieves often remove identification marks professionally and replace them with new ones, and they may also alter the machine's paint jobs or liveries to make them unrecognisable.
The resale price for stolen excavators can stretch to six-figure sums. PANIU have found that stolen plant vehicles make their way overseas regularly.
For example, a week later, an excavator worth £100,000 was stolen from Scotland and located in Northern Ireland.
Mitigating Theft of Plant Machinery
Addressing this issue requires effective security measures, such as GPS tracking on equipment and immobilisation systems. These minimise the risk of theft and aid in the recovery of equipment.
However, preventing an attempted theft before it occurs is always better than dealing with an issue retrospectively.
Fortunately, there are proactive security solutions that allow site managers to deter theft and protect their assets.
One such solution is a rapid deployment CCTV Tower.
This system is designed to detect potential theft, deter an individual by using remote live audio warnings and assist in the dispatching of police or security guards to catch any intruders.
This helps prevent potential thieves from targeting the site, as they know they will likely be caught.
In the event of attempted theft, the video stream is sent directly to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) or monitoring station; if an alarm is triggered, they immediately review the footage to verify the alarm's authenticity. This allows them to take appropriate action to prevent theft or damage to equipment or property.
See the video below for how the monitoring station reacts to deterring theft from this construction site with live audio warnings which make the perpetrator leave in hast and empty-handed:
By using our site security services, you can have peace of mind knowing that your construction site is under constant surveillance and that any potential security breaches will be detected and addressed promptly.
This can help prevent theft, damage to equipment, and delays in your project's completion, saving you time and money in the long run.
Managed CCTV Solutions for Construction Sites
As a leading provider of fully managed construction site security services in the UK.
We offer a range of security solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients, including temporary construction or demolition projects, time-lapse video production, onsite communications, remote access to project management, health and safety reviews, and a complete security package.
Our site security services are renowned for their quality, reliability, and competitive pricing, so we have more active systems nationwide than any other supplier.
Our solutions are designed to provide comprehensive site security, including CCTV surveillance, access control, alarm monitoring, and remote monitoring, among other features.
Our experienced security professionals are committed to delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring our clients' sites remain secure throughout the project.
Ready to find out how Rapid Deployment CCTV can work for you? Get in touch today at 0800 470 4630 or request a call back
Daniel Del Soldato
Head of Communications
Daniel has been at Wireless CCTV over 10 years and has accumulated a vast wealth of knowledge when it comes to CCTV products and the way they operate. In his spare time Daniel likes to listen to music, watch football and spend quality time with his family.
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