Construction sites are full of expensive machinery and untraceable products so are prime targets for theft. The fallout from this can be disastrous for firms, but also for the client. As the dark evenings draw in, how can housebuilders and developers keep their assets protected?
Don’t underestimate your enemy
Housing estates under construction are gold mines for materials and equipment and tend to be targeted by three groups. The first is organised crime units. I’m talking about smart, savvy gangs, with the manpower and equipment to whip away resources, which they will then sell at a higher price point. Often thefts take place under the cover of darkness, but these criminals have been known to walk-onto sites off the street, dressed as workers and take items in broad daylight. Inside jobs are also common, with thieves posing as employees and targeting equipment. Then there are opportunists – desperate people who will steal what they can to save a penny. After the red diesel law change, small amounts of fuel kept being taken from sites, for instance. These costs soon add up. Don’t let this happen to you.
Focus on deterrence
Preventing a potential break-in is easier than managing the aftermath. Not just easier, but cheaper. After all, replacing materials and equipment is costly, causes frustrating delays, and can impact insurance premiums. Before starting a construction project, immediately assess the threat level and employ a range of security tools so there are safeguards in place from the beginning. Tall, imposing CCTV towers immediately let thieves know you’re watching and are a powerful visual deterrent. Floodlights provide the extra benefit of illuminating shadowy areas where trespassers may go undetected. Temporary fencing will provide added protection to the perimeter and create another obstacle for anyone trying to enter. You want to give people the idea that you’re always “on site” – even if you’re not.
Work out when your site is at its highest risk of break-in
The timeline for every building project is dynamic. So, you need to look at your construction schedule and work out when your site is at its most vulnerable. Housing developments tend to be targeted right before completion, when expensive, easily re-sellable finishing touches such as boilers and cookers are being installed.
I’d recommend a traffic light system to rank each site. Red indicates a high threat level, whether it be due to easily valuable assets being present, numerous workers and subcontractors (a lot of crime is an “inside job”, and of course criminals can also pose as workers), or something as simple as a broken chain-link fence. Continually assessing and reassessing the threat level is crucial so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.
Secure vacant properties too
It’s not just construction sites that are at risk. A reported 7000 commercial properties lie vacant since the COVID-19 crisis – an exodus triggered by the collapse of city-centre businesses and rise in remote working. Just because no one’s inside doesn’t mean protection isn’t needed. When a property is vacant it is more enticing to fly tippers, squatters, vandals, fire, arson, thieves and more. Without security in place you’re leaving it at great risk of being unlawfully occupied by trespassers.
Act now
You wouldn’t dream of putting the public at risk by not securing a site properly (and if trespassers are killed or injured on site). This same mindset must be applied to theft. The loss of valuable raw materials and pricey equipment can cost firms thousands. Already, the number of metal thefts reported from sites rose by 20% in the wake of materials inflation hitting an all-time high earlier this year. With the economy further squeezing purse strings, housing sites are primary targets for organised crime – so the time to act is now.
Louise Smith, Security Lead at site security specialist, BauWatch UK