Prevent Construction Site Theft
Reading time: 7 minutes
From UK police data, there are thefts from a tradesperson every 17 minutes. Although this covers incidents from a single tool being stolen to larger hauls, it still highlights that security is essential in the building industry. This is particularly true of building sites, where it’s believed that construction theft costs the industry £800m each year.
Why do thieves steal from construction sites?
Thieves will look for a particular target that has a low risk of getting caught while looking for high-value items. A building site can often fall within this bracket, especially when there’s little investment in security measures. However, it’s also fair to say that without huge corporate funding, additional security, such as on-site security guards, this is an extra expense that many contractors can’t really afford. Although we’ll talk about the benefits of a security presence later, there are other methods of looking after tools and other valuables too.
What do thieves target on construction sites?
The average building site has plenty to draw the attention of the sticky-fingered, so we’re going to run through some of the obvious, and not so obvious, things that can be stolen from a construction site.
- Tool Theft
- Lighting and Electricals
- Stealing Plant Machinery
- Syphoning Fuel
How to prevent on-site theft
You couldn’t be blamed for being worried about on-site theft, but there are ways to reduce this as much as possible. As previously mentioned, if you’re operating a major construction project, there are full service security measures that can be taken, including CCTV installed and 24/7 guards. But what do you do if you’re a small team, or a lone contractor? Here are a few tips to keep the risk of theft to a minimum.
- Planning the Project
- Keep the Lights On
- Set up Security Cameras
- Secure the Perimeter
Unfortunately, it’s not possible to completely avoid attempts of on-site thefts, but we can do more to keep these as rare as possible. For more trade security guidance and advice, including fire safety, you’ll find it here.
Disclaimer: The information contained on this page is intended as an overall introduction and is not intended as specific advice from a qualified professional. Travis Perkins aims to avoid, but accepts no liability, in the case that any information stated is out of date.