Securing your construction site
Advice to prevent the theft of tools and equipment from construction sites within the Avon and Somerset force area.
With more battery-powered, cordless angle grinders on the market, more criminals are trying to break the locks of construction sites or storage cabins.
While strong locks are essential on building sites, there
Security measures are essential on building sites, because removing keys from ignitions and using padlocks and chains is no longer enough to keep thieves at bay.
Secure the perimeter
Depending on the specific needs of your building site, consider using:
- Heras fencing – a temporary metal fence with anti-climb features, designed to prevent unauthorised access.
- steel hoarding – considered one of the most secure boundary options available, highly resistant to climbing and cutting
- concrete barriers – weighing up to two tonnes, they provide effective protection against trespassing, ram-raiding, and unauthorised vehicular
Install security lighting
Well-lit construction sites reduce vulnerability to theft and can maximise the effectiveness of on-site security systems, particularly in the darker winter months.
Security lights can:
- be a visual deterrent – if a thief thinks they may struggle to conceal their identity, they might not bother trying to break into the site
- eliminate hiding spots – removing shadowy blind spots forces opportunistic thieves to operate out in the open, significantly increasing their risk of being caught
- assist CCTV and patrols – good lighting can ensure that CCTV cameras capture clear, usable, and prosecutable images at night
Consider motion-triggered floodlighting, which turn on when they sense movement, making it difficult for intruders to hide at night.
Make sure security lights are out of reach to prevent tampering.
Central locations for materials
Moving tools, materials, and equipment to a central location on a construction site complies with the Health and Safety Executive’s strict “good order” and housekeeping regulations.
Not only that, moving those items well away from the site boundary can help reduce theft from a construction site.
If possible, try to place them in secure compounds and lock up smaller tools in portable cabins or containers.
Fit tracking devices to plant machinery
Recovery rates of plant machinery are reportedly as low as 7% in England and Wales. Most of those recovered vehicles would have had a tracking device that led to the recovery.
Consider fitting Thatcham-approved tracking devices to your plant and machinery. This enables 24/7 monitoring and police integration to recover high-value assets quickly.