Construction sites have a way of making an area vulnerable. Sometimes construction sites attract vandals that want to steal and damage personal property. To avoid impact to your bottom line, here’s some ways you can protect construction equipment from getting stolen.
Keep a Clean Site
Maintaining a clean and organized construction site is an easy and cost effective way to prevent theft, simply by making sure nothing is left out in plain sight. Cleaning as you go will protect your area from hazardous accidents and theft. Use storage units and locked tool boxes to keep unused items out of the way. Assign a team member to be in charge of inventory and do regular checks on tools and supplies.
Another effective way to keep a clean construction site is to order supplies in smaller units with more timely deliveries. Less materials being left on site after hours gives thieves less options to hijack. Ordering supplies as you need them will help you keep your inventory of supplies in check and save you from having too much left over at the end of the project. Work with a local company that specializes in time sensitive deliveries.
Keep access to your sites to a minimum. Have one access point in and out so that it’s easier to monitor who is coming and going. Key holders should be kept to a minimum. Do not let visitors have any access to the area. The fewer people who know what’s available, the less likely anything will go missing.
Draw the Line and Put Up a Sign To Protect Construction Equipment from Getting Stolen
Fencing an area provides a clear boundary for the site in order to protect the area legally. One of the first lines of defending an area is to put up a fence and secure it. Put up signs that clearly state “Danger — Keep Out” and “No Trespassing” or “Stop.” These are often said to be the best deterrents to vandals and thieves. Make sure the opening is secured and locked.
When fencing a whole area is not an option, focus on trailers and storage units. Keeping your equipment secured when not in use helps maintain a clean workspace and provides easy inventory. Large machinery and heavy equipment should be anchored and chained during off hours. Any pieces that cannot be secured onsite should be taken to a secure location elsewhere.
Make It Well Lit and Provide Surveillance
Lighting is the best way to deter vandals from any situation. Well-lit areas just don’t attract people who want to sneak around and steal. Make sure your construction site is well lit because lighting is a huge component to keeping a secure area.
Lighting also helps catch the finer details on surveillance cameras. When cameras are installed over entrances and areas with sensitive materials, they aid in monitoring the coming and going of anyone who would enter the secure area. Office trailers hold sensitive company information and HR records, and storage units house the tools and materials. If a vandal should attempt to cause any damage or to steel, the video evidence will be there on a brightly lit screen to reveal the culprit.
Make sure that areas that are not in view of the public are especially well lit to avoid dark corners. Motion-sensor lights and cameras can save time and energy by running only when triggered. There are lots of options on the market for battery powered and solar energy models for the areas with minimal power sources.
Include Security as Part of the Budget
As any real estate agent would say, location is everything! When you check the location of the construction site, it is smart to check local crime stats to determine the level of security needed for an area. Call the local precinct and ask them about the nighttime activities of the area. If necessary, hire a security firm to monitor the site after hours and on weekends.
Keeping your construction site secure and safe doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does need to be factored into the cost of the project. Make sure you’re adding a line into your budget to account for security to protect construction equipment from getting stolen and provide a safe working environment.
When you partner with HFS Financial to provide your customers with financing options, you don’t have to worry about skimping on essential costs for security. Include security costs in your quote, and trust your customers’ financing needs to HFS Financial. Partner with us today! You Dream It, We Finance It!