Just this month, an excavator was stolen from a construction site in Vancouver. Witnesses say that they watched the machine get loaded onto a flatbed late in the evening around 10:30 PM.

The excavator is estimated to be worth $50,000 and is the third machine to be stolen in four years from the same property owner. The RCMP are currently asking the public for help and requesting CCTV or dash cam footage from the area, as well as witnesses.

Machine theft is a real risk for construction sites, but it isn’t the only thing that thieves are looking to steal. Here are some more common items that thieves will take from construction sites, highlighting why construction site security is so critical:

1. Tools and small equipment theft: Construction companies face the risk of their tools and equipment being stolen. Construction sites are particularly vulnerable due to the large number of items present and the relatively low level of security present on such sites.

2. Material theft: Building materials and supplies are often left unsecured, making them vulnerable to theft.

3. Copper theft: While copper would fall under material theft, we have pulled it out because there is a very specific market for copper. In fact, a small pallet of copper wiring can be worth more than $6,000. This means that it is a high target item for many criminals. 

How Can I Protect my Business From the Threat of Copper Theft? 

4. Document/media theft: Documents and media related to construction projects and businesses are also frequently targeted. These are usually easy to transport and can contain valuable information for thieves to misuse and sell.

5. Vehicle theft: Construction vehicles, such as trucks and excavators, are often highly valuable and can be easily stolen from sites. They can also be difficult to trace after the theft.

6. Fuel theft: Fuel, such as diesel and petrol, are also targets for thieves. Construction sites can also be vulnerable to fuel theft due to the nature of the work and the often large quantities of fuel present.

7. Electronics theft: Electronics, such as laptops and GPS Units, can also be stolen from construction sites. These can be even more valuable than tools in some cases.

Why a verified security solution is critical to securing your construction site

Construction sites are a prime target for theft, due in part to the large number of high value items present and the lack of security that is often present. Knowing what to watch out for and having appropriate measures in place can help reduce the risk of theft at construction sites.

Security systems are valuable tools in deterring crime and helping to keep your construction site secure. If you don’t already have one installed, or your existing one is out of date, now is the time to consider a Sonavision verified security solution. 

Verified alarms actually verify whether a threat is real or not before alerting the police, dramatically reducing false alarms and improving apprehension rates. Full verification makes it easy for you to protect your business - catching criminals in the act before they can do any significant damage to your property or make it off site with valuable items. 

To find out more about how to prevent crime on your construction site and how a Sonavision verified security solution can work for you, get a free Sonitrol Western Canada security plan.