As building projects continue to boom across Canada, the risk of being targeted for theft & vandalism by criminals continues to climb. With no end to the trend in sight, how can construction sites stay secure and continue building for the future?
Thieves continue to target construction sites in 2023
Despite the best efforts of construction businesses and law enforcement to curb theft and vandalism on active construction sites, these crimes have unfortunately continued to be a major issue across Canada. In April 2023, we highlighted how widespread and brazen these incidents have become – and the number of incidents has only increased since. As this crime trend persists, there is now an even louder call for proactive security measures to keep construction sites secure from the theft and vandalism – for the greater good of both builders and the public at large.
Insurance requirements for security on construction sites
Insurance companies are well aware of the risks involved with building projects and the need to keep various tools and materials found on-site secure. As such, many providers are now stipulating that construction sites need to meet several important criteria in order to obtain insurance coverage, including a mandated level of on-site security.
It’s imperative that the builder adhere to these guidelines to remain covered in the event of a loss – these guidelines include camera coverage of entrance and exit points, as well as roads and walkways. There must also be electronic video surveillance, utilizing a combination of different types of security cameras – including stationary cameras and PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) cameras. The video signal recorded by these cameras must also be sent back to a Monitoring station staffed by Monitoring Operators who will keep watch over the site.
Construction companies across Canada continue to grapple with crime
Construction site crime unfortunately continues to dominate Canadian news headlines across the country. In June 2023, a construction site for the new Tlowitsis First Nations Village in Campbell River, BC was vandalized with racist graffiti, windows and glass of construction equipment were also smashed -including light stands, generators, and excavators. Police believe the theft took place during the late evening hours or early morning hours when crews weren’t present on-site.
The vandalism resulted in not only $25,000 in damage to the property, but also an extremely negative experience for the local community. It also reflected poorly on the construction company’s brand image and public perception – even though the vandalism was out of their control, they still became associated with the hurtful graffiti and damage on their property, which resulted in having to rebuild public trust. (1)
In July 2023, more than $30,000 worth of tools and equipment were stolen from a construction site in Summerside, PEI. Crews from the site showed up to work and discovered an equipment trailer had been broken into – stolen items included deck guns, screw guns, and wrenches and harnesses. (2)
In August 2023, a couple was recorded from a distance by surveillance cameras in Windsor, ON vandalizing several construction sites, including discharging fire extinguishers on premises, damaging glass panels and spray painting graffiti on pillars. The vandalism committed had no rhyme or reason and was needlessly destructive, resulting in expensive repair costs for the builder. In September 2023, a custom dump trailer valued at $14,000 was stolen from a construction site in Guelph, ON – it was taken overnight with no video footage obtained. The damage caused and significant cost of the items stolen in many of these instances illustrates how disruptive and expensive theft and vandalism on construction sites can be. (3)
In September 2023, a custom dump trailer valued at $14,000 was stolen from a construction site in Guelph, ON – it was taken overnight with no video footage obtained. The damage caused and significant cost of the items stolen in many of these instances illustrates how disruptive and expensive theft and vandalism on construction sites can be. (4)
Thieves and vandals will continue to seek out the vulnerable materials left unprotected on construction sites; a proactive security solution is truly necessary.
How do we help deter construction site crime?
Video Security Units create a wireless security network
Site protection begins with our Video Security Units. They are standard equipped with two stationary cameras to establish perimeter coverage & situational awareness, and are complimented with a PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera to zoom in, track, & capture important details. Our Video Security Units deliver high-resolution images via proprietary cellular LTE+ communications – creating a revolutionary surveillance technology that doesn’t require wired Internet infrastructure, which often does not exist on active construction sites.
Live Remote Video Monitoring tracks & deters criminals
Construction sites require protection when crews have gone home and sites are left unattended. Our Live Remote Video Monitoring service provides that protection during off-work hours and on weekends when thieves and vandals are more likely to strike. If someone attempts to trespass onto a construction site, our Monitoring Operators will utilize LED strobe lights and voice command deterrents to warn them that they are being live monitored, and to leave the site immediately. If they continue on, our team will dispatch Police to attend the scene, all from Canada’s first & only UL Certified Video Monitoring facility.
Artificial Intelligence provides precise detections
Construction sites contain many types of materials for building projects, as well as an assortment of movement from wildlife, weather, and inanimate objects that come into camera view. Leveraging the power of our proprietary Artificial Intelligence, we have significantly improved detection accuracy by differentiating these various types of movement. This technology has changed the landscape for remote security, and has further bolstered our ability to proactively deter crime.
Battery Backup & PSU for site protection when power is disrupted
Our Battery Backup & PSU systems provide around the clock protection for our Video Security Units in the event of power loss. Automatic power switching engages if power is lost, and Instant System Active Alerts allow key contacts from the site to stay in the loop with status updates. With these advanced systems, our cameras will maintain power and stay operational for complete site protection.
syncroDetect covers additional sensitive areas
Our wireless alarm intrusion system, syncroDetect, provides an additional layer of security that covers sensitive areas thieves and vandals seek to exploit. Our door & window contact sensors and motion detection sensors can protect construction trailers and sea-cans that contain important materials and assets. Combined with the camera coverage of our Video Security Units, syncroDetect helps provide complete security protection for all areas.
License Plate Readers & syncroPlates for site management
There are many types of vehicles that enter and exit construction sites – contractors, service & delivery vehicles, site trailers, large trucks, and more.
Our License Plate Reader can track these vehicles as they come and go, capturing the alphanumerical details on license plates and storing them within our own database, syncroPlates. This is especially helpful for project management – monitoring vehicle traffic and keeping building projects on track. With so many vehicles passing through construction sites, we can properly track those vehicles and ensure they have a dedicated purpose – confirming deliveries, ensuring employees are on time, and verifying contractor arrivals.
syncroReports provides full transparency & proof of protection
We believe in full transparency and providing our clients with up to date information for their construction sites. Through our reporting platform, syncroReports, our clients can get a complete picture of their on-site activity – including vehicles, trespassers, and any incidents that are detailed in our Log Reports. Leveraging this revolutionary portal, clients can also keep tabs on project progress when they are not present on-site through live video feeds, to help ensure project components are being completed on time.
Thieves and vandals will continue to find new ways to target construction sites and the valuable materials needed for building projects. Through Live Remote Video Monitoring, we can proactively deter construction crime, prevent losses, and keep building projects moving forward.
Resources:
- “Campbell River RCMP investigating racist graffiti, vandalism at construction site”, chek News, June 17, 2023
- “More than $30,000 in equipment stolen from Summerside construction site”, Saltwire, July 14, 2023
- “Windsor police seek construction site vandals”, Dalson Chen, Windsor Star, August 11, 2023
- “14K custom trailer stolen from construction site in Guelph’s south end”, Mike Hodges, Global News, September 1, 2023