As the call for more housing grows across the country, construction sites continue to face the threat of destructive crime. How can our proactive security solutions help protect construction projects against vandalism?
Canada invests in construction.
As the population of Canada grows, construction efforts have increased as the federal government aims to build more housing. Recently, the Canadian government announced major investments in housing – with a plan to build 3.87 million new homes by 2031 (1). As building efforts scale up across the country, security concerns also come into focus. Theft is a major concern for construction sites of all kinds, as criminals target the valuable materials left on-site. However, vandalism is also a major pain point on construction sites as criminals strike in a variety of ways – which in turn slows down building progress and delays the completion of construction projects.
Construction sites are havens for vandalism.
Recent incidents highlight the need for proactive security on construction sites to help prevent vandalism. In July 2023, construction at a municipal park in Burlington, ON was delayed because of the ongoing vandalism at the site. Work on the project started in October of the previous, and was slated to be completed by summer 2023. Vandalism committed on the property included destruction of the rubber surface of the playground, which had been a reoccurring issue on-site. There was frustration on the part of the City of Burlington, who said the vandalism increased costs and delays on the project, and also created serious safety risks for any trespassers on-site. (2)
In February 2024 alone, several vandalism incidents were reported at various construction sites across Canada. Vandals in Montreal, QC struck at a recently finished condo property, with vandals splattering blue paint all over the exterior of the building. This resulted in expensive repair costs and delaying occupation of the units due to the unpredictability of the situation. (3)
In Vancouver, BC, several businesses in the Granville Island section of the city were damaged after materials from a nearby construction site were thrown off a bridge. Debris fell onto buildings and vehicles below that were severely damaged as a result. The general manager of Granville Island says that materials have been falling for several years due to many factors, with vandalism being one of the major causes for concern. Local businesses have been negatively affected due to the high cost of repair – and the call to install fences on the bridge have been ignored due to budget constraints. There is currently no municipal legislation in place by the local government to offer financial support for victims of vandalism (4)
The site of a future battery plant under construction in Montreal, QC was targeted by vandals who laid down dangerous nail strips as an act of protest. In addition to the potential harm for workers on-site, the vandalism has also significantly delayed the progress of the construction project, with no leads as to the identity of the vandals involved. (5)
Each incident of vandalism on construction sites underscores the need for a proactive security solution to help prevent further occurrences.
How do we deter construction site vandalism?
NO TRESPASSING Signage Is The First Line of Defense
Proactive security is layered security. Our first line of defense when deterring criminals on construction sites is our NO TRESPASSING signage. Strategically placed around the perimeter of the site, they inform trespassers that the site is off-limits and protected by Live Remote Video Monitoring. When criminals see this signage, they will often leave faster than they arrived.
Our Video Security Units create a wireless grid of proactive protection
Our Video Security Units can be setup to cover all the angles of a construction site, and multiple units can be installed to offer full coverage. Each unit is equipped with two stationary cameras that establish perimeter protection and situational awareness, and a dedicated PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera that drills in on important details in high-resolution. All units are wirelessly connected through our proprietary cellular LTE+ platform, and all footage is sent back to our UL Certified Monitoring Facility, through our MPLS (Multi-Label Protocol Switching) network.
IR Night Vision shines a light on criminals
Construction sites require effective security after-hours when there is less activity on-site. They are also properties with little to no light sources available once the sun goes down – creating a window of opportunity for vandals to strike. Our IR night vision cameras flood the camera view with infrared light, shining a spotlight on criminals who are striking under the cover of darkness. With IR night vision, our Monitoring operators can see criminals as clear as day.
Artificial Intelligence increases detection accuracy
Artificial intelligence is changing the face of proactive security. Our AI platform is constantly learning and adapting, and increases accuracy when detecting human movement. If an individual enters into camera view, AI will differentiate them from other movement and objects on-site. This is especially useful for construction sites to help highlight criminals who may hide among materials and structures on-site.
Live Remote Video Monitoring helps deter construction site vandals
Our primary goal is to deter crime on construction sites, before it happens. Our dedicated Live Remote Video Monitoring team are trained to deter criminals on a variety of construction projects. They utilize loud, authoritative voice commands and bright LED strobe lights to signal to criminals that the site is off-limits before they can vandalize any property. If criminals continue on in their deeds, Police will be dispatched to the scene.
syncroReports is a full-service security portal
All site security information is made available to our clients at the click of a button, on web and mobile. Our proprietary reporting platform, syncroReports, provides detailed Log Reports, allows for PTZ camera control, and is a full-service portal for all your security needs. In addition to security, it is also an effective tool for site management. Stay fully up to date on building progress and never a miss a beat of your site’s security efforts.
Vandalism is a persisting issue at construction sites across the country. Proactive security can help to prevent this destructive crime and ensure site protection when it matters most.
Resources:
- “Canada’s Housing Plan”, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, April 12, 2024
- “Vandals strike at Burlington park, construction delayed”, Steve Pecar, inHalton, July 26, 2023
- “Montreal east end condo construction target of vandalism over short term rentals”, Gloria Henriquez, Global News, February 27, 2024
- “Materials thrown off Granville St. bridge damage buildings below”, CBC News, February 26, 2024
- “Northvolt construction site targeted by vandals who put down nail strips”, La Presse Canadienne, The Gazette, February 27, 2024