Construction theft continues to be a major issue across Canada as builders feel the harmful effects of stolen tools, materials, and lost production time. What can be done to help secure these sites and protect from further losses?
Construction theft continues...
In December 2022, we had noted that the theft of construction site tools had been an ongoing and surging issue throughout the year for construction companies.
Through the first quarter of 2023, construction site theft continues to be a progressing issue for builders of all kinds, as evidenced by recent reports of theft across the country.
These thefts can range from large machinery to smaller hand tools, & even materials needed for the overall construction project. A recent police investigation in Hastings County, Ontario, assisted in the recovery of over $70,000 stolen construction items such as tool kits, saws, lathes and more. Although the criminals were eventually apprehended through investigation by the OPP, these thefts will lead to downtime on a project – as construction companies’ work to replace these stolen assets or materials, which will then delay project completion, and push timelines out even further. (1)
In British Columbia, Kelowna RCMP reported that an orange telehandler, a very large and expensive piece of machine equipment worth an estimated $80,000, was stolen from a construction site near Kelowna International Airport. A suspect was captured on a traditional video surveillance system entering the site, then loading the machine onto a semi-truck that was parked nearby. Although the entire theft was captured by video surveillance, a proactive approach to deterring & preventing the crime had not been taken as the video feeds were not live monitored – leaving only evidence of the crime that had already taken place. (2)
How can construction site theft be prevented?
Construction sites require a robust security solution that can cover all the angles required to provide ample protection. We provide a multi-level approach to security that is first established through the use of ‘No Trespassing’ signs along the perimeter of a site as our first level of defense, followed by the deployment of our proprietary and proven Video Security Units.
Our innovative Pole Unit is equipped with two high resolution stationary cameras that are used to establish perimeter coverage & situational awareness – and additional cameras can be easily integrated into the system to provide further coverage.
The system also comes standard equipped with a high-resolution PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera which allows our Remote Video Monitoring Team to zoom in on important details (such as vehicle descriptions, license plates, suspect descriptions & identifying markings) and actively surveil the site. Our video monitoring units are durable and modular, and can be mounted on a variety of vantage points while withstanding the harsh environmental factors of construction dust & inclement weather.
The live feed from these cameras are sent back via patented Cellular LTE technology to our UC Certified Live Monitoring Facility, where our Live Operators monitor the site, issue deterrents if there is suspicious activity, and contact Police if necessary. Deterrents include a live communications speaker and high visibility LED strobe light – and are proven to be 98% effective in deterring criminals from taking any action.
What next-generation technology have we developed to assist in our mission to stop construction site theft?
Wireless Security through our proprietary LTE cellular platform
Many construction sites lack the communications infrastructure to host a wired security solution – which is why our patented Pole Unit and its associate components all run off our proprietary LTE cellular platform. If a site lacks a hardwired Internet connection, our security units can operate independently by connecting to LTE networks. There is no need for landline or Ethernet connections, once the Pole Unit has been set up it will connect to the LTE platform and instantly start sending the data back to our Live Monitoring centre.
Even in the event that a hardwired line on a construction site is severed, our security platform will stay online. If there are multiple units and one unit in the chain fails, the other units will stay active and monitoring your site – keeping your high value construction assets and inventory secure.
Advanced Artificial Intelligence Network
Artificial intelligence has become a key component of how our security units work and how security is provided by our Live Remote Video Monitoring Operators. Through the use of proprietary AI technology, we’ve developed the ability to properly identify and distinguish live people from other moving items on a site. This technology adds an incredible level of efficiency & effectiveness that allows our Operators to keep their focus on what’s important – human detection and the deterrence of crime.
syncroReports For Remote Site Management
Construction builders can also view live footage of their site at any time through our proprietary syncroReports platform – making it easier and safer to keep a keen eye on important building projects. Throughout the entire construction process, live video feeds can be viewed to track workers, arrivals and departures, as well as deliveries and all other forms of activity with the click of a button. Remote site management is just an added benefit of using Caliber’s proprietary security solutions – we keep your site secure while offering additional features that make your site easier to manage your project & streamline business operations.
Remote site management is just an added benefit of using Caliber’s proprietary security solutions – we keep your site secure while offering additional features that make it easier to manage your project & streamline business operations.
Construction sites are busy thoroughfares of workers & vehicles coming and going at various times. Our license plate reader cameras can help to identify construction workers arriving on site in their vehicles, as well as delivery vehicles or contractors; capturing the alphanumerical values on a plate, converting them to metadata, and then storing them within our proprietary license plate database – syncroPlates.
High resolution images of vehicles and plates are also included, in real-time, through the syncroPlates portal within the software – a one stop solution to provide full identification of vehicles, providing additional site management capability for you, alongside an additional layer of security for your property.
Mobile Security Unit for early stages of project completion
A construction site project progresses through various stages of completion, from initial excavation to the finished building at the end of a project. Effective security solutions are needed throughout each phase of that process, and our Mobile Security Unit can be an important first step in establishing video coverage of a site.
Once deployed in the field, our Mobile Unit provides the same level security services as our other units – with the additional flexibility of instant re-deployment to new areas when site conditions change.
Using a Telescopic mast, the cameras can reach up to 7 meters in height and provide a bird’s eye view of the area. The power of solar energy gives the unit the ability to operate in a completely wireless environment, without the need for grid power or infrastructure – this is key to providing a reliable security solution at construction sites that are in the early stages of completion.
Theft is a serious matter for many construction companies across Canada. Our proactive approach to protecting these sites safeguards valuable assets, helps maintain project schedules by preventing loss of materials & tools, and can stop thieves in their tracks.
Resources:
- “OPP recover more than $70K in stolen goods in Hastings county”, Paul Soucy, Global News, December 21, 2022
- “Kelowna RCMP seeking public’s help to solve construction site theft”, Doyle Potenteau, Global News, March 22, 2023