Mining contributes to many industries that keep our economy moving, as well as providing raw materials that contribute to global sustainability. How can these sites be protected from crime?
The mining industry helps contribute to sustainability efforts.
As Earth Month continues, we are highlighting how we help to protect industries that contribute to global sustainability & those that implement improved sustainability measures to preserve our Mother Earth. Mining plays a key role in many industries – mining for valuable resources such as diamonds and precious metals, while also doing so in as sustainable and eco-friendly manner as possible. This initiative has been championed by The Mining Association of Canada, and includes establishing protocols for how to conserve biodiversity, mitigate impacts on climate change, community engagement, and how to sustainably explore for new sites – with environmental impacts at top of mind. (1)
Mining materials make up a big part of what is required for the manufacturing of products that are essential to Canadians. The Mining industry also provides essential materials needed to build cleaner energy technology like wind turbines, solar panels, EV batteries, and more. The industry as a whole continues to make strides towards lessening their carbon footprint and impact on climate change (2). Due to the remote nature of these mining sites, they are often more vulnerable to incidents of trespassing and theft – requiring a proactive and effective mining security solution that can keep them secure.
Mining theft plagues the industry across Canada.
Recent events only underscore the need for effective security in the mining industry. In October 2023, a Vancouver-based mining company was left reeling after a significant amount of copper and gold ore was stolen from a mining site in Merritt, BC. The theft wasn’t discovered until after the fact, when a worker arrived on-site and discovered recently dug holes and piles. It is estimated around 30-50 tonnes of ore was taken, worth $3.60 per pound. (3)
In February 2024, a Winnipeg businessman was cleared in a lawsuit after he was sued by a nickel mine for $3.4 million, after he accepted goods stolen from their property. The man claimed he did not know the nickel was stolen when he purchased the metal from another company, who was later found to be responsible for the brazen theft. The stolen nickel was estimated to be worth $3.6 million, further highlighting the high re-sale value of materials found on mining sites. (4)
The town of Timmins, ON in particular has experienced a long history of gold theft – so much so that a local author has written a book about the town’s continuing theft problem, dubbed the “City of Thieves”. Timmins is well known for being one of the richest and also most concentrated gold producing areas in the world, and the impacts of gold theft have negative repercussions for the local community, and nation at large. (5)
Through our proactive and layered approach, we can help provide effective and robust security for mining operations.
How do we provide effective mining industry security?
Artificial Intelligence detects criminals when they enter camera view
Artificial intelligence has changed the face of proactive security – allowing our Monitoring operators to make faster and more accurate detections. Our proprietary AI platform will detect would-be criminals as they approach a property, alerting our Monitoring team to issue proactive deterrents to send the would-be assailants on their way.
Mobile & Solar Video Security Units offer sustainable mining industry security
Mining properties are often remote, and lack access to traditional power and Internet infrastructure. Our Mobile & Solar Video Security Units bring our robust camera and surveillance technology anywhere. Both units leverage solar energy to power up and provide on-site security within minutes, and connect wirelessly through our proprietary cellular LTE+ platform.
Stationary cameras provide perimeter protection and situational awareness, and a dedicated PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) camera zooms in on important details in high-resolution. All images are transmitted through our secure MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) network back to our UL Certified Monitoring facility.
Live Remote Video Monitoring deters criminals
Our Live Remote Video Monitoring team are trained to deter crime before it happens, informing criminals that they are not alone when they commit crime. Loud, authoritative voice commands and bright LED strobe lights send the message to criminals loud and clear that the site is off limits. If criminals aren’t deterred, our Monitoring team will contact Police to attend the scene.
IR Night Vision & Thermal Cameras bring criminals into the light
Mining sites are often remote, with few sources of light available once the sun goes down. We can detect criminals as clear as day using IR night vision technology, flooding the camera view with infrared light to detect criminals in dark conditions. We can also detect them using heat signatures with our Thermal Cameras that capture criminals in the heat of the moment.
syncroReports is your complete security reporting portal
We make all information available at your fingertips through our proprietary reporting platform, syncroReports – your one stop shop for site information and project management. Through syncroReports you can view detailed Log Reports, live camera feeds, control PTZ camera movement and much more. Available at the click of a button, on web and mobile, anywhere and anytime you need it.
Mining plays a critical role in our economy and production of sustainable goods. By employing proactive security, we can protect these sites from the threat of trespassing, theft, and vandalism.
Resources:
- “Protocols”, Towards Sustainable Mining
- “Facts & Figures 2021”, The Mining Association of Canada
- “Theft from mine near Merritt a mystery”, Jake Courtepatte, Merritt Herald, October 24, 2023
- “Businessman cleared in purchase of stolen nickel from Thompson mine”, Erik Pindera, Winnipeg Free Press, February 2, 2024
- “’City of Thieves’ chronicles Timmins’ long history of gold theft”, Andrew Autio, Timmins Daily Press, December 1, 2023