Secure your residential building site when unattended

The disruption caused by theft and / or vandalism at your construction site is invariably significant. It is not only the direct impact of replacing stolen or damaged tools and materials, rescheduling work and contractors, and fixing damaged works but also the impact on the overall progress of the job including the potential delay of progress payments which can negatively impact on your relationship with your client.

Prevention is the best strategy, and as a residential construction builder, one of your top priorities should be to protect your work site from potential break-ins and theft. Construction sites can be targeted by thieves or vandals because of the valuable equipment, tools, and materials that are left on-site overnight.

Below sets out some tips to help you protect your work site from being broken into or items being stolen:

1. Secure the perimeter: The first thing you need to do is secure the perimeter of the work site. This means setting up a sturdy fence around the site with a locked gate. You can also use motion-activated lights and security cameras to deter potential thieves from attempting to enter the site.
2. Limit access: Limit access to the site by providing keys or access codes only to the necessary personnel. This will prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the site and stealing valuable items. Additionally, consider implementing a sign-in and sign-out system for workers and visitors, to keep track of who is always on-site.
3. Secure tools and equipment: Tools and equipment left on-site overnight are easy targets for thieves. Where possible, it is preferrable to remove tools and equipment off-site every night to prevent them from being stolen. Alternatively, secure them in a locked storage unit or container that is either built into the site or brought in specifically for this purpose.
4. Mark and track materials: It's important to mark and track all the materials that are delivered to the work site. This makes it easier to identify and track them if they are stolen. You can also consider using GPS tracking devices on high-value items, making it easier to locate them if they are stolen.
5. Delay the delivery and installation of expensive items, if possible, to a time close to the handover of the property to the client to help reduce the risk of loss or damage.
6. Educate workers: Make sure all workers are aware of the security measures you have in place and the understand the importance of following them. Educate workers on how to secure the site before leaving for the day and ensure that they report any suspicious activity immediately.
7. Educate neighbours on what to look out for and who to contact should they see any suspicious activity.
8. In extreme circumstances, where a construction site has been the subject of multiple thefts / vandalisms over a short period of time, clients have elected to hire a security guard to protect the site. Reoccurring thefts can occur when a builder is one of the first to build in a greenfield development. Sharing the cost of a security guard with other builders and the developer is an excellent way to deter thieves from attempting to enter the site and provides an added layer of security.

In conclusion, protecting your work site from break-ins and theft requires a combination of measures. Some potential options to help reduce the risk include securing the perimeter, limiting access, securing tools and equipment, marking and tracking materials, hiring a security guard and educating workers of security measures. To support you onsite, we have created a checklist which you can download and save.