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Construction Site Material Thief Arrested

Posted by Ryan Cox on Aug 14, 2020

Contractors need their tools to get the job done. Not having them can cost time and money.

In this video, a Stealth Monitoring security operator activated the on-site speaker warning on a construction site after seeing someone trespassing on the property. When the suspect ignored the warning two times, the operator contacted police.

While the monitoring operator was on the phone providing dispatch with details, the suspect could be seen gathering tools and materials. Officers arrived at the site within minutes and searched the area. They intercepted the individual and took him into custody.

The Real Cost of Materials Theft

Because construction sites are not always enclosed securely, they can be easy targets for theft, especially at night. An estimated 90% of equipment thefts take place between 6 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. Monday.

Unsecured equipment, tools and materials are ripe for the picking. Copper wiring and pipes are particularly attractive to thieves. Criminals have no qualms about damaging drywall or HVAC units just to get their hands on lucrative metals. This can leave contractors scrambling to replace the stolen parts and repair the damages. All of which can impact budgets and timelines.

Why Wait for Something Bad to Happen?

Do you know what not having the right security solution in place can cost your site? As previously mentioned, construction crime not only can cause financial hardship, it can delay production.

You can help protect your valuable assets with remote video monitoring. This proactive solution combines advanced technology with human intelligence to catch crimes in progress, not after-the-fact. Trained security operators use analytics-based surveillance cameras. When the cameras detect unusual activity, they alert the operator who can immediately respond. This means activating an on-site speaker that warns trespassers they are being watched, contacting local authorities or both.

Because we are watching live activity, calls from Stealth typically get bumped to a higher priority. This can result in quicker response and an increased chance police will arrive while the criminals are still on the scene, just as you saw in the video.

Do you have the proper security in place for your current or upcoming construction project? Help protect your valuable equipment by reducing potential theft and vandalism.

For more information about remote video monitoring for your construction site, contact us.