Heavy Vibration roller on a road repair job site.

Heavy equipment theft is an ongoing problem for construction site managers. Heavy equipment theft can cost your company in time, money, and reputation. While it may feel like an inevitable problem, there are ways that construction site security can be addressed to reduce the chances of heavy equipment theft.

Develop a Plan for Construction Site Security

Many construction sites are easy targets because security can be a challenge. Sites are in open, outdoor areas with little to no lighting overnight. These factors make construction sites an easy target for thieves. In general, having any security system in place will scare many would-be thieves off who will look for easier targets. Develop a plan that will include:

  •   Daily closing procedure that includes securing equipment, locking trailers, and closing windows. No keys should be left in equipment.
  •   Installation of portable, tamper-proof trailer alarms.
  •   Motion sensor lighting for shadowed areas.
  •   Secure fence with limited entry points.

Keep Track of Your Equipment

Most of the new heavy equipment is equipped with on-board, fleet-tracking technology. These systems can let you know exactly where and when your equipment was used. The mapping software can also track the equipment if it’s stolen. If your heavy equipment doesn’t have the technology installed, there are tracking devices that you can install that will provide a geofence in case of theft, and you can be notified via text or email if a piece of equipment is moved.

It is also important to keep records of every piece of heavy equipment you have on your job site, including all serial numbers. A good deal of heavy equipment is not recovered after a theft because there is no data on what has gone missing. Keeping records of your equipment – the make and model, a picture, who used it when, and what the numbers are – will help you recover equipment with more success. All this information should be stored securely. Registering your equipment through the National Equipment Register will help increase the odds of recovery as well.

Have a Protocol for Construction Site Security

It is important that all your employees on the construction site understand the on site protocol for security. At the end of each shift, any employee who operated equipment is responsible for parking, shutting, and locking the cab doors, and logging the equipment according to the protocol you have set up. If you want your equipment parked in a circle, which is a strategy many site managers employ to protect more compact equipment, every operator will need to be aware of that. All keys should have a designated spot away from the equipment.

If heavy equipment has been stolen from your job site, there should be an immediate response protocol as well. Delayed reports of stolen equipment often prevent equipment from being recovered. An operator who discovers the theft should immediately begin the process with the site manager, which will include looking via fleet tracking technology, alerting the authorities, contacting the insurance company, and reporting the serial numbers.

Construction site security should be a top priority for site managers and mitigating large equipment theft is an important part of the security plan. Construction site theft is a costly issue that your company needs to proactively face in order to prevent. Seagate Mobile Security understands the threat of heavy equipment theft and job site security. We offer one of the strongest portable trailer alarms available with a tamper-proof housing, 24/7 monitoring, and remote arm and disarm capabilities. Take a serious step towards mitigating job site theft and contact Seagate Mobile Security today.