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Strategically positioned cameras, operated wirelessly, give equipment managers and jobsite security personnel a remote view of the entire construction operation, any time of day or night.
Construction theft is not new, but criminals are getting bolder in their efforts to make a buck on anything they can grab quickly at a job site, from the rig itself to the fuel and parts inside it.
The pain of dealing with the theft is obvious, but other issues come into play, including damaged equipment leading to missed deadlines, increased insurance premiums and profits lost on a project.
One Oregon excavation contractor felt the burn this summer over two days of theft and destruction.
One morning, he discovered his skid steer had been stolen; the next, he noticed his compactor was damaged during a fuel theft.
"There's a hole in the bottom of our fuel tank of our roller," Veneta, Ore., excavation contractor Brian Sorensen, told news station kezi.com in late June.
"They drained all of the fuel out of it," said Sorenson, adding that now he'll have to fork out thousands of dollars to repair the compactor.
Fortunately, the skid steer was recovered just hours later, due to a GPS tracker he'd smartly installed on it.
"They started it and they drove it down the road, loaded it up and took it," he said. "Luckily, we had GPS, so I was able to call the sheriff with the address of the machine and meet them out there."
Sorenson said the worst equipment damage they've dealt with until now was stolen batteries.
"If the guys don't lock a battery compartment, the battery might get stolen, it's a couple hundred-dollar deal," he said.
"But [we've] never had anything stolen like this, never any damage like that done to equipment before."
Why, How Theft Is Big Business
Trackunit says construction theft is a growing concern, even with today's asset equipment devices and software. Thieves simply exploit security gaps.
Theft is big business because of the resale value of machinery and relative ease of access to job sites, the equipment management service provider said.
Inadequate perimeter fencing, lack of surveillance systems and poor record-keeping also make job sites attractive for theft.
Nationally, heavy equipment theft costs the construction industry an estimated $400 million every year, according to National Equipment Register (NER).
Theft is a significant problem. Sites in Texas, California, Florida, North Carolina and Georgia are hit most often, said the national organization.
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They're particularly vulnerable, said NER, because of their large construction industries and high volumes of equipment in use.
Though Sorenson in Oregon was able to recover his skid steer quickly, Trackunit and NER said recovery rates for stolen machinery are alarmingly low.
"Even if your state isn't listed among the top for construction equipment theft, it doesn't mean you're immune to the risk," said Trackunit.
The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports only approximately 20 percent of stolen equipment is ever recovered.
Machinery most frequently targeted by thieves? Loaders, excavators, tractors, generators, light towers, forklifts, utility vehicles and compressors.
"These machines and equipment are prime targets owing to their high value," said Trackunit.
Their ease of access and mobility also make them relatively simple to steal and sell on the black market, the company said.
Construction theft is never random, say security experts. Certain patterns can indicate when thefts are more likely to occur.
"Thieves often strike during long weekends and holiday periods when job sites are less monitored and activities slow down," said Trackunit. "Additionally, nighttime and early mornings are prime times for theft due to reduced visibility and fewer workers on site."
Awareness of these common times can help in planning enhanced security measures during these vulnerable periods.
Equipment brands that offer the highest resale value and most widespread use across the construction industry are hit most often. They're high in demand in both legitimate and illicit markets, said Trackunit, and their prevalence on job sites means they're often readily accessible.
Plus, parts for these types of equipment are valuable and relatively easy to resell.
What frustrated Sorenson was the fact that no arrest was made in the recovery of his skid steer.
"When I was getting the skid steer, they were there speaking with the deputies," the excavation contractor told kezi.com. "They had a ‘I don't know how it got there, it's not mine.' And that was it. There were no arrests made; I got my skid steer eventually and left," he said.
The local sheriff's office said it can't assume that the party that possesses the stolen vehicle is responsible for the theft.
"Just because they're behind the wheel doesn't necessarily mean they are the person that stole it," said Sergeant Tim Wallace. "Maybe they know it's stolen, or maybe they don't. If they've purchased it, that's an investigative lead we have to consider, too."
What Machinery Theft Costs Contractors
As Trackunit notes, construction site theft can have severe repercussions, significantly disrupting job progress and creating substantial financial losses.
"When vital equipment is stolen, operations can halt, causing delays and missed deadlines, leading to penalties and damaged client relationships."
A contractor's replacement costs are often coupled with increased insurance company premiums and additional security expenditures.
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"Beyond the tangible losses, theft can demoralize the workforce and erode trust within the team, as well as among contractors and clients," said Trackunit.
Construction sites are often expansive, with many people going in and out, proving difficult to secure fully, especially during periods of low activity.
The frequent movement of machinery between sites complicates tracking and recovery efforts. Additionally, stolen machinery can result in additional security investments, further straining project budgets.
Another challenge in combating construction equipment theft is the lack of a standardized registration system, noted Trackunit.
"Unlike automobiles, heavy machinery does not typically have mandated registration akin to vehicle VIN numbers," said the company. "Nor is there a centralized database for tracking ownership and theft across different jurisdictions."
Stealing construction equipment is considered a low-risk crime because thieves often don't get caught.
"This lack of significant consequences further encourages the proliferation of such thefts," said Trackunit.
Prevention Takes Awareness, Ingenuity
Preventing theft is challenging without security measures. Advances in technology and telematics can significantly boost a contractor's recovery chances.
Mobile surveillance units are self-contained vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art technology and tools to monitor locations.
Deploy Surveillance, a mobile unit provider, said these units are ideal for construction sites because they can be quickly deployed.
The units can be set up to monitor the site 24/7 via advanced analytics and an offsite monitoring center.
"If an event is ever triggered, everything is recorded in crystal clear video using combination HD, thermal and night vision cameras," said the company.
Some units can record and read the license plate of a fleeing vehicle hundreds of feet away, said Deploy.
"The knowledge that the construction site is being monitored can dissuade thieves and vandals from attempting to break in or steal equipment."
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Alarms can be installed on the surveillance units to alert the company's security team if there is an intrusion or other security breach. This, then, can help to quickly notify law enforcement or security personnel to respond to the site and prevent theft or damage.
"Not only that, but some units have built-in speaker systems that allow the agent to address the intruder live via the mobile surveillance unit," said Deploy.
The video feeds and alarm systems can be accessed remotely, and motion detection sensors can alert when there is movement on the site.
Business security system provider Safe and Sound suggests other ways to prevent construction site theft, starting with identifying marks on your assets. Simply engrave serial numbers or other identifying marks on tools and vehicles.
"Most construction materials around your job site are expensive and easily fenced, making them easy targets for potential thieves," said Safe and Sound.
Copper tubing and wiring in particular demand a high price. Vehicles often lack standardized serial numbers, making them easy to strip for parts to sell.
"Engraving serial numbers or other identifying marks on your tools and vehicles is a great way to start if you're concerned," said the security provider. "As a bonus, it can also help keep your records more organized and smooth out your administrative process."
Fully securing your site requires a construction site security system designed specifically for the construction industry.
That means video monitoring service, time-lapse or motion-activated surveillance cameras in strategic locations. Securing a commercial construction site is generally done with temporary wireless cameras connected to a cellular network.
Hardwired security cameras are even more powerful than their wireless counterparts for projects that have access continuous power at the site.
"While they're much more expensive, these edge-solution cameras are typically an entire surveillance system in themselves," said the security provider.
Some systems are even capable of securing your entire site from a single vantage point. The downside is the power requirement, said the company.
"A cut wire will disable your surveillance, and it will be difficult to trace stolen equipment."
Back in Oregon, Sorenson told kezi.com he was considering installing cameras or arranging for security patrols on the job site.
But since the two machines were not needed for the next phase of construction, they'd simply been moved away.
"Ideally, we don't want to mobilize on and off a job site over and over again," he said. "So, we'd leave the equipment here until the next phase begins. But with the damage that's been done, it's not worth the risk. So, we'll haul it back to the yard and bring it back out." CEG
Lucy Perry
Lucy Perry has 30 years of experience covering the U.S. construction industry. She has served as Editor of paving and lifting magazines, and has created content for many national and international construction trade publications. A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, she has a Journalism degree from Louisiana State University, and is an avid fan of all LSU sports. She resides in Kansas City, Missouri, with her husband, who has turned her into a major fan of the NFL Kansas City Chiefs. When she's not chasing after Lucy, their dachshund, Lucy likes to create mixed-media art.
Read more from Lucy Perry here.
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