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Canada suffers from hundreds of thousands of dollars in construction theft every month. It’s not only contractors losing out, it’s equipment manufacturers and dealers, and insurance companies - and, ultimately, home buyers.
Perpetrators misconstrued as construction workers make off with the goods. These modern-day pirates steal appliances, lumber, windows, drywall and even bags of cement.
Copper piping is another desirable item for thieves, due to the dramatic increase in copper prices over the past few years. In some cases, homeowners and builders will sleep in their vehicles outside a home under construction just to make sure they aren't stripped of the copper wiring.
So why is theft at construction sites such a problem? Because the goods are there and, in many cases, unprotected.
Whether heavy equipment, small tools, appliances or copper wire, these crooks help themselves to anything that isn’t screwed down. Although most thefts happen on the weekends, thieves will appear whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Theft of equipment and materials can set the completion date of a new home back by several weeks, depending on what is stolen. Builders must do their part to assure their assets are protected.
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Temporary fencing creates a physical and psychological boundary for crooks that will help reduce the incidences of vanishing product. Another option would be to outfit building sites with storage containers with beefy padlocks to contain sought-after items (preferably a “puck lock,” which does not allow an intruder to use bolt cutters to gain entry).
There are many other great products that could help in the prevention of theft to your new home – everything from high-security metal fasteners to special bonding adhesives that can help keep your plumbing intact. All dropped off lumber should be marked with the company’s stamp or identifiable florescent paint.
Nighttime and weekend security guards could be an option for residential developments, especially during the pre-lock-up stage. Once a new home gets to the lock-up stage, builders should make sure all the doors and windows have adequate deadbolts. And, of course, home builders must make sure the home is secured before leaving the premises each day.
Key control on new home construction could save headaches down the road. With today’s high-security keys being virtually non-duplicating without proper protocol, builders could keep strict control on who holds a key to the premises. If you’re planning to install a monitored alarm, arrange to have it in place as soon as possible to help protect your property.
Coordinating deliveries of items like soaker tubs, spas and hot-water tanks around installation is always a good idea. That way the fixtures won’t be conveniently lying around in boxes, creating a golden opportunity for the bad guys. Distributing a schedule of subcontracting activity is helpful so that both residents and workers know when people are expected to be on-site.
Finally, don’t underestimate one of your strongest defenses against construction theft: neighbourhood involvement. Become acquainted with your neighbours and trade contact information. It’s important to cement the communication between neighbours, contractors and police and share any suspicious activity.
Neighbourhoods working together are still the best ways to prevent construction theft in today’s world.
Frank Fourchalk is a security expert with 20 years in the business. Visit his website for more.