News
Construction site crime is soaring, costing the industry £800 million annually. WCCTV's CEO discusses the challenges of site crime and ways of preventing theft.
In a survey by the Chartered Institute of Building, nine in 10 construction managers say they’re regularly affected by site theft, and one in five say theft occurs weekly at their construction site.
Undoubtedly, theft remains a persistent problem in the industry, and its likelihood of occurrence is increasing.
WCCTV are the UK’s leading provider of mobile CCTV systems for temporary security at construction, critical infrastructure and highway projects.
Speaking on the challenge of site crime, the Company’s CEO David Gilbertson said:
“The security of a construction or remote site should never be compromised.”
“Unsecured sites attract opportunist crime, yet some companies still take that risk due to the cost of security measures.”
“This is particularly true in times of economic difficulties, but is often a case of being penny-smart and pound foolish.”
In a recent article on construction site theft statistics, WCCTV revealed that theft costs the industry £800 million annually. However, this is just the figure being reported to insurers – so likely just the tip of the iceberg.
Power tools and fuel theft often goes unreported, but their loss is still a costly inconvenience to the sites.
Thieves target construction sites as they are seen as a soft touch when it comes to security measures.
Companies utilizing low-cost prevention methods, or no security at all, are fueling this belief.
Installing a proactive theft prevention solution theft is much easier, and ultimately more cost-effective, than risking your construction to thieves.
Caught on Camera
Expanding on the issue, Mr Gilbertson said:
“It’s easy to understand what drives thieves to construction sites. Often, they only have a simple fencing setup with a lot of plant machinery worth thousands left for the taking.”
“When poor standard security measures are used to deter criminal activity and trespassers, the thieves will keep coming.”
“WCCTV’s rapid deployment CCTV Towers offer you the peace of mind that your site is secure. Couple this with our Gold Standard alarm monitoring - your sites are proactively protected from theft and criminal damage.
“With WCCTV’s managed security services, your site can become impenetrable. But let’s say someone manages to get on to your site; when the intruder is verified, an audio warning will be issued – a loud live voice-down address.”
“Our internal theft prevention statistics show that 87% of the time, this prompts the intruder to leave immediately.”
“Where the audio warning does not deter the intruder, a priority police response is implemented.”
The video below demonstrates the effectiveness of this process in action. If unwanted intruders attempt to access your sites, WCCTV will Deter, Catch and Record.
The Cost Is Worth the Investment
It has been reported that there were over 6,000 break-ins per year on construction sites throughout the UK.
This is not only problematic in terms of lost materials and equipment but also in terms of the resulting project delays, loss of productivity, impact on insurance premiums, and time spent replacing the stolen items.
David Gilbertson addressed this matter:
“Whilst security measures can be expensive, sites that implement strict security measures quickly recoup the initial investment through theft reduction, lowered insurance claims and a maintained reputation.
“Our CCTV towers are available on a rental basis, meaning you only pay for security when you need it most.”
WCCTV – Managed CCTV for Construction Sites
WCCTV is a leading provider of fully managed construction site security services in the UK.
We offer a range of security solutions tailored to meet the specific needs of our clients, including temporary construction or demolition projects, time-lapse video production, onsite communications, remote access to project management, health and safety reviews, and a complete security package.
Our site security services are renowned for their quality, reliability, and competitive pricing, so we have more active systems nationwide than any other supplier.
Our solutions are designed to provide comprehensive site security, including CCTV surveillance, access control, alarm monitoring, and remote monitoring, among other features.
Our experienced security professionals are committed to delivering exceptional customer service and ensuring our clients' sites remain secure throughout the project.
Whether you need a short-term rental or long-term security solution, WCCTV is here to help you secure your construction site; contact us today at 0800 470 4630 or email sales@wcctv.com
David Gilbertson
CEO of WCCTV
David oversees operations for both the UK and USA and has been with WCCTV since its formation in 2001. He is an integral part of everything WCCTV does and his knowledge of the industry is unrivalled. In his spare time, David is a cricket enthusiast, avid cyclist and enjoys spending time with his family.
