Recent Construction Site Theft Prompts Some New Recommendations For Site Security

There has been a recent uptick in construction site thefts over the last two years. American Fence Rental has been installing a surprising amount of construction site security fence as well in this same period.  Contractors are doing their due diligence in providing site security but thieves are still finding their way into the site.  Though providing site security, contractors are making some critical mistakes that could be the difference between theft-free or a frequent site for break-ins.  American Fence Rental had previously provided some suggestions that would promote better security with little to no additional investment.  Based on some recent reports on construction site theft, we are now going to add to our  How-To for site security fence installations that may have prevented these thefts.

1. Fence in employee parking. Remove anywhere logical for theifs to park.  If would-be thieves are forced to park in a lighted street outside the site; they will think twice and find a construction site where their vehicle will not be so suspicious.
2. Use shade or wind screening on fences where the site is highly visible. If your site is pressed up against the street where everyone can see you installing copper wiring and mechanical equipment.  Block their view.  Out of sight, out of mind.
3. Keep your construction security site fence free of debris and weeds. Many contractors leave fields of weeds to be cleared after the project is finished.  This provides a hidden path in and out of your site.  This will allow thieves to park a distance from the site without looking suspicious.
4. Keep your construction site’s temporary fence tight to the ground. Any gap at the bottom of the fence is an invitation.  A contractor building a big box store noticed construction materials piled up against his construction fence.  After walking around the materials, he noted a large gap under the fence.  Before he could get it corrected, he had been robbed.  Workers were piling up materials next to a hole in the fence to be stolen when the site was not occupied.
5. Don’t allow employees or other trades to remove salvaged materials from the site if not respectively under their scope. Initially, you tell employees they can salvage old electrical fittings.  Next, this leads to the wiring and possibly some new materials.  You are only creating a slippery slope and giving others an excuse to be removing materials from the site.  If you want to allow others some salvage rights, pile these materials up in the parking lot and separate from everything else.

American Fence Rental is the largest provider of temporary construction site fencing and event barricading. We are the Midwest’s number one provider for temporary fencing.  We have thousands of temporary fence panels in inventory ready for installation.  Please contact one of our eight operations for materials only or installation.