The National Equipment Register estimates that construction job site theft costs the overall industry upwards of $1 billion in lost equipment, materials, and appliances. Less than 25% of stolen materials are recovered. Thefts at construction sites negatively impact property ROI due to significant replacement costs and delayed construction timelines. 

Job sites are particularly vulnerable because they are not always occupied. According to the Great American Insurance Group, most construction site crimes occur between 6 pm on Friday to 6 am on Monday. Materials and equipment are not always locked up, and security may be minimal or non-existent. Because of these factors, job sites can quickly become a target for theft, leading to both financial loss and lengthened timelines.

Builders have several different options when it comes to preventing construction site theft. Common approaches include alarm systems, fencing and lights, on-site security, and CCTV cameras. While these approaches contribute to a safer job site, they may fail to offer a complete solution. Alarm systems may be delayed. Fencing and lights can be circumvented by determined thieves. On-site security is expensive and puts people at risk if a dangerous situation occurs. CCTV cameras may fail to provide meaningful evidence, especially if a crime occurs at night. None of these options guarantee actionable evidence.

A license plate reader camera fills in the gaps where these other measures fall short and can help law enforcement reduce job site crimes and protect thousands of dollars of valuable assets. A license plate reader camera captures the objective, actionable evidence law enforcement needs to connect specific vehicles to criminal activity.

Items commonly stolen from construction sites

A license plate reader camera will protect you from the significant losses incurred during a job site crime. Whether it’s a hammer or larger equipment, every loss adds up and stalls your project from moving forward.

Below are some of the items commonly stolen from construction sites that you will want to protect with the right security system:

Copper wiring. Global demand has driven up the cost of copper and created a lucrative international trade. Suspects will frequently target job sites since copper wire is a commonly used construction material.

Lumber.  The soaring cost of lumber after the pandemic has also spurred the rise of unprecedented lumber theft. In some cases, suspects have taken almost $100,000 worth of lumber from job sites. 

Appliances.  Appliances like refrigerators, ovens, and washers are commonly stolen at residential construction projects because they are high-value items collected in one place. Appliances for new homes cost around $10,875 on average, so appliance theft can quickly add up to significant losses. 

Tools. Tools are among the most commonly stolen items from a construction site, and their small size and portability can also tempt employees. 

The costs of job site crime go beyond money

When high-value materials go missing, a construction site loses thousands of dollars of equipment, which snowballs into extended deadlines, time spent replacing stolen items, higher insurance premiums, and rising costs that trickle down to customers.

With the current labor shortages and already extended timelines for completing projects, construction site theft puts builders at an increased disadvantage. It slows down work that is already slower than usual. Employees may not be able to complete work within the original timeframe or meet an upcoming project milestone.

Builders order supplies well in advance in anticipation of supply chain shortages and shipping delays resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. If a builder orders supplies six weeks in advance and those goods are stolen, a project could linger for weeks past the original completion date. This further impacts the bottom line and the overall cost of a construction project. 

Builders already face a lengthy wait for payments. They often need to meet certain milestones in a project before being paid and may rely on credit to fund materials and labor. When theft disrupts a project timeline, payments get pushed out further, and the builder is forced to extend their use of credit. 

When rising theft leads to a rise in insurance claims, builders pay higher premiums. If a site isn’t meeting basic requirements for job site security, the stolen goods might not even be covered. Increasing insurance premiums creates a trickle-down effect that places most of the burden on consumers. This ultimately leads to home buyers facing skyrocketing costs for new home builds due to job site crime.

Flock Safety license plate reader cameras protect your investments and peace of mind

A license plate reader camera is one of the best solutions to augment your job site security against the high cost of job site theft because it gives law enforcement one of the most critical pieces of evidence they need to investigate and solve crimes: a license plate number. Flock Safety cameras capture plates 24 hours a day, protecting unattended construction sites when they are most vulnerable and when employee theft is most likely. You can rest easy knowing that your site is monitored on the weekends, during holidays, overnight, and anytime you aren’t there.

Flock’s cameras can even detect if a plate is missing or covered, giving law enforcement valuable information if an incident occurs at your site. Flock’s Vehicle Fingerprint™Technology captures the make, model, color, and special customizations of a vehicle, such as roof racks, trailer hitches, and bumper stickers. The footage is securely stored and easy to search.

With construction site crime, time is of the essence. There’s a greater chance of apprehending a suspect and ensuring the safety of your site when law enforcement can respond quickly and with concrete evidence. The Flock Safety system automatically flags nearby law enforcement when a vehicle of interest is captured at a construction site. Officers can search footage while on the scene, which gives them a real advantage in generating successful leads and apprehending suspects.

A construction site may have multiple points where vehicles enter and exit. Flock Safety license plate reader cameras can be set up anywhere because they are wireless and solar-powered. Flock Safety cameras are ideal for construction sites because you can install cameras in the areas you need them most without additional infrastructure. The motion activation of Flock’s ALPR system means more vehicles are detected and more alerts go out to officers.

Flock cameras are also easy and fast to install on your site, so you don’t waste any time getting your high-value materials protected. You won’t need to worry about the hassle of maintenance. Flock Safety cameras are subscription-based and maintenance-free, so software, data, cloud storage, and 1B+ plate reads a month are covered for one price.

Flock Safety license plate reader cameras can also have extended use even after your new home construction project is completed. Builders who want to stand above the competition can install the Flock Safety system and then hand it over to the HOA after the community is built. Homebuyers consider security a valuable upgrade when considering a new home and neighborhood. Including Flock Safety cameras on your site will add value to the property you are trying to sell and show your dedication to creating safer communities. 

With Flock Safety, you can protect your materials, your project, and your peace of mind. 

Flock Safety is a public safety operating system that helps communities and law enforcement in 5000+ cities work together to eliminate crime, protect privacy, and mitigate bias. We build devices that capture objective evidence and use machine learning to create and deliver unbiased investigative leads to law enforcement.  Flock Safety serves 5000 cities in 45+ states and is helping solve hundreds of crimes every day.