The issue of professional gangs stealing from UK construction sites has garnered prompted many firms to install temporary CCTV towers to deter ‘stealing to order’, according to Kingdom Systems.
The company has warned about the rise of ‘stealing to order’ – where criminals are given a list of sought-after machinery and equipment to then steal and sell on.
Temporary CCTV towers can help to prevent these crimes and protect businesses that are at risk of losing expensive equipment, according to insurer Allianz Cornhill.
Although the UK Government brought in the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act to counteract the problem in the agricultural sector last year, it failed to address the issue suffered by construction sites nationwide.
And with research by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) revealing that 92% of construction workers are affected by theft, with 21% saying they suffer from it every single week, it is an epidemic that largely lies in the hands of individual project managers to prevent until wider governmental changes are made.
Tradespeople and construction workers often have no choice but to leave equipment and machinery onsite overnight, leaving them open to thieves looking for opportunity.
“The serious risk of theft is a concern for all construction site managers and staff, especially when demand for stolen equipment is so high and the costs of replacing them remain equally astronomical. But installing permanent CCTV towers is expensive, time-consuming, and unlikely to be the best option for temporary construction sites,” says director of service Paul Worsley. “Installing temporary CCTV can be an efficient way to enhance security, deter criminals and safely document any breaches or suspicious activity.”
CCTV footage from temporary CCTV towers can provide valuable evidence in the event of a theft, speeding up the time it takes to catch the perpetrators.
