Construction Fraud is big business and for criminals to execute their plan they want ‘eyes on’ your project. 

• Can anyone drive onto your construction site?
• Have you taken access control into your budget?
• How easy is it to drive onto site with a fake I.D? 

500 billion is taken from the construction industry each year as criminals see opportunities. 95% of opportunities are seen because construction sites have poor security management.

Did you know poor communication occurs on most sites? The changing of the guard and report writing is essential. Construction Managers are busy and only want to speak to security guards generally after their site has been targeted but this is not best practice. 

Here are 10 security tips to help enhance security on your construction site:

1)   Promote Positive Behaviour:

Who wants to work with a thief? 45% of construction site theft is done internally. 

Whether this is loose lips from a sub-contractor informing their network what areas on site are best to exploit or perhaps they purposely try and sabotage the site they are working on. 

Placing Signage around your construction site informing workers of the consequences that can happen if ‘subbies’ are caught stealing is an advantage

This can affect their future employment with other construction companies and by displaying signage of the consequences that happen to worker’s caught stealing from site will decrease internal fraud whilst also giving a USP to other clients who are looking for a construction provider.

2)   Have an anonymous number to call if you suspect someone is stealing.

Who wants to work with a thief? 

If a subcontractor witnessed someone stealing on site is there a confidential number to call? 45% of construction crime is internal and unfortunately construction fraud can go all the way to the top with managers also taking a cut of the profits from stolen materials.

Sparta have a designated line to report construction site fraud and we will escalate this to the Construction Director’s themselves and even the police.

Promote Best Practice – have signage around the site with a designated number to report construction fraud confidentially. Sparta can do this for you. 

 3) Have daily patrols of your perimeter fence line. Trespassers will cut holes in your fence-line to come back at a later opportunity.

Do not allow random items to be piled up on either side of a fence, it may create a ‘climbable’ condition, compromising security. Do not make it easy for a thief to access your site. Intruders wants ‘eyes on’ your construction site. Do not help thieves get onto your site. 

Harriss fencing is not hard to penetrate, and a more quality fence line should be sought after. 

4)   Do not have alarm codes 1066 or 1966

Did you know most construction managers who are between 50-65 years old use the alarms codes above, which are the most common alarm codes intruders will use? Warning signals should go off well before intruders get to the manager’s cabin where assets are kept.

5)   All CCTV data should be stored on the cloud not just the DVR

The DVR should be securely stored away, and the files uploaded to the cloud. No, one other than your security provider should have access to passwords or the DVR. 

6)   Penetration Testing 

Needs to be carried out on a regular basis. How easy is it to arrive on site and get eyes on your assets? Did you know trespassers will target at vulnerable times – when, access control barriers are up on a morning, and you have subcontractors arriving on site. Sparta can provide penetration testing at random intervals – even if it is our site. We dress the same as your workforce and try to gain access to site with a fake I.D

 It is all part of our security training

7)   Automated Number Plate Recognition Cameras on all Exit & Entry Points!

Our Security System can check all license plates that drive onto your site. Are the vehicles insured? Is their tax on the van or car? These checks are done automatically when drivers pass the ANPR cameras, and it will flag up if suspicious vehicles are on site.

8)   Solar Powered Lighting in Vulnerable Areas

When someone walks past an isolated area they are instantly illuminated. NO ONE should be walking around in darkness during silent hours, and this can be flagged to Sparta control as we can also install a PIR sensor in this isolated area. 

9) Have K-9 security patrols walking your perimeter during daylight hours

For sites that have 24/7 gatehouse guards have a dog kennel on your site with a security sign on. Even if there is no security dog inside. Let site visitors see this on entry on and off site. K-9 security dogs are the best security deterrent, and it is advised all sites pay the additional costings to have a Sparta K-9 presence on site. 

10) Business is all about relationships 

Do you know the names of the security guard’s you drive past every morning on the way onto your site? You’re leaving your business in the hands of these guards over the weekend. These security guards are protecting your assets. Would you know the name of the guard who was protecting your house if you went away? Why, not get to know their name as you drive past them every morning. Relationships are a fundamental within business and I am sure a personal introduction to site guards would better a relationship and a better relationship would mean more productivity as it is proven staff who feel appreciated work far harder.