Construction sites are vulnerable to theft

Construction sites can be the playgrounds for criminals.

Owner builders and contractors are cautioned about security in their sites because theft can occur quickly and go unnoticed amid all of the activity.

Managing director of ADT Central Region Clive Humphrey said one method which is used by criminals is to blend in with employees on busy construction sites.

Humphrey offers advice for contractors or homeowners to avoid this kind of trouble:

• Assign one person to keep track of temporary employees or those who are hired just for the day, in order to make easy to identify outsiders.
• Keep a record with full identity details of each person working on the site.
• If the building work will span longer than a few months, consider a fence and installing security lights around the property.
• Encourage employees to keep the site neat so that anything out of place or missing will be noticed immediately.
• Plan the delivery of building materials close to the time of their use so that they don’t stand on-site for too long.
• Valuable or high cost items must be delivered only if they can be installed on the same day and secured.
• Advise your security service provider or neighbourhood watch that there will be building activity at your property and make sure that site managers have emergency contact numbers on hand.

Humphrey suggested that if a security guards will be employed to keep watch at the site overnight, it’s a good idea to introduce them to the local neighbourhood watch and for them to exchange contact details.

Details: www.adt.co.za