Archive for the ‘Security Tips’ Category
Stop Generator Theft: 14 Portable Generator Security Tips
Portable generators stay in high demand in the used marketplace – that’s part of what makes them such common targets for thieves. Their very portability makes them popular theft targets too. In fact, a recent study by ForConstructionPros.com (PDF) found that portable generators are the 2nd most-stolen item from jobsites.
Don’t make your construction site a target for portable generator theft! This article describes 14 different ways you can protect your portable generators, divided into pro-active and reactive measures.
(more…)
10 Skid Steer Security Tips: The Jobsite Thief’s Favorite Tool
Thanks to jobsite theft research conducted by ForConstructionPros.com we know that items most stolen from jobsites nationwide break down like this:
1) Compressors: 15%
2) Portable Generators: 13%
3) Trailers: 13%
4) Skid Steers: 10%
This data helps GCs better secure their jobsites by adding extra layers of security to those items. However, ForBusinessPro’s findings don’t show one of the core jobsite theft tactics that we’ve seen time and time again. Protecting yourself from this single tactic will reduce jobsite theft attempts considerably.
(more…)
Highway Construction Site Security: 11 Ways to Stop Road Jobsite Theft
In the coming months highway construction projects will begin around the country and thousands will go back to work. This is exciting news for construction thieves too, who will be even more aggressive and bold due to the current economic climate. This article looks first at the particular vulnerabilities of the highway construction site, then at methods for stopping loss due to theft. Don’t put your profits into the pockets of thieves – protect your organization’s hard earned money by implementing these highway jobsite security tips.
(more…)
Foreclosed Home Security: How to Protect Vacant Homes from Burglary
It doesn’t take an analyst to recognize that home foreclosures, already high, will reach unprecedented heights in 2009. This also means a massive spike in crimes that inevitably accompany home foreclosures. These facts make the situation clear:
Bloomberg reports that foreclosures rose 81% in 2008 (1).
The White House forecasts almost 3 million jobs lost in 2009 (2).
The FDIC states that job loss puts 32% of homeowners over the edge into foreclosure (3).
This article answers two questions:
1) What can banks, corporate insurance agencies and property preservation companies do to protect their foreclosed home investments from burglary, theft and vandalism?
2) What can homeowners living in neighborhoods with high foreclosure rates do to protect their property values?
Table of Contents:
>> 3 Types of Crime at Vacant, Foreclosed Homes
>> 8 Security Challenges for Vacant, Foreclosed Homes
>> 10 Ways to Protect Foreclosed Homes and Neighborhoods from Crime
>> 2 Other Relevant Security Resources
>> Citations
>> Foreclosed Home Crime News and Resources
(more…)
Rental Equipment Loss Control: 21 Ways to Prevent Rental Company Theft
Rental equipment companies continue to face millions of dollars a year in loss due to equipment theft. In fact, insurers report that, “the volume of claims they see for equipment being rented by policyholders far exceeds the volume of rental equipment that they are insuring.” Thieves are simply more likely to target rental equipment because it’s less risky. With the coming recession crime wave of 2009 it’s more important than ever to stop equipment rental loss.
This article investigates all the ways loss prevention professionals can make it MORE risky for thieves to target both equipment rental facilities and rental equipment on construction sites. According to Jeff McGeary, senior vice president of sales, Allied Insurance Brokers, “the money you spend on loss prevention you will get back at least five-fold.”
In this article you will learn:
>> The 3 Basics of Rental Company Security
>> Physical Security in the Equipment Rental Yard
>> Jobsite Rental Equipment Loss Prevention
>> Rental Equipment Transportation Security: Protecting the Handoff
>> Late or Stolen? How to Stop Equipment Theft by Fraudulent Conversion
(more…)
Recession Crime: 21 Ways to Protect Yourself from Recession Theft in 2009
2009 will be a record year for theft, burglaries and robbery. People from all walks of life are more likely to give in to their criminal impulses during times of increased economic pressures. An understanding of the coming crime wave of 2009 is vital for businesses seeking to stop crime before it starts.
This article first investigates the facts and figures behind the crime wave of 2009 and then outlines 21 methods for protecting yourself from becoming a victim.
Be a hero by forwarding this article to friends, relatives and associates to help them protect themselves!
(more…)
Equipment Yard Security: 10 Tactics that Stop Equipment Yard Theft
From the thief’s perspective an equipment yard presents a larger potential haul than a construction site. Plus, if they get insider help, your yard can be safer and easier to hit. Equipment will be your biggest concern, along with materials if you use your equipment yard for staging. It’s likely that you’ll see quite a few of your equipment maintenance tools grow legs too.
Since your equipment yard is a permanent set up – as opposed to most construction sites – you can really get a crime fighting advantage by “layering” some of the security tactics listed below.
(more…)
The Electrical Substation Security Guide: Securing Grid Reliability
The security of your organization’s electrical substations determines the reliability of the electrical grid in your city, county and state. The ever increasing attacks on electrical substations by thieves and the ongoing threat of terrorist and saboteur attack makes continual reevaluation of substation security programs a necessity.
This article first identifies the type and frequency of security threats facing critical electric substations, then outlines a layered approach to power substation security. It closes with a listing of the most effective security measures.
For more information on our substation security services please contact us today >>
>> Frequency and Type of Power Substation Security Threats
In 2002 Cigre conducted an international study of power substation security. Out of their 40 respondents 35 reported that they had at least one unauthorized intrusion annually. 11 of their respondents reported that their power substations had 11 or more intrusions annually. 10% of the overall respondents reported 20 or more intrusions.
(more…)
A Model Home Security Plan: 10 Tips that Prevent Burglaries
When burglars hit model homes they cost more than builders may realize at first. Not only is there the expense of replacing and reinstalling appliances and furnishings, but there’s the downtime it takes to file insurance claims and handle all the other paper work. The highest expense though comes when the local news covers the model home theft… Imagine what potential buyers must think when they see the model home they just visited with broken glass and police standing outside of it.
Luckily the thieves who hit model homes have patterns, and there are many ways you can prevent burglary at your model home. We compiled our best practices and hope they help you to stop burglary at your model home.
(more…)
Houston Construction Security: 7 Ways to Stop Jobsite Theft and Vandalism
In 2007 Texas ranked third behind Florida and California for highest occurrence of construction equipment theft. Copper prices are dropping, but thieves haven’t gotten the message yet and still think it’s an easy target. Your Houston construction site does NOT have to be a target for theft or vandalism. We compiled this article to help you fight back against construction theft in Houston!
1) Remote Jobsite Surveillance that Can Actually Fight Back Against Crime
There are many video surveillance companies out there, but few of them actually monitor your jobsite security cameras LIVE. And there’s only ONE – Pro-Vigil – that can take action onsite and fight back against intruders with strobe lights, sirens and shouts of warning.
Watch this intruder get turned away when remote guards flash strobe lights at him:
Contact Texas-based Pro-Vigil today to learn more about our construction surveillance services >>
2) Forewarned is Well Armed: Track Local Theft with “Google Alerts”
Always be prepared – especially when it comes to Houston construction thieves! You can receive warning of construction theft activity in your area by monitoring the web with a tool made by Google – Google Alerts. You simply tell it the locations and crimes you want to track and then it notifies you by email when these locations and crimes are written about online.
Google Alerts works by keeping track of certain “keywords.” If you’re tracking Houston construction crimes we recommend you copy and paste the following terms into the appropriate fields of Google Alerts:
Houston construction theft
Texas construction theft
Depending on your location you may also want to go regional by using these keywords in your Google Alerts:
Harris County Construction Theft
Pasadena Construction Theft
Katy Construction Theft
Cypress Construction Theft
Fort Bend County Construction Theft
Sugar Land Construction Theft
Stafford Construction Theft
Brazoria County Construction Theft
Pearland Construction Theft
Galveston County Construction Theft
If you have any trouble setting up your Google Alerts check out Google Alert’s FAQ page, as well as this article in ehow: How to Setup Google Alerts
3) Crack Down on Employee “Insider” Construction Theft
We see it time and again – insiders are a leading cause of construction theft on your jobsite. And why not? They know how the jobsite works and where you keep all the valuable equipment. You’ll never get all the thieves off your jobsite, but there are several things you can do to reduce the incidence of insider theft. First off you have to understand the thief’s rationale – if my boss/general contractor leaves these tools lying around he must be rich, therefore it won’t bother him if I steal. Second, we highly advise extensive background checks. One other method that should stop a great deal of employee theft is mandatory drug checks.
Here are several more ways to stop employee theft on your jobsite >>
4) Install Aggressive, No-Glare Construction Security Lighting
Lighting reduces construction site crime because it not only discourages prowlers but offers any neighbors or passers by and your monitoring service to see any suspicious activity… We also recommend that you use bright white light and position the lights so that they don’t shine glare out onto the street. Also it’s vital that you visit your jobsite at night to see what sort of opportunities there are for thieves to get comfortable in the shadows.
Learn more security lighting tips. Read 5 Security Lighting Tips For Your Construction Site >>
5) Establish an End of Day Jobsite Security Lockdown Routine
We highly recommend that you make someone solely responsible for security at your jobsite and make sure that they establish regular lockdown routines. When possible have them block in your valuable equipment so that it’s not easy to load up on a trailer. Further, make sure that they engage equipment in the ground when possible. Your security manager should be the last one to leave, and he must make a perimeter check to be sure that there are no easy ways for thieves to get onto your site.
Read more ideas for an end of day security routine >>
6) Analyze New Construction Jobs for Security Risk
Again, a night time drive by is vital for you to understand your full security risks. You should also research any controversy surrounding the particular job, ask the police about crime rates, layout the site to maintain high-visibility zones, and add high-visibility security devices like cameras and strobe lights mounted on poles.
We also recommend reading through How to Analyze Your Job Site’s Security Needs BEFORE the Job Begins >>
7) Exercise High Vigilance During Holidays and Vacations
Long weekends and holidays are times of high theft on jobsites. We recommend that you completely forbid jobsite activity during these times and make sure that your employees and subs understand that any visits after hours are legally unauthorized and will result in criminal prosecution. Further, consider unloading or removing any valuable trailers or mobile machinery.
For more tips on weekend and holiday security read 9 Ways to Stop Construction Theft During Holidays and Vacations >>
Helpful Houston Security Resources:
Google Alerts
Houston Police Department
Pro-Vigil Construction Surveillance Security
