Some of the biggest concerns for any new construction site are expensive and time-consuming challenges caused by thefts and vandalism. The National Equipment Register reported that construction site thefts in Canada amount to upwards of $1 billion in annual losses. In an industry where every dollar matters and stress runs high, reducing the amount of money and time lost to preventable crimes is a crucial consideration. In 2025, both new and established construction sites should consider the security measures outlined in this blog when planning for the upcoming year
The Risk of Leaving Your Construction Site Unsecured
The high values of materials like copper, lumber, tools, and other construction equipment make unprotected sites targets for thefts. The price of lumber has increased by 300% since April 2020, and copper has almost doubled in the same period. To make matters worse, thefts are experiencing an upward trend across Canada. The likelihood that materials and equipment will be stolen from or damaged on an unsecured construction site is high.
While most construction site theft is committed by outside sources, employee theft is an unfortunate reality that must be taken into consideration. Employees may be tempted by high market prices of equipment and materials to steal from their own job site, leading to delays and expensive replacements.
Maintaining a strong on-site security presence is an effective way to deter employee thefts, as employees will be less likely to steal knowing that security personnel are monitoring the site. Additionally, construction site leadership should encourage employees to adopt a “see something, say something” policy as a best practice for reporting suspected thefts and missing equipment.
Foot Patrols Ensure Construction Site Safety
Every construction site’s first line of defence against crime is a static security presence. Uniformed security guards conduct foot patrols in and around construction site property at regular intervals, checking for the following:
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Fence integrity and weak points
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Secured gates and other access points
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Secured lock boxes
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Signs of tampering or trespassing
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Equipment and materials in their designated areas
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Maintenance issues
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Weather damage
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Key management
Additional uniformed security guard duties include:
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First aid support
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Alarm response
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Fire response
Foot patrols can be scheduled to patrol construction sites during the day when workers are present as well as at night and on weekends. This provides a valuable layer of security between 6 PM on Friday and 6 AM on Monday, when construction sites are most vulnerable to break ins.
Front Desk Security Guards Log Construction Site Visitors
Construction sites that experience a high flow of visitors, including delivery drivers, contractors, and workers from other sites, are susceptible to unauthorized visitors entering undetected. Adopting a policy of directing every visitor to visit the site’s office to check in prevents unauthorized access and allows front desk security guards to keep a record of every visitor’s name, company, and the time they visited. These guards can also streamline operations by providing directions to visitors.
In addition to logging visitors, front desk security guards will monitor a site’s live CCTV camera feeds, ensuring a real-time overview of every area of the site. Since guards on foot patrol cannot monitor every area of the site at once, CCTV monitoring provides an opportunity for your site’s security team to catch any issues, suspicious behaviour, or incidents as soon as they arise.
Gatehouse Security Guards Check Vehicle Identification
Large construction sites that require trucks and vehicles to drive onto the premises benefit from a gatehouse security guard verifying identification at vehicle access points to prevent unauthorized vehicle access. Similarly to front desk security guards, gatehouse security guards record and log visitor information and provide directions. Providing security at access points promotes a more robust security posture and further prevents trespassing, especially on large and active sites that experience a high flow of traffic.
Mobile Security Guards Provide After-Hours Security
For sites located in quieter areas that don’t require a 24/7 static security presence, mobile security patrols are a flexible and cost-effective solution for weekends and overnight security, when construction sites are most vulnerable.
Unlike static security guards, who remain at one construction site for the duration of their shift and conduct foot patrols at regular intervals, mobile security guards travel between sites in marked security vehicles. Mobile patrols can be conducted on a randomized schedule, providing an element of deterrence against trespassers and thieves, who won’t be able to plan an appropriate time to break in.
Mobile security guards perform the same checks as a static security guard on foot patrol. Mobile guards verify that all areas, equipment, and tools of the site are secure while monitoring for signs of attempted break-ins or suspicious activity.
In the event of an alarm triggering while a mobile security guard is on duty, even if they are not at the site, they will quickly respond and investigate. At Blackbird Security, our 24/7 Control Centre team monitors our clients’ sites and are remotely alerted when alarms are tripped. When this happens, one of our team members promptly deploys the nearest mobile security guard to the site. This provides round-the-clock protection without the cost of full-time, on-site security personnel.
The Blackbird Difference: Construction Security
Each Blackbird Security guard undergoes additional training through our in-house training program, Blackbird Academy. This training goes beyond the standard security training needed to obtain a security license and equips our guards with the knowledge needed to provide exceptional security services. Under our training team, guards are led through courses covering key topics such as Standard First Aid, Reporting Excellence, Peaceful De-escalation, and Fire Safety Training.
Our guards are also supported by TrackTik, the industry-standard security reporting software. TrackTik enables our clients and leadership teams to maintain real-time oversight of all activity at a given site, including live report updates and GPS locations of guards. TrackTik centralizes our guards’ reports into one easily accessible digital location, allowing our teams to stay informed on trends and make proactive decisions for the future.
Partner With Canada’s Number One Construction Site Security Provider
Construction sites are an attractive target for thieves. With the risk of theft expected to rise in 2025, safeguarding your assets and your stakeholders’ investments should be a top priority. Our security professionals have years of experience protecting sites in major cities across Canada including Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton. Get in touch with us through the form below to learn how we can help safeguard your construction site through 2025 and beyond.
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