Beef up construction site security
Crime experts alert companies against theft and robberies on construction sites
BRICK by brick, Zululand is seeing new developments, building expansions and civil works along many of its roads, but crime experts are raising the alarm against criminal activities on these sites.
Police and safety experts are cautioning builders and contractors to increase security where they are working as theft often occur quickly and go unnoticed amid all the activity.
‘One method criminals do use is to blend in with employees on busy construction sites,’ said ADT Security East Coast Region Martin Kriel.
‘Assign one person to keep track of temporary employees, or those who are taken on for the day, so that outsiders can immediately be identified.
‘Keep a record of the 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.’
He states keeping sites neat is crucial for managers or employees to notice when building products, tools or equipment had gone missing.
To avoid theft of building materials, he advises site managers to plan the delivery of building materials close to the time of their use so they do not 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,’ said Kriel.
In closing Kriel suggested that if a security guard is employed to keep watch at the site overnight, it is a good idea to introduce them to the local neighbourhood watch, if there is one, and for them to exchange contact details.
Richards Bay SAPS Spokesperson Debbie Ferreira also encourages companies to store expensive materials and equipment in locked up containers or other storage facilities.
‘If you do encounter theft, it is crucial that you report it to police so we know where to sharpen our patrol vehicles,’ Ferreira said.
