Between supply-chain issues, the war in Ukraine, and the attendant global sanctions imposed on Russian oil, the cost of commercial and domestic fuel has increased at an alarming rate through much of 2022. Every industry has been affected by the rise in fuel prices, particularly the building and construction sector. Fuel is absolutely crucial for this industry, not only for transporting materials on and off sites, but also to power generators and machinery vital to the building process, such as cranes, diggers, and so on.
An added concern for the construction industry is the increase in fuel theft. With prices skyrocketing, people are getting desperate enough to steal fuel from commercial enterprises and construction sites are a prime target. Many would-be fuel thieves consider building sites to be easier to get into and out of than a regular building. Also, as an added advantage to them, they know that there will be fuel stored on site overnight.
How is fuel being stolen from building sites?
Fuel thieves seem to be adopting two key methods for removing fuel from construction sites. In the most blatant cases, they are stealing the bowsers that hold the fuel itself. Where these storage containers have been secured, the thieves are reduced to syphoning fuel directly from the on-site machinery.
HOW TO COMBAT FUEL THEFT
As experienced security professionals, we offer several solutions to members of the construction industry. We work with contractors across the country, providing essential security measures, specifically tailored to deter fuel thieves. These are just a few of the ways we can tackle the problem:
On-site guards
The most effective way to protect your site is with manned security guards. These trained professionals will patrol the grounds while your own team is off-site. With an extensive background in security, they will protect your fuel and other assets throughout the night. If the site is particularly large and sprawling, you may wish to instruct a canine unit instead.
CCTV surveillance
We can install temporary CCTV systems for even the most open construction site. Using customised CCTV towers, we can set-up a surveillance system that covers the entirety of the site, leaving no blind spots. The live video feed is monitored 24-hours a day by our remote surveillance team. In the event of a break in, they will instruct a nearby mobile patrol unit or the local police authority to attend the scene.
QR Codes
We can apply unique, tamper-proof QR codes to your bowsers and machinery. When our mobile patrols perform their nightly site checks, they will scan them to confirm nothing has been taken or tampered with. This is an effective way to timestamp events should a theft take place between checks. What’s more, these codes are highly prominent, letting any potential thief know that your assets are protected. This in itself can be a deterrent.
Mobile patrols
We have mobile patrol units operating across the country, keeping an eye on all our clients’ properties within a given neighbourhood. As part of their duties, these seasoned security officers will stop off at your site at random intervals to make sure the perimeter remains intact and that there has been no attempt at unlawful entry.