Combat Construction Site Theft
By Jeanette Hernandez
Construction theft is literally and figuratively big business, with industry experts estimating annual losses at more than $1 billion. In fact, a 2005 equipment-theft survey by Equipment Today showed over 70 percent of respondents had experienced theft of construction equipment.
Only 10 percent of stolen equipment is ever recovered, according to the National Equipment Register. It stands to reason that minimization is the only real solution to a problem that isn't going away. In fact, the value of stolen equipment has risen 20 percent annually, say reports by the Insurance Services Office. It's not much of a stretch to see that the building industry can't continue to absorb such a constant, negative impact.
The top 10 states with the highest occurrence of equipment theft are:
- California
- Florida
- Texas
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Maryland
- Illinois
- Louisiana
As construction site theft, arson and vandalism increase, so does the need for security surveillance, particularly in industrial and commercial applications. Expenditures in the overall video surveillance equipment market are expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11 percent and reach a projected $8.6 billion within three years, according to research by Frost and Sullivan.
Security Partner
With so many more security and surveillance options available each year, how do you know which company to trust for your security needs? Choosing a security provider can be a daunting, yet manageable task. Before making the decision, get informed by asking some important questions:
- Can the security firm customize their services to fit my needs or are they providing off-the-shelf products that have to be shoehorned into my installation?
- Are they interested in a long-term customer relationship or do they just want to sell me the latest gadget?
- Can I rely on one provider to take care of all my business, or do I have to work with multiple companies that may not understand my overall security needs?
- Is the company committed to providing permanent or temporary security solutions for my business?
- What services and security options are available, and how do they fit with my current and future needs?
Guards
Potential security clients should expect and seek out a company with well-trained, highly motivated professional security officers who can be available onsite, off-site and on patrol. Some companies offer uniformed security officers supplemented by GPS tracking or alarm response guards with 24-hour dispatch capability as well as additional custom on-site security packages.
Look for a firm where all security personnel are trained in key areas of specialty such as loss prevention, risk management, homeland security, electronic surveillance systems, industrial safety issues, disaster planning and overall system consolidation.
Innovation
When seeking out construction or commercial security providers, another option to consider is mobile surveillance units (MSU). Suitable for many security applications, the service can be deployed quickly to almost any location. When connected to the web, this mobile surveillance, monitoring and storage unit can help reduce the overall cost of security, while maintaining visual and audio contact with a business or property around the clock.
For the energy conscious, or for locations where power sources are limited, a solar-powered surveillance system has debuted. One even has a rotating solar panel, making it a self-contained unit for difficult geographic security applications. For extra versatility they can also include an extended battery backup that can power the system for up to four days in the event of an outage.
"Smart" alarm sensors are specialized packages that can also be upgraded with the intelligent design of wireless "smart sensors." Utilizing cellular frequencies, the sensors can detect and report signal loss, weak batteries and pinpoint security breaches in a security configuration.
Choose your security provider with care. Ask the hard questions and make an informed decision. Look for the company that offers security innovations and solutions specifically designed for your unique needs.
Jeanette Hernandez is the marketing coordinator for CPS Security Solutions of Gardena, Calif. CPS Security Solutions has 2,100 employees nationwide and offers technical expertise and innovative, personalized security solutions. CPS now offers simplified security packages providing a range of services including onsite guards with GPS tracking, high-tech digital monitoring/alarm systems, multiple mobile-security solutions linked to the Internet or company command centers.
CPS Security Solutions
800.310.5535
www.cpssecurity.com
