Each year, thefts of equipment on construction sites and farms cost U.S. businesses and individuals between $300 million and $1 billion, according to a report by The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). Thefts vastly outnumber fires, vandalism, collisions and a variety of other accidents and incidents that threaten security on construction sites across the nation.

From valuable copper wire to expensive pieces of equipment, construction sites are packed with items that attract thieves. But traditional forms of security, such as having guards on-site, are costly and often ineffective at stopping thieves equipped with modern technologies.

Luckily, construction companies have a wide range of options when it comes to utilizing cutting-edge security to keep their investments safe. Keep reading to learn a few of the most effective forms of security that every construction company needs to have in place today.

Alarm Systems

Simply locking down your site at the end of the workday isn’t enough to keep your equipment safe. Whether potential thieves are current or former employees with knowledge of a site’s weaknesses or an outsider with the equipment necessary to break in, locks won’t stop most criminals. A loud alarm will.

Unless your construction site is in an unpopulated area, an alarm will call attention to it, and to anyone on the property who shouldn’t be there. If that isn’t enough to send thieves running, it will help attract the attention of anyone else in the area.

Alarm systems are available that can automatically contact police or other security in case of a break-in. This trigger can either be silent, to keep from alerting criminals that they are about to be caught, or be accompanied by an alarm.

Remote Video Surveillance

While first-hand accounts from on-site security guards are useful for finding criminals that get away, they are never able to catch everything. Sometimes there are multiple thieves working in groups. Or they run before the guard can get a good look. In the worst case scenario, they attack the guard and render him or her unable to remember their face, license plate number, or other identifiers.

A remote security guard eliminates all of these threats. Equipped with security cameras spaced throughout the construction site, a remote security guard can capture all angles of a theft. They can alert authorities while thieves are still on-site, and provide critical information such as suspect descriptions, real images of the thieves, license plate numbers, and more, that can help authorities track down criminals who do get away.

Remote surveillance can also help to prevent threats during the workday. A virtual doorman can help you keep track of who is entering the worksite. This can put a stop to active threats like disgruntled former employees, as well as stopping criminals who might try to check out the site during the day in order to return later to steal equipment.

Smart Lighting Solutions

Even with the strength of night-vision on security cameras, if you want to do everything you can to equip your remote security guard to catch criminals in the act, you also need to utilize smart lighting solutions.

Motion activated or remote-controlled lighting solutions not only illuminate the scene to allow guards and security cameras to do their jobs but, like alarms, they can be a powerful deterrent for thieves caught in the act.

Cutting Down on Theft With Cutting-Edge Technologies

Just over 20 percent of construction equipment that is stolen each year is recovered, according to the NICB. Even if insurance can help you recover your costs, thefts disrupt the workflow and put you behind schedule, costing you time and money. They can also cause your insurance premiums to skyrocket.

Putting a stop to thefts starts with choosing the right tech. From remote video surveillance to lighting solutions and alarm systems, cutting-edge security solutions have never been stronger.