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When a home is under construction, the contractors and workers on duty are expected to be diligent guardians of the construction assets inside the home, from the raw building materials to the electronic appliances. But if you’re a contractor, you understand that you and your crew members can’t be onsite 24/7. The time you spend away from the home, whether it’s overnight or a few quick minutes, leaves a window open for thieves to break in and steal the valuable assets for their own gain.
Jobsite Cameras Catch Construction Thieves
That was the case at a Houston home under construction, where jobsite cameras captured two thieves who made off with more than $2,500 in appliances in under two minutes, including a water heater and a dishwasher. It happened at night, in a scenario where the homeowner happened to be the person onsite and working on the home. When he left for the night, it only took five minutes for a truck with two thieves to arrive. The homeowner watched on his phone in horror, as the jobsite cameras recorded the entire crime unfold. Because he was helpless to intervene, the thieves made off with the stolen appliances in under two minutes.
Although this scenario involved the homeowner rather than hired workers, the same could certainly happen to contractors who leave a home under construction. In fact, it happens all the time.
Today’s Thieves Do Their Homework
Most likely, the quick arrival of the thieves means they were parked nearby in their truck, watching for the homeowner to leave. They also appeared to know the code of the front door lock box, which is why they were able to enter so quickly. “I can tell by the speed in which they entered the building,” the homeowner said, “that they had inside knowledge on the code of the lock box.” These days, thieves do their homework on a “job” (their vernacular for a theft).
Meanwhile, for the contractors hired to construct new homes as their actual job, there can be real liabilities when jobsite thefts occur. If you are the contractor on a site where a theft occurs, your degree of liability will depend on your contract with your customer, the insurance policies involved, and other factors (seeking a legal consultation on these matters can be helpful). In any case, both contractor and customer want the assets on a site to remain secure. This accounts for the popularity of jobsite cameras on construction sites.
Why You Want Cameras that Intervene
The scenario described here is a perfect example of what happens when jobsite cameras aren’t designed to intervene. In this case, the cameras were able to capture the crime — and yet, they were unable to stop it from happening. This is called passive surveillance, and it’s ineffective. Fortunately, there is a much better alternative: jobsite cameras that intervene in criminal activity, rather than simply record it.
With jobsite cameras from Security Trailers, a break-in on an under construction home will instantly trigger a signal to a live monitoring center. From there, a security agent will have a live video feed of what is taking place and begin to talk directly to the thieves onsite, via a powerful loudspeaker built into the unit. Often, the thieves are frightened away the moment they hear this warning. Other features on our pole-mounted jobsite cameras, like colorful strobe lights, are designed to attract attention to their activity so they choose to flee the scene empty handed. If there is no electrical power in the home, the cameras continue to work via solar power.
In the scenario described here, the homeowner stated that he believed the thieves were unaware cameras were present. This exposes the problematic idea that jobsite cameras should be invisible. When cameras are hidden, thieves think they’re getting away with their crimes — and often, they do. When surveillance cameras are easily visible on a site, whether it’s on an open lot or in a home under construction, thieves are less likely to attempt a crime in the first place.
Request a Free Demo of Our Jobsite Cameras
If thieves make an attempt to steal assets from your construction site, you want jobsite cameras that truly intervene with the help of a live security agent. That’s what we offer at Security Trailers. If you’re located in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas or North Texas and are interested in this proactive security support, call us today to request a complimentary demo.
About Security Trailers.com
SecurityTrailers.com specializes in theft and vandalism prevention and intervention for commercial and residential construction, with zero tolerance for loss. Our regional service area comprises Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and North Texas. Contact us today to request a free demo on our video surveillance trailer products and interactive monitoring service.
