Lumber is the new copper. Construction material prices are sky rocketing and theft is on the rise.

Lumber prices have increased over 300% since April 2020 (as reported by the National Association of Home Builders). It is not just lumber prices that have caused an increase in construction material costs though. Copper prices are about 33% higher since the fall, and granite, insulation, concrete blocks and common bricks are all selling for record prices in 2021. Virtually, all commodities and building materials have seen a significant increase, and consumers are paying for it.

The inflation rate in Georgia increased by 7.7% in May and 7.2% in April. Nationwide, the average price for a new single-family home has increased about $36,000. The price increases are even higher for larger residential and commercial construction jobs.

As prices continue to soar, Jobsite thefts, a common problem before the recent commodity shortages, are steadily increasing. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Equipment Register (NER) estimated that the value of stolen construction equipment annually was between $300 million and $1 billion. These estimates will likely be easily exceeded in 2021, so it is now more important than ever to properly secure your work sites. There are numerous things you can do to secure your construction site, but below you can find a list of common construction site security best practices:

Establish a written job site security plan
Clearly mark and identify your equipment and maintain an up-to-date inventory
Consider storing excess materials securely offsite until needed
Store on-site equipment in secure, heavy-duty containers in a secure, well-lit area, along with heavy equipment and vehicles
Utilize a wide range of physical security products and services, such as fencing, access control, and surveillance cameras

Construction site security cameras, in particular, are a great option for deterring theft, property damage, and vandalism, and their versatility is growing with the emergence of new remote IP security cameras, monitored mobile security systems and the development of advanced camera analytics. For remote sites, solar-powered mobile security systems that can be paired with guard monitoring are also available.

Deterring crime is not the only benefit of construction site surveillance cameras though. Advanced cameras paired with live video monitoring and cloud storage can assist in the early detection of fire, health, and safety hazards. Leading to a safer environment for workers and pedestrians as well as protecting equipment and other valuable assets. In the event of theft, extreme weather events, or other incidents, recorded video footage could help resolve insurance and liability claims quickly and definitively.

According to Courtney DMilio, a National Vice President at LoJack, “Replacing stolen construction equipment comes at a significant cost that goes beyond the simple dollar value of the equipment. […] loss in job productivity, the inability to complete a job, a diminished professional reputation […]” are often overlooked costs of worksite thefts.

Finally, GPS tracking and surveillance cameras paired with artificial intelligence (AI) and video analytics can monitor foot and vehicle traffic at construction sites. Facial recognition can help determine who is on-site and when. License plate recognition (LPR) and character recognition can monitor shipments, deliveries, and properly marked shipping containers. AI-equipped cameras can also help recognize patterns and detect unusual activity and motion to alert project managers of potential issues.

If you would like to discuss options for securing your construction site in the southeastern United States, please feel free to reach out to scDataCom, headquartered in beautiful Savannah, Georgia.

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