Two Incidents of Equipment Theft Led to Big Financial Loss
Construction equipment theft is a common problem in Canada and the United States for many reasons. First are the costs associated with missing equipment. In addition to the monetary value of the stolen goods, there may be project delays due to damage and time spent waiting on replacement materials.
Secondly, one theft at a construction site may lead to more. If one thief can successfully steal equipment, he may strike again or even influence other criminals to do the same.
In a previous article, we discussed the most common equipment stolen from construction sites. The list included mowers, tractors, loaders, and excavators.
Equipment Theft Suspects Still at Large
The St. Albert Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are currently investigating a construction equipment theft. The value of the stolen goods was more than $60,000 CAD. RCMP believes the theft took place between the late night and early hours. Thieves stole a large utility trailer loaded with two custom dollies used to transport large structures like houses. Other items stolen during the equipment theft included 12 lengths of angle iron and 500 feet of welding cable and copper.
The suspects have not been caught.
Equipment theft is also prevalent in the United States.
North Carolina Man Charged with Construction Material Theft
Authorities charged a construction worker with construction material and equipment theft from a bridge project site in North Carolina after hours. According to a detective, the suspect used company vehicles to transport the stolen goods, including 1,100 feet of aluminum bridge rail, 55 feet of metal piping, as well as other metal fittings. The suspect sold the metal to a scrap dealer in a different county, along with selling stolen tools someplace else.
The suspect was charged with two counts of felony larceny and possession of stolen property, and 13 counts of unauthorized use of a company vehicle. The value of the stolen construction materials and tools was estimated to exceed $100,000 USD.
Neither of these properties are UCIT clients.
Deter Equipment Theft with Live Remote Video Monitoring
UCIT’s proactive security solution combines technology with human intelligence. Trained security operators watch strategically-placed HD IP cameras at construction sites after hours, when workers have gone home. If they see suspicious activity, they can activate an on-site alarm and call police.
ECAM are the leaders in remote video surveillance in Canada and the U.S, with over 400 employees, 11 offices, and 3 live video monitoring control centers. UCIT proactive video monitoring watches over 17,000 IP and CCTV security cameras. Our security solutions feature advanced technology and can detect and deter crime while reducing security guard and other expenses. UCIT’s remote monitoring service can reduce or even replace security guards at a fraction of the cost. A remote surveillance operator can see suspicious activity, activate a speaker warning, and call the local police.
Please call toll-free (866) 756-7847 or contact Stealth today for more information to protect your outdoor assets. Visit the UCIT web site to see real videos of criminals being arrested at construction sites, multifamily apartments, shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses, auto dealerships, and other commercial real estate properties.
Photo credit: CTV News Edmonton
