Jobsite Security & Theft Prevention

Tools, copper, fuel and equipment disappear from jobsites every night. Theft costs money and time, and an unsecured site after hours is also a danger to trespassers, especially kids who climb scaffolds or fall into open excavations.

• Construction

Secure the perimeter

• Fencing around the site, with gates locked after hours
• No-trespassing signs and emergency contact numbers posted at gates
• Good lighting at gates, storage areas and equipment parking
• Cameras or monitored alarms on high-value sites
• Materials and equipment kept away from the fence line

Lock it down at the end of the day

• Lock tools in job boxes, containers or trailers; bolt job boxes down or chain them together.
• Remove keys from equipment; use master-key alternatives or keypad ignitions where available.
• Lower buckets and blades to the ground, and park equipment in a group with smaller machines boxed in.
• Lock fuel tanks and fuel storage.
• Store copper wire and pipe out of sight in locked storage.
• Mark tools with company ID and keep a list of serial numbers; consider GPS trackers on equipment.

Make it safe for anyone who gets in

• Cover or barricade excavations, holes and floor openings.
• Remove ladders or block access to scaffolds and upper floors.
• De-energize temporary power where possible.
• Lock out equipment so it can’t be started.

If you find a break-in

1. Don’t enter if someone may still be there. Call 911.
2. Check for new hazards before work starts: damaged wiring, missing guardrails or covers, tampered equipment or fuel leaks.
3. Report missing items with serial numbers to police and your supervisor.
4. Inspect equipment before running it.

Last updated: October 2, 2026