Year after year, spring is the season when building and construction kicks into high gear — even now, as we near the end of the pandemic. According to ZipRecruiter, homebuilder confidence is high and post-pandemic hiring is strong in the construction industry. New housing operative builders, new multifamily general contractors, and building exterior contractors are among the fastest-growing construction sub-industries in the post-COVID era. Unfortunately, all of these sub-industries are vulnerable to equipment and materials theft at their sites — specifically, internal theft. If you’re a contractor looking for security solutions for construction in Tampa, continue reading to learn how to protect your property.
Facts on Internal Theft in Construction
According to the small business resource All Business, anywhere from 30% to 85% of construction job site theft results from someone who is authorized to be on the site when the theft happens. In the building and construction industry, it’s often considered an unfortunate reality that contractors are expected to accept. This can lead to contractors adding the risk of loss into the budget as a cost of doing business. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Curbing internal theft in construction can happen, when you understand the psychology behind the theft and implement the right security technologies to stop it.
Psychology of Internal Theft in Construction
Often, employees who steal from the job site are acting on a theft rationalization impulse. This rationalization includes ideas like, “The contractor is rich. Look at all these tools just laying around.” The idea can very quickly evolve into a belief that the contractor doesn’t care, and that the loss of the tools will mean nothing to him. It doesn’t take long for this rationalization to become a theft impulse, with the employee who is acting on it feeling little to no hesitation or remorse.
Preventing Internal Theft in Construction with Background Checks
Often, someone who steals from the construction site they work on has done it before. Once he’s acted on the theft rationalization impulse once, it becomes much easier to do it again on the next job. That’s why performing thorough background checks is so important.
Investing the time and money in a background check for every worker on your site can greatly reduce your risk of being victimized, as you verify that each person has no record of theft on previous jobs.
Preventing Internal Theft in Construction with Security Technology
Next, you can prevent internal theft on your construction site by investing in the right commercial security technology. Video surveillance can go a long way in preventing employees from acting on the impulse to steal, whether or not they’ve spent any time rationalizing how the loss may affect you. At the end of the day, the knowledge that one is being watched can put a stop to the temptation to steal from one’s employer. In some cases, access control systems may also be appropriate; ask us for more information.
Security Lock Systems can help construction companies throughout Tampa prevent internal theft on their job sites. For more information on security for the construction industry in Tampa, call Security Lock Systems this spring. We can help you get started with solutions that make sense for the size and scope of your job.
About Security Lock Systems
Offering a comprehensive menu of security system services in Tampa and its surrounding areas, the Security Lock Systems team is your trusted, knowledgeable source for innovation and stellar service.
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