Construction sites are easy targets: tools, copper wire and fuel sit unattended overnight, often with no power and no Wi-Fi. A monitoring company, Sirix, cites a National Equipment Register estimate of up to $1 billion a year in Canadian construction-site theft, with power tools, heavy equipment, copper wiring and fuel among the usual targets. That is a vendor's number, so treat it as a sign of scale, not an exact figure.
A layered setup that needs no wiring
1. A 4G solar camera. It runs from its own panel and talks over the cellular network, so it works where there is no power or Wi-Fi. Pick a model with a siren or spotlight and a microSD card so footage is stored on the camera. 4G cameras need a data SIM from your own carrier. Check that the plan covers the site's location before you buy.
2. A loud, visible deterrent. A solar siren and strobe, or a solar motion alarm, tells a thief they have been noticed. Many walk away at that point.
3. A vibration alarm on the gang box or trailer. It sounds when someone shakes or forces it.
4. A hidden GPS tracker in the one item you cannot afford to lose. A small 4G tracker in a toolbox or on a trailer helps you find it if everything else fails.
Tips that make it work
- Point the camera at the gate or the equipment, not at the sky or the road.
- Test the signal at the exact spot before you mount it.
- Keep a photo and serial number of each tool for the police report.
- Lock the gang box with a padlock you can open without a key, such as a Bluetooth lock.
Build it as a kit: shop job-site security and save 10% when you buy two or more items.