You need not tell me if you are a contractor on rebuild sites in Malibu at the moment, you know how it goes. You show up in the morning, and something’s missing. A generator. A stack of copper wire. A trailer full of tools you needed for that day’s work. Security guards Malibu fire recovery contractors are there since this issue is now a real headache, and many crews are sick of wasting time and money on it.
It is logical, as you would expect. It is dozens, even hundreds of rebuild sites that are spread all over a considerable radius after a large wildfire. A large number of them are vacant during the night and weekends. Costly gear is just deposited and left at the location as transporting it daily is simply not feasible. Isolated lots, unattended gear, and a rebuild area still getting its way about all that, is precisely what thieves seek.
This guide provides the reasons why these sites are so frequently targeted, what guards actually do to prevent it, and how to locate the security company of the right type to do the job.
Why Fire Rebuild Sites Attract So Much Theft
It is no secret why stealing is so high in areas of disaster recovery. These are places where it is an open invitation unless someone is monitoring.
Scattered, Isolated Job Sites Across the Area
The topography of Malibu does not aid. Rebuild lots can be widely dispersed, on canyon roads and hillsides, far off the foot traffic, far apart. It does not take a thief more than twenty minutes to work a site, as no one is around to notice it. Compare it with a downtown construction site where there are neighbors, people riding by, and all kinds of activity. Rebuild lots do not have inbuilt fire protection.
To top that, many of these properties are not yet permanently fenced or the fencing that has been installed is temporary and simple to circumvent. Until the rebuild is well underway, there is not much in the way between the street and whatever is on the lot.
High-Value Equipment Sitting Unattended
Generators, power tools, scaffolding, copper wiring, fuel tanks all that and it is real money, and a lot of it is left sitting there overnight. It is not possible to have crews haul everything away off-site on a daily basis. It is not feasible and frankly, most contractors would not need to.
The fact that equipment is an easy target to anyone in a truck with a plan. The copper wire specifically is stolen all the time due to the fact that it can be sold as scrap. When a thief finds out that there are several open lots along a road, he will make a second appearance.
How Security Guards Prevent Equipment Theft
Security guards Malibu fire recovery contractors are facing an exceptionally narrow, practical issue, and solutions are on par with it. It is not so much about a guy at a gate but rather action-oriented, continuous observation of places that would otherwise be totally unobserved.
Overnight and Weekend Patrols
The majority of thefts at workplace occur precisely when you would think it would; during the night and weekends, when no one is working at the site and the place is silent. The guards make regular checks of gates, fencing, equipment storage areas during these windows. The mere presence of a truck coming by now and then is usually sufficient to send a thief off to a more favorable target.
In case he or she does appear where he or she should not, guards will be able to intervene and call it in right away, as opposed to the theft being found the next day when it is already too late to do anything.
Monitoring Deliveries and Material Drop-Offs
Site of rebuilds receives deliveries all the time – lumber, fixtures, appliances, etc. Every delivery is a sensitive time, as goods tend to be outside in front of nobody to transport them inside or place a lock on them. Guards may be available to confirm delivery, record what has arrived and monitor the materials until the crew arrives.
This even assists in resolving conflicts in the future. When a contractor complains that something has not come, then a log of what has been delivered by a guard can resolve that issue within no time.
Securing Generators, Tools, and Fuel
Two of the most frequently stolen items on rebuild sites are generators and fuel and with reason – it is a valuable item, is portable, and can be resold. These particular objects are closely monitored by guards, who sometimes suggest more appropriate storage arrangements or just sit close to equipment of great value during the hours when that equipment is most vulnerable.
With time, the guards learn the weak areas of a particular site, which area lacks the proper lighting, which gate does not close properly, etc. and this information helps them to be more effective in detecting such issues before they occur.
Types of Security Services for Rebuild Contractors
The coverage is not required in all job sites. It will be based on the level of equipment available on site, isolation of the site and the duration of the project.
Armed vs Unarmed Guards
It is fine to have unarmed guards in most construction and rebuild sites, as the purpose of the guards is not to confront, but to deter and monitor. Armed guards are more appropriate to sites that have already been severely stolen or to sites that are in an extremely remote, high risk area. In either case, guards undergo training on how to deal with trespassers in a safe and legal manner.
Mobile Patrol vs On-Site Guards
In the case of contractors who are dealing with multiple, scattered lots, mobile patrol tends to be a more reasonable option than having a station in only one location. A patrol car has the ability to patrol a number of properties during the night, visiting each one randomly. A dedicated on-site guard may be worth the additional cost in a single large site with a lot of expensive equipment.
Multi-Site Coverage for Contractors
This is, in fact, one of the more useful setups of fire recovery work in particular. Given the sheer number of contractors that have already been undertaking a number of rebuild projects simultaneously in Malibu, one security contract that encompasses a number of sites along a single patrol route can save money as compared to having individual contracts to cover each lot separately.
Benefits of Hiring Security Guards for Rebuild Sites
Reduced Equipment and Material Losses
This is the self-evident one. Less stolen generators and tools will result in less unplanned costs eating up your project budget. Issues are identified by guards before they become total losses and this will accumulate quickly in a complete rebuild season.
Fewer Project Delays
Whenever equipment is stolen, the work would be halted until they replace it. In a rebuild schedule that is already tight, that sort of delay is literally expensive, in monetary terms and in the length of time a family has to wait to move back into their home. Holding equipment on-site and on the job keeps the entire project moving.
Lower Insurance and Liability Costs
The insurance companies are keen on the presence or absence of active security measures in a site. Security guards Malibu fire recovery contractors assist in maintaining lower premiums over the years. It demonstrates that you made reasonable efforts in securing the site, which is very important in case you have to make a claim.
How to Choose the Right Security Company
Find a company that has already done construction and rebuild sites and not office buildings or retail stores. The obstacles are varied – remote areas, machinery, odd working hours – and familiarity with that particular setting is important.
Ensure security guards Malibu fire recovery contractors are well licensed according to the California laws and inquire about their reporting process. Documentation is also important, particularly when you might require it in the case of an insurance claim. Businesses with a GPS tracked patrol or electronic incident logs can easily demonstrate when and how frequently a site has been inspected.
FAQs
Why are the Malibu fire rebuild sites targeted to be stolen that much?
These lots are lonely and usually unfenced, and costly machinery is abandoned unattended at night. The combination of those makes them easy and low-risk targets to thieves.
What is the cost of security guards at a construction site?
It will be dependent on whether you require the mobile patrol or a guard on-site. Multi-site patrol contracts tend to be cheaper than single coverage.
Do guards prevent equipment theft, or do they report it?
Most opportunistic theft is prevented by a visible presence of patrols. In the event that something does happen, guards will respond and report it right away.
Should armed security guards be employed by rebuild contractors?
Unarmed guards that are concerned with deterrence and monitoring are fine in most job sites. Armed coverage is more appropriate in places where theft occurs frequently.
Is it more effective than a guard at one location, or a mobile patrol?
Mobile patrol normally covers a larger area of land when the contractor handles several lots that are spread out. Even single high-value sites could be well-served by a dedicated guard.
Conclusion
Rebuild sites in Malibu are grappling with a theft issue that is not fading away. Security guards Malibu fire recovery contractors are closing that divide, securing equipment and maintaining the schedule of projects.
Sharp Guard Group collaborates with contractors dealing with single lot and multi-site rebuild projects. Assuming that theft has been slowing down your work, it might be worthwhile to implement the real coverage before it occurs again.
