Construction and vacant property

What is the best way to secure a construction site overnight?

It depends on what is on site and how exposed it is. Sites holding plant, cable, copper or fuel are targeted deliberately rather than opportunistically, and deliberate theft is planned around whatever security is visible.

A dog unit is frequently the most cost-effective answer for a large or part-built site, because one team covers ground that would need several static officers and can search internal voids properly.

Combining a presence with monitored cameras usually beats adding more cameras to a site that already has enough of them. Cameras record; they do not intervene.

More on this:Construction site securityConstruction site security in London

How do I stop a vacant property being squatted or stripped?

Occupation is the deterrent, and visible activity is what signals it. A property that is obviously unattended (accumulating post, no lights, no vehicles) advertises itself.

Scheduled patrols with a genuine presence, combined with key holding so someone can attend quickly, work better than a monthly drive-past. For higher-risk stock, overnight cover is warranted.

The other half is condition. Water ingress, a failed heating system in winter or an unsecured window turn a vacant building into an insurance claim without anyone breaking in. Property checks should report on all of it.

More on this:Vacant property securityVacant property security in London

Do I need security during fit-out and handover?

Fit-out is often the highest-risk phase, because the building now contains finished, portable, valuable items (appliances, fittings, copper, tools) while access control is at its loosest and many different trades hold keys or codes.

Losses at this stage are also disproportionately internal or contractor-related, which makes logged access control more valuable than perimeter patrol.

More on this:Construction site security