The VigiMotion Blog

Wow, who would have thought! Just five years ago, it was only an idea: the idea of focusing 100% on a service offering specially designed for general contractors, providing them with unparalleled customer service and a high-performance, affordable security solution.

Bet won!

I would like to personally thank all of our customers who have placed their trust in us day after day, project after project, since the beginning of our adventure.
The list of our valued customers can be found here: https://www.vigimotion.com

With just three months left in a great year, plan now to deploy our video surveillance solutions on your construction sites before the holiday break!

All this since our last post!

Thank you to all our new and existing customers
Details of the sites protected below:

Ruche Construction / Microtel Dorval

Construgep / Richelieu MTL
Aristo Condos Laval
Maison L et S
Tag E-Karting

Broccolini / Amazon Lachine

Brigil / Plateau du Parc Phase 2
Le Columbia

Procam / Airbus Mirabel

Cogir Real Estate / The Newman

Vincent and Dussault / Globocam
Hyundai Chomedey
H-Grégoire Vaudreuil-Dorion

MR Consortium / Station 7 Phase 2 St-Jérome

Dinamo Construction / Estimauville bât. 1
Estimauville bât. 2
Le Cornelius

Groupe Lasselle / Cite sur Le Fleuve

Proservin / Synerca 1

Groupe Mach / Plaza Ste-Thérèse
Place St-Eustache

Guimond Construction / M1 Composite Laval
CDVL St-Eustache
IST St-Eustache

Gératek / École La Rocade
École Vauquelin

KF Construction: Maisonneuve School

Camera surveillance protection is no longer solely associated with mega construction projects with huge budgets. Even small, short-term construction sites are prone to theft and vandalism.

Renting camera surveillance systems such as our video alarms costs much less than most people imagine, and more and more contractors and project managers are choosing to install surveillance cameras on their small construction sites. Our short-term rental packages start at 1 month, and contractors can move their system from one site to another for small projects.

In this article, surveillance specialists at VigiMotion share their opinions on why all construction sites are important enough to install camera surveillance systems. Our knowledge is based on what it costs if you don’t protect your construction site with camera surveillance equipment. Here are some of the costs you may face if your construction site is not protected.

Stolen equipment

Construction sites, both large and small, are often targeted by thieves looking to steal building materials and metal. Take, for example, the theft of $600 worth of copper. The cost of replacing damaged copper wiring, plumbing, flashing, and fasteners that were torn out during the break-in can exceed the value of the copper itself. Replacing vandalized or stolen equipment can cost two or three times the value of the stolen item.

In the event of an intrusion, VigiCam cameras are triggered to record the scene and transmit the video to the remote surveillance center in real time, 24 hours a day, in just a few seconds. An operator can then verify whether a crime is in progress and contact the police accordingly.

Our camera surveillance systems enable police officers to respond more quickly to prevent the costs of replacing stolen and damaged materials on construction sites of all sizes.

Stolen tools and equipment

Tools and equipment are stolen from construction sites of all sizes. The value of each individual tool or piece of equipment does not change based on the length or scale of the project. If you are unsure whether your construction site is large enough to warrant camera surveillance, consider the replacement costs associated with missing tools or equipment after a break-in.

Lost time

In addition to the costs of replacing materials, tools, and equipment, it is important to consider the time you will lose after a break-in. Ordering and shipping replacement items will take time and prevent your teams from continuing to work. Budgets and deadlines are also important for construction projects of all sizes and lengths. Camera surveillance systems play an important role in reducing downtime and delays due to theft and vandalism.

Insurance premiums

In order to keep your insurance premiums as low as possible, it is important to avoid having to make claims due to break-ins. Verified video camera surveillance systems such as VigiCam enable a faster police response and fewer thefts, and therefore fewer insurance claims. Construction sites of all sizes require insurance and are all important enough to have camera surveillance.

Safety and peace of mind

Construction sites, large and small, can become dangerous if the site is tampered with during a break-in. The cost of a workplace injury lawsuit is a nightmare for employers and can be avoided by having 24/7 video surveillance.

You can’t put a price on the peace of mind that comes with knowing that:

• Your site is secure;
• Your equipment and materials are monitored;
• Your project can stay on schedule and within budget;
• Your insurer has no reason to cancel or increase your premiums.

The cost of renting a video surveillance system is significantly lower than the potential expenses you will face after a break-in. That’s why we believe that every construction site is important enough to justify the installation of a camera surveillance system. If you have any questions or are ready to explore the options that best suit your needs, contact the surveillance experts at VigiMotion—we’re here to help.

Did you know that over $46 million worth of heavy equipment is reported stolen from construction sites each year in Canada? Add to that the theft of tools, small equipment, machinery, and building materials, including metal and copper, and it’s no wonder that construction theft has become an industry-wide epidemic.

A more encouraging statistic from DOZR.com from a study of 422 burglaries indicated that 60% of thieves say they generally avoid sites equipped with security cameras, and half of them said they would abandon their mission if they realized there were security cameras during an attempted burglary.

So, beyond the obvious costs associated with vandalism or theft of equipment and materials on construction sites, and the proven deterrent value of having surveillance cameras, why is it important to monitor a construction site? Our team of surveillance specialists based in Montreal, here at VigiMotion, shares some insights on the key benefits of ensuring that construction sites are well monitored against theft and vandalism.

Vandalism and theft on construction sites are costly in more ways than one. Not only does the value of stolen equipment, tools, or materials hurt the budget, but damage to infrastructure and remaining property can also result in a major loss. And when you factor in the wasted time it takes to replace items, reorder equipment, and reschedule contractors and crews, the loss of revenue due to vandalism and theft on construction sites can sink entire projects and leave them in the hole. Literally!

When tools and equipment disappear or are damaged on a construction site, construction deadlines can be delayed by several hours or days. Worse still, if heavy equipment or specialized machinery is damaged or stolen, it can take weeks or even months to find a suitable replacement, and the knock-on effect of these delays can be catastrophic for construction budgets, schedules, and ultimately the delivery of a project to the client.

Construction sites are popular targets for potential thieves for many reasons. The high value of equipment, tools, and materials located on construction sites are tempting for burglars who break into construction sites with the intent to steal, ranging from building materials, vehicles, and even scaffolding and cranes. Copper wiring and metal are particularly vulnerable to theft due to their high value, exposure, and ease of transport, as well as the possibility of quick and easy resale without any tracking protocols to manage.

The fact that construction sites are often abandoned during off-peak hours and located in remote areas where neighboring properties are not yet built or are in similar stages of construction makes them a low-risk target for potential thieves. Furthermore, the fact that construction sites in the initial stages are not equipped with electricity or protective walls, doors, and windows makes it necessary to protect the site with motion detectors, lighting, and surveillance cameras to guard against thieves and vandals.

Advances in surveillance technology make it possible to monitor construction sites even in the early stages of construction when there is no electricity on site. Unlike traditional alarm systems, VigiMotion’s 100% wireless, solar-powered, stand-alone alarm systems, for example, instantly relay a short video clip to show you what triggered an alarm using sensors that detect unusual movement. With 24-hour operators at the monitoring station, law enforcement agencies are able to respond quickly to thwart thieves or vandals.

Video surveillance of construction sites also helps protect your teams and contractors against false accusations of misuse or theft of tools, equipment, and materials on site. Having “eyes” on the site at all times can provide valuable documentation of activities and personnel movements in cases of suspected misconduct.

If an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, then investing in construction site surveillance is worth its weight in gold when it comes to keeping your construction project on schedule and on budget. When it comes to loss prevention and risk management strategies to protect your job site from thieves and vandals, it’s vital to work with the best in the field to protect your investment.

With over 23 years of expertise in commercial, industrial, and institutional security, the VigiMotion team can offer exceptional site protection services with solutions tailored to the specific needs of your construction site.

Contact us today to start the conversation!