WorldWide Drilling Resource

12 APRIL 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® An Active Approach to Theft Prevention Adapted from Information Provided by TrueLook Construction companies lose any- where from $300 million to $1 billion each year due to jobsite theft. Replacing stolen equipment and dealing with proj- ect downtime is aggravating, as well as costly. Drilling professionals know jobsites are attractive targets for thieves. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate theft in all circumstances, steps can be taken to deter would-be bandits and re- cover stolen property. The following tips can help safeguard your jobsite: Stopping Thieves When Your Jobsite is Unattended 1. Light ing, l ight ing, and more lighting; make sure your site is well lit at all times. This will obviously discourage many trespassers. 2. Use physical obstructions. At the end of every workday, position your most valuable property so it’s diffi- cult to steal. Lift it out of reach; block it in with heavy machinery; tie it down; and do whatever you can to make a thief’s job difficult. Putting up a perimeter fence is a good start, but assume a deter- mined thief will get past it. 3. Consider installing jobsite cam- eras. Even a dummy camera is better than nothing. Coupled with lighting and signage, it could be pretty effective. Send a clear mes- sage to thieves that snooping on your property comes with a high risk of being caught. 4. Use an alarm system. Loud nois- es will scare away most burglars and bring the police sooner. 5. Post security guards. This might not be the cheapest option, but it’s worth considering if you have valu- able equipment and deadlines you need to protect. Discouraging Sticky Fingers 1. Keep a tidy, organized jobsite. Tools are easier to steal from messy sites. If you disregard your own equipment, thieves will be happy to take it off your hands. 2. Communicate clear policies. Make your expectations known and let everyone know you take securi- ty seriously. 3. Keep up-to-date inventory. You’ll notice when things aren’t where they should be. 4. Be present, monitor your site, and show up unannounced from time to time. Recovering Stolen Equipment 1. Once again, up-to-date records of inventory will prove to be invalu- able if equipment goes missing. You’ll be able to report stolen items more quickly, show police precise- ly what’s gone, and claim anything found in a more timely manner. 2. Brand your cattle. Mark equip- ment with identification in a hard- to-find spot. 3. Install a global positioning system (GPS) on each piece of heavy equipment. Hey, Road Runner, where’s the Coyote?? 2015 Go lf Tournament “The fairest thing in nature, a flower, still has its roots in earth and manure.” D. H. Lawrence