Kelly Barnes, Senior Intelligence Analyst, DeterTech argues for a multi-layered approach that addresses intruder detection and deterrence in a single plan.

Ranging from large-scale theft by organised criminal gangs to opportunistic vandalism, remote sites up and down the country face a common and persistent threat: crime resulting from unwanted and unauthorised site access.  

It’s a daily headache for our construction, rail and energy sectors which find themselves repeatedly targeted by those coveting the valuable equipment, materials and fuel found on their premises.

Though just as worrying are the significant safety hazards it presents to both workers and the public.  

The response must be a targeted investment in proven methods for intrusion deterrence and detection.

However, this cannot be approached in a piecemeal fashion.

Before even thinking about solutions, it is vital to assess the risks themselves.

Where are they greatest?

How are they evolving?

And how can they best be eradicated? 

Our jobs would be easy if we had unlimited people, money and technology with which to keep our sites protected.

The art and the science lies in determining how a range of security precautions can best be combined and where they’re most needed so that the available resources can be most effectively allocated.  

The rise of organised crime – targets and methods 

At DeterTech we operate a crime intelligence database for the police and critical infrastructure companies, tracking developments in crime trends across the UK.

Our data on the volume and types of incidents reported to our crime Intelligence function provides useful initial insights that can help inform site security professionals on current vulnerabilities that may need addressing.  

The total volume of incidents reported to Crime Intelligence has risen since 2021 which is not surprising. It’s a common trajectory amidst a cost-of-living crisis.

More noteworthy is that we’ve witnessed a particularly large spike in thefts from the storage and shipping containers commonly used to store valuable tools and equipment.  

These have risen by a reported 17%, with a single site in Derbyshire losing £75,000 worth of tools and equipment in one offence.

It’s likely the true cost was far higher once the knock-on effects were considered.

Think of higher insurance premiums, financial penalties for missed project deadlines and the additional costs associated with renting tools and equipment until they could ultimately be replaced.  

That reported 17% rise also masks huge regional discrepancies.

It’s a nationwide issue but those with responsibility for sites in West Yorkshire should be on especially high alert.

Here, theft from shipping containers has more than tripled thanks to the actions of a gang or gags whose Modus Operandi (MO) is to attach chains and use a vehicle to force open container doors.

Consequently, they’re seeking out locations where unauthorised vehicle entry to the site has not been adequately restricted.  

Another common MO used by thieves is to cut a hole in the side panel of containers using an angle grinder, before carting off whatever they can carry.

This is much harder to stop as perpetrators only need to find a way of entering and exiting the site on foot but does thankfully reduce the amounts that can be stolen in a single visit.

Consideration should be given to the placement and relocation of containers as far away from possible intrusion points as is deemed feasible.

It costs very little and can prove highly effective in discouraging criminals who are seeking out an easy target.  

Survey equipment is a category that deserves its own dedicated security protocols as it is being very deliberately targeted as a highly portable asset that commands a high price on the black market.

Ideally, survey equipment would never be left unattended while in use on site, would never be left on open display in transit and would only ever be stored in a discreet and secure location to which only the necessary staff had access.  

Generators and cable drums are further assets that feature prominently on organised crime gangs’ shopping lists, thanks to their high resale value.

Reports of thefts of entire generators, or of the fuels and cables associated with them, have increased by over 18% year-on-year.

Along similar lines, our data shows new housing sites are highly vulnerable to the targeting of newly installed copper piping and boilers.

An over-reliance on Heras perimeter fencing, which can easily be pulled apart to allow individuals to gain access, is a common indicator of the sites that are being targeted.   

Finally, it should not be assumed that all thefts are being instigated out-of-hours.

In fact, offenders are frequently targeting sites in the middle of the day, wearing high-vis jackets and other PPE to blend in and appear legitimate.

A fluorescent jacket has unfortunately become the ultimate camouflage on a construction site.

Staff must be consistently trained to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious.  

The importance of deterrence and detection 

As outlined above, there are a whole range of measures that can and should be taken before the best forms of intruder deterrence and detection can even be determined.

There is no one silver bullet security measure as each individual site carries its own inherent vulnerabilities and risks.  

For example, a small temporary site in a busy city centre will likely benefit from the nearby presence of local authority CCTV and higher footfall, making it harder for criminals to linger in the vicinity without it immediately looking suspicious.

Plus, it’s likely police will be able to respond quickly when called.

However, the site’s compact size and the need not to disrupt the public may throw up limitations in terms of the physical barriers and other security solutions that can be deployed in such a small area.  

Meanwhile, a large remote site such as a solar farm may be more at risk of a severe night-time raid, with criminals able to covertly stake out possible access points to the site during the day before returning under the cover of darkness.   

Organisations are therefore advised to work with an end-to-end security provider that offers site visits and the development of a bespoke security plan for each location as part of its service.

They should be able to advise on the creation of a networked and layered approach to site security that isn’t solely reliant on any one single security measure.   

Though every site is different, here is a breakdown of deterrent and detection-based methodologies and technologies that should feature in an organisation’s site security strategy. 

Incident reporting & monitoring 

Some organised crime gangs can be predictable in their behaviour and we often witness an MO that proves successful being repeated consistently until others in the industry get wise to it.

Keeping an ear to the ground for incidents at sites similar to you or in your immediate vicinity is therefore highly beneficial in refining your strategy.

Formally reporting it also helps police and industry to deter and detect by identifying patterns and trends that increase the likelihood of a successful conviction.  

For example, last year Operation Dastardly, led by Lincolnshire Police, successfully resulted in the prosecution of a trio of thieves who were charged with 47 church lead theft offences across 10 counties.

A list of the churches most likely to be targeted next could be established with a reasonable degree of certainty simply by considering their similarity to previous targets and their geographic location.  

Physical deterrents & controlled access 

Think like a criminal and take the time to identify the most likely intrusion points to your site, both on foot and by vehicle.

It’s unlikely you’ll be able to definitively close off every point of access.

However, simply by making life more difficult, you’ll increase the odds of thieves moving on to look for an easier target.

Plus, you’ll know where to prioritise the deployment of more advanced intruder detection.  

Visually verified alarm systems 

Perhaps the single most vital part of the plan is the obvious presence of visually verified alarm systems, remotely monitored by SIA licenced operatives in a BSI-approved Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC).

These can be implemented either in place of or to complement manned guarding to protect your site from every angle.  

Think about the units you’ve seen on other sites over several years that are already rightfully avoided by criminals, as these will have the highest deterrent value.

Place them prominently along the perimeter and close to fuel bowsers, machinery and equipment stores for optimal impact.  

Forensic marking & trackers 

Forensic marking and trackers further deter theft and enhance the ability of the police to convict criminals and trace stolen items back to their original owners.

SmartWater in particular is the only Secured by Design certified product with a 100% conviction rate in contested court cases, meaning it is widely feared by the criminal fraternity and by rogue scrap dealers who could be tempted to accept stolen property.

There is no incentive for thieves to steal equipment or materials that they can’t sell meaning they’ll think again if the target of their crimes is “too hot to handle”. 

Prominent signage  

Finally, whatever combination of solutions is used, leave individuals in no doubt that intruder detection systems are in place and that offenders will be prosecuted.

The best intruder detection systems are preceded by their reputation, such that their deterrent value alone wards off incidents.   

In summary, there is no single answer to achieving comprehensive site security.

Rather, a layered approach should be relied upon that builds prediction, deterrence and detection into one holistic plan.  

This article was originally published in the April Edition of Security Journal United Kingdom. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.