The city of Durham is grappling with a significant rise in construction site burglaries, with thefts up more than 30% from 2023, according to local police. So far this year, authorities have reported 200 thefts from construction sites, compared to 153 incidents at this time last year. Items frequently targeted by thieves include tools, construction materials, and even household goods. Copper theft, in particular, has nearly doubled since last year.
Angie Thacker, owner of Pinam Construction, shared the serious measures his company is taking to combat this trend. “We probably spend about $100,000 on security,” Thacker said. “That includes GPS systems on all of our heavy equipment. Every one of our trucks and trailers is outfitted with cameras and security systems.”
To further protect against theft, Thacker’s team avoids leaving tools and materials on-site overnight and carefully calculates the exact amount of material needed for each project to minimize waste and risk. “Every tool is accounted for,” Thacker explained. “Each employee knows what tools are in their truck.”
While his company has not suffered any major thefts, there have been close calls. In one instance, someone attempted to steal a cart while employees were just inside a hardware store. “We took it as a learning experience,” Thacker said. “We realized our alarm and security measures weren’t enough, so now one person stays with the vehicle while the other goes inside.”
Durham Police have issued guidelines to help construction companies secure their job sites, recommending the use of heavy-duty chains and locks, and even advising that equipment be spray-painted to make stolen items harder to sell online.
Bull City Citizen will continue to monitor these incidents and report on efforts to curb this growing threat to Durham’s construction industry.
