Mobile Patrol Security for Construction Sites Explained

If you’re a project manager, owner, or construction site decision-maker researching security options, you’ve likely come across mobile patrol security. This guide explains what mobile patrol security is, how it works, and how it can enhance your construction site security strategy by mitigating theft, vandalism, and other risks.

Key Takeaways:

• Mobile patrol security involves security guards travelling to and from your construction site in vehicles. While at your site, they conduct patrols and create reports.

• Mobile patrols are a cost-effective solution that provides deterrence and patrol coverage, making it ideal for sites that don’t require 24/7 on-site guards.

• Choose a provider with 24/7 availability, fast response times, GPS tracking and live reporting, and advanced guard training.

What Is Mobile Patrol Security?

Mobile patrol security is a method of protection where trained security guards move between job sites in a marked vehicle on a set or randomized schedule.

Unlike on-site guards who remain stationed at one location, mobile patrol officers move between multiple sites, conducting patrols, creating patrol reports, and monitoring for suspicious activity. 

A typical patrol involves a guard arriving at your site, conducting a perimeter inspection, checking locks and equipment, and writing a report complete with photo and video evidence if needed. After finishing their round, the guard drives to the next scheduled site.

The flexibility of mobile patrols allows companies to maintain a security presence across several locations without the cost of on-site guards at each one. Mobile patrols are also suitable for single sites that don’t require a round-the-clock security presence, particularly during overnight hours and on weekends.

How Mobile Patrols Work on Construction Sites

Here’s an overview of a mobile patrol guard’s typical duties at a given construction site stop:

• Inspect the perimeter, gates, fences, secure areas, and other site features for signs of damage or tampering.

• Check that containers, sea cans, and storage units are locked.

• Verify that lighting and CCTV systems are operational.

• Respond to alarms or investigate motion sensor alerts.

• Write a report with photos, timestamps, and notes before leaving.

A mobile patrol guard will arrive at your site, perform the patrol, create the report, and head off to their next stop.

How Mobile Patrols Benefit Construction Sites

Mobile patrols offer several unique advantages that make them ideal for construction sites, regardless of their stage in the construction process.

Deterrence

The presence of marked vehicles and uniformed guards discourages theft and vandalism by visually communicating that a site is protected. We typically schedule mobile patrols on a randomized basis to increase their deterrent factor. This prevents potential trespassers from memorizing a guard’s patrol route and mitigates unauthorized access after hours.

Cost-Efficiency

Since mobile patrol guards aren’t on site for their entire shift, the cost of this service is typically substantially lower than hiring a 24-hour or overnight on-site security presence. Mobile patrols cover the same areas as foot patrols, making them nearly as effective as on-site security, except for busy or high-risk sites.

Emergency Response

Mobile patrol guards can quickly respond to triggered alarms and emergencies, coordinating with police and fire departments as needed. The security company you choose for your site should have a team available 24/7 to monitor the status of your site and deploy a mobile guard in the event of an incident.

Real-Time Reporting

Depending on the security company you choose to work with, you may gain additional insights into your mobile guards’ patrols as they happen. At Blackbird Security, we utilize TrackTik, the industry-standard security reporting software, which enables our team and our clients’ teams to view reports and monitor guard locations in real time. This gives our team transparency into site events and provides a customizable level of insight for our clients.

Flexibility

Many construction sites require security during overnight hours and weekends, but the cost of a full-time guard during these periods can quickly become expensive. Mobile patrol security offers a flexible solution to after-hours and weekend security, providing coverage and visibility when your site needs it most. 

How to Choose a Mobile Patrol Provider

Not all mobile patrol security providers follow the same best practices or deliver the same quality of service. When choosing a provider for your site, consider the following key factors:

1. Choose 24/7 Availability

Be sure your chosen provider offers 24/7 patrols and a communication team that can deploy guards during overnight hours. Even if you initially elect for daytime mobile patrols, you may later decide to implement overnight patrols over the holidays or as your project advances. In these cases, selecting a provider that offers overnight coverage from the start can save you the hassle of switching providers later.

2. Rapid Response Times

Ask your provider how quickly their mobile guards can reach your site when an alarm is triggered. They should offer a guaranteed response window of 5-15 minutes. 

3. Reporting Technology

Find out which reporting software your provider’s guards use to create patrol reports. Does it provide GPS tracking and live reporting updates? Understanding the reporting method will give you a better idea of whether your needs will be met.

4. Training

Does your provider offer additional training for its guards? Some security companies provide training for their guards beyond the standard training required to earn a security guard license. Additional training means your mobile guards will be better equipped to handle incidents on site.

5. References

Ask for testimonials or case studies from other construction clients. Look for commonalities and patterns to learn where your provider excels. Seeing testimonials specifically from construction clients will be important for understanding how your provider performs in your industry. 

The Blackbird Difference: Mobile Patrol Security for Construction Sites

At Blackbird Security, we’ve had the pleasure of safeguarding dozens of construction sites across Canada with mobile patrol security. We understand the unique challenges that come with building in major cities like Vancouver, Toronto, or Calgary, and we’re proud to offer an industry-leading standard of service for our clients.

Advanced Training Through Blackbird Academy

Part of this effort involves the advanced training our guards receive through our in-house training program, Blackbird Academy. Our award-winning training staff, in combination with educators from accredited institutions, teach guards key skills in areas like peaceful de-escalation, report writing, first aid, crisis prevention, fire safety, and more. This enables our guards to deliver a comprehensive level of service, effectively handling every situation that may arise on a job site.

24/7 Availability and Live Reporting

Our mobile guards are supported by our 24/7 Control Centre Team at Blackbird Security. These team members monitor our clients’ sites round-the-clock and deploy the nearest mobile guard to your site to investigate the source of the alarm, take action, and report on the situation.

To create reports, all Blackbird Security guards use TrackTik, the industry-standard reporting software. TrackTik provides GPS tracking and real-time updates for our teams and our clients, giving you as much insight into the moment-to-moment events of your site as desired. 

Partner With Blackbird Security for Mobile Patrol Security

Mobile patrol security provides a flexible, cost-effective way to protect construction sites across multiple locations. With comprehensive patrols conducted on a randomized schedule, this method effectively safeguards your construction site without the cost of an on-site security presence.  

While mobile patrols can’t replace full-time guards at every site, they’re an excellent solution for preventing theft, vandalism, and trespassing, especially during off-hours or seasonal shutdowns.

Contact us today to learn how mobile patrols can protect your construction site.