A framing crew in Downey shows up Monday morning and finds every run of copper wire stripped out of the walls overnight. A general contractor in City of Industry loses $40,000 in tools from a jobsite trailer over a single weekend. A GC building spec homes in Lancaster gets a letter from their insurance carrier: submit a security plan or your policy gets reviewed. These are the calls we get every week. Construction site theft in California tops $1 billion a year, and Los Angeles is ground zero.
We have been protecting construction sites across Greater LA since 1997 — nearly three decades under PPO license 12958. We know what gets stolen, when it gets stolen, and exactly how to stop it. This page covers how construction site security actually works, what it costs, and how to figure out the right level of coverage for your project.
What This Page Covers
- Why construction sites are magnets for theft and vandalism
- What construction security actually looks like on the ground
- Armed vs. unarmed — when each one makes sense
- Coverage options: overnight, weekend, 24/7, mobile patrol
- What makes Scaife different for construction projects
- Project types we protect
- Frequently asked questions
Why Construction Sites Are Targets
A construction site is one of the easiest targets in Los Angeles for anyone looking to steal. Think about what you are working with: open perimeters with chain-link fencing that takes thirty seconds to cut through. Thousands of dollars in copper wire, power tools, generators, and building materials sitting out in the open or in unlocked trailers. Predictable schedules — your crew leaves at 5 PM, and the site sits empty all night. Minimal lighting once the sun goes down. And a steady rotation of subcontractors, delivery drivers, and inspectors coming and going, which makes it nearly impossible to tell who belongs and who does not.
The numbers back this up. Construction theft in California exceeds $1 billion annually. The most common targets are copper wire and plumbing, power tools, heavy equipment (especially skid steers and mini excavators), lumber and building materials, generators, and HVAC units. Most of it happens between midnight and 5 AM, and on weekends when the site is completely unattended.
Location matters too. A port-adjacent site in Long Beach has different risks than an urban infill project in Downtown LA or a remote residential development in Lancaster. In Long Beach, you are dealing with organized theft rings that know the port corridor. Downtown, it is opportunistic theft and trespassing from nearby encampments. In Lancaster, the problem is isolation — police response times can stretch past 30 minutes, which gives thieves all the time they need.
Here is the part most GCs underestimate: theft does not just cost you the materials. It costs you the schedule. A stolen generator means your concrete pour gets pushed. Missing copper means your electrical sub walks off the job until you replace it. Insurance claims take weeks. And your client starts asking questions about your ability to manage the project. One bad weekend can set a build back by a month.
What Construction Security Actually Looks Like
Construction site security is not a guard sitting in a truck scrolling through their phone. If that is what you are getting, that is a red flag. Here is what it should look like when it is done right.
Site walk before anything else. Before we quote you, we walk your site. We look at the perimeter — where the fencing is weak, where someone could slip through, which sides face streets versus alleys versus empty lots. We check lighting, identify where high-value materials are staged, look at trailer placement and lock quality, and map out sight lines. This is how we build a security plan that actually fits your site, not a generic template we use for every project.
Custom post orders for each phase. A construction site changes every week. During foundation work, the risks are different from framing, which is different from finish work. During foundation, your heavy equipment is the target — excavators, loaders, compactors. Once framing starts, copper wire and lumber are the magnets. During finish work, it is fixtures, appliances, and HVAC units. We update the post order as the build progresses so your guard knows exactly what to watch and where to focus during each phase.
Access control for subs and deliveries. One of the biggest vulnerabilities on a construction site is foot traffic. Subcontractors show up at odd hours. Deliveries come in on different schedules. A guard managing access keeps a log of who enters and exits, verifies credentials, and makes sure nobody walks off with materials they did not bring. This alone prevents a huge percentage of jobsite theft.
Patrol routes based on material staging. Where you stage materials changes how the guard patrols. If copper is stored on the north side and the tool trailer is on the south end, the patrol route reflects that. We do not run a generic loop — we build routes around where the value is on any given week.
Incident documentation. Every shift produces a report. Unusual activity, attempted entries, vehicles that circle the site, anything out of the ordinary — it is logged and reported to you. If something does happen, you have documentation for your insurance carrier and for law enforcement. This is not a nice-to-have. It is the kind of record that saves you money and headaches down the line.
Armed vs. Unarmed for Construction Sites
Most construction sites do fine with unarmed security guards. An unarmed guard provides visible deterrence, controls access, patrols the perimeter, and documents everything. For a typical residential or commercial build in Torrance, Downey, or Garden Grove, unarmed coverage handles the job.
When armed makes sense. Remote sites where police response is slow — we are talking Lancaster, parts of the Antelope Valley, remote industrial parks east of the 15 freeway. High-value projects with expensive equipment or materials that attract organized theft operations. Sites that have already experienced armed confrontations or threats against workers. In these situations, an armed security guard changes the risk calculation for anyone casing your site. Armed guards carry additional BSIS licensing, more training, and higher oversight requirements.
Here is what to do: tell us your site location, your project type, and what you are most concerned about. We will walk the site and give you an honest recommendation. We are not going to push armed security if unarmed gets the job done, and we are not going to understaff a high-risk site just to give you a lower quote.
Coverage Options for Construction Sites
Not every project needs the same level of coverage. Here are the most common options and when each one fits.
Overnight only (6 PM to 6 AM). This is the most common setup and the best value for most construction sites. The vast majority of theft and vandalism happens after dark. If your crew is on site during the day and your main concern is what happens overnight, this covers it. Works well for projects in established neighborhoods in Hawthorne, Gardena, Compton, or Norwalk where daytime activity provides some natural deterrence.
Overnight plus weekends. Same overnight coverage Monday through Friday, plus full shifts on Saturday and Sunday. This is the right call when your site sits completely empty for two and a half days straight. Weekends are when you get hit — thieves know the site is unmonitored from Friday evening to Monday morning. If you have had a theft or an attempted break-in, start here.
24/7 coverage. A guard on site around the clock. This makes sense for high-value projects, sites in high-crime areas, projects where the insurance carrier requires it, or sites where daytime access control is just as important as overnight security. Large commercial builds in Downtown LA or industrial projects near the port in Long Beach and Wilmington often need 24/7 coverage.
Mobile patrol for multi-site GCs. If you are a general contractor running three or four projects across LA County at the same time, putting a dedicated guard at each one may not be in the budget. Mobile patrol gives you a uniformed officer making scheduled and random checks at each site throughout the night. It is less coverage than a dedicated guard but a lot more than nothing — and the randomized timing keeps thieves guessing.
Not sure which option fits your project? Call us at (323) 786-8140 or use our free quote tool. We will walk the site and tell you what we recommend.
What Makes Scaife Different for Construction
There are hundreds of security companies in Los Angeles. Most of them will quote you over the phone, send a guard who has never been to a construction site, and hand you a generic post order that could apply to a parking lot or a shopping mall. Here is how we do it differently.
We walk the site before we quote. Always. Every time. We need to see your perimeter, your staging areas, your access points, your lighting, and the surrounding neighborhood before we can tell you what kind of security you actually need. A phone quote is a guess. We do not guess.
Post orders update as the build progresses. Your site looks different at foundation than it does at framing than it does at finish work. The security plan should change with it. We update post orders as materials change, as phases shift, and as new risks emerge. This is not a static template we hand a guard on day one and forget about.
We understand LA construction. Permitting, site access logistics, sub coordination, city inspections, OSHA visits — we have seen it all. Our guards know how a construction site operates, which means they can manage access without slowing down your project. They know the difference between a sub showing up early and someone who does not belong.
Owner-operated. PPO-12958. Since 1997. We are not a national franchise. When you call us, you are talking to people who know this market. Omar Scaife has been running this company for 27 years. We carry over $1 million in general liability and full workers’ compensation. These are verifiable facts — look us up at search.dca.ca.gov.
Same-day deployment for emergencies. You got hit last night and need someone on site tonight. Call us at (323) 786-8140. We handle emergency deployment regularly and can often get a licensed guard to your site within hours.
Construction Project Types We Protect
Every project type has its own security profile. Here is what we cover.
Residential Development
Tract homes, custom builds, multi-family. Copper wire and appliance theft during finish phases is the biggest risk.
Commercial Build-Out
Retail, office, restaurant spaces. Often in busy corridors where access control during the day matters as much as overnight security.
Infrastructure & Public Works
Road projects, utility work, public buildings. Often require compliance with specific government security requirements.
Solar Farm Construction
Remote sites with high-value panels and equipment. Long perimeters and limited access roads make these a unique challenge.
Renovation & Remodel
Occupied buildings undergoing renovation. Security has to manage both construction access and tenant/occupant safety.
Demolition
Salvage theft, trespassing, and liability exposure. Unsecured demolition sites attract scrappers and create serious injury risk.
Frequently Asked Questions About Construction Site Security
How much does construction site security cost?
Construction site security in the Los Angeles market runs $25 to $38 per hour for unarmed guards, and $32 to $48 per hour for armed guards. The rate depends on the shift schedule (overnight-only versus 24/7), the number of hours per week, contract length, and site complexity. Overnight-only coverage is the most common and most cost-effective option for most projects. For a quote based on your specific site, call us at (323) 786-8140 or use our free quote tool. We will walk your site before giving you a number. For more on pricing, see our security guard costs FAQ.
Do you provide overnight-only coverage?
Yes, and it is our most requested option for construction sites. Most theft and vandalism happens between sundown and sunrise. Overnight-only coverage (typically 6 PM to 6 AM) gives you protection during the highest-risk hours at the best value. We also offer overnight-plus-weekends and 24/7 options depending on what your project needs.
Can you start same-day after a theft?
Yes. We handle emergency deployment regularly. If your site was hit last night and you need a guard on site tonight, call us directly at (323) 786-8140. We can often have a licensed, uniformed guard at your site within hours. We will follow up with a full site walk and custom post order within the first few days.
Do guards handle access control for subcontractors?
Yes. Access control is one of the most valuable things a construction security guard does. Your guard logs every person who enters and exits the site, verifies that subcontractors and delivery drivers are authorized, and keeps a record of who was on site and when. This prevents unauthorized access, reduces internal theft, and gives you documentation if anything goes missing.
Should I use armed or unarmed guards for a remote construction site?
For remote sites — Lancaster, Antelope Valley, remote industrial areas east of the Inland Empire — armed security is worth considering. Police response times in these areas can exceed 30 minutes, which means an unarmed guard may not have adequate backup if a situation escalates. Armed guards carry additional licensing and training, and the visible deterrent is significant in isolated locations. We will assess your specific site and give you an honest recommendation. Learn more about our armed security services →
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