Safeguard Security Services

Construction Security Guards

Construction Site Security Services

We provide construction site security services that protect your property from theft, vandalism, and encampments. Call us today to get free pricing and site assessment.

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BSIS Licensed
GPS Patrols
24/7 Dispatch
Custom Post Orders
30-Day Trial
Construction Site Security
The Problem

Construction Site Security Services

Safeguard provides construction site security for projects dealing with theft, vandalism, property damage, illegal encampments, and trespassing. We usually start the day the materials and equipment show up, because that is usually the day the problems start. Copper gets stripped from the walls. Generators walk off overnight. 

 

Someone with no business inside a halfway-built building ends up injured on your insurance policy. The right coverage plan depends on the type of build and what is actually on site that is worth protecting.

 

We have walked sites paying for 24/7 coverage that only needed overnight security. We have also walked sites where one unarmed guard was expected to cover four open gates across six acres. In 2023, a large project building distribution centers near Burbank Airport had one guard covering more than six warehouses and over five acres of land. 

 

The security was not working, and it was not the guard’s fault. He could not cover that much property by himself. We took over, moved to two guards and a marked patrol vehicle, and incidents dropped 80% within a month. Each guard could now focus on specific areas, and the marked vehicle made the coverage visible from across the lot.

Case Study
Distribution Centers Near Burbank Airport · 2023
Before
1
Unarmed guard assigned to full site
6+
Warehouses under single coverage
5+
Acres of land to patrol
After Safeguard
2
Guards with focused patrol zones
1
Marked patrol vehicle for visibility
30
Days to measurable turnaround
Outcome
80%
Incidents dropped within a month. Coverage became visible from across the lot.

A two-week project inside a gated warehouse with no history of incidents probably does not need a guard. A project that runs for months with expensive equipment on site does.

Service Area

Serving Construction Sites Across Southern California

Headquartered in Northridge, Safeguard covers construction sites across Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and the San Fernando Valley. If your site is not on the list, call us. We likely cover it.

Beverly Hills
Burbank
Calabasas
Encino
Glendale
Hollywood
Long Beach
Los Angeles
HQNorthridge
Pasadena
Santa Clarita
Santa Monica
Sherman Oaks
Van Nuys
Woodland Hills
Don't see your city? Call (818) 469-0703 — we likely cover it.
Coverage Models

How Coverage Models Change Based on Your Project Type

Construction site security is not one service. The guard’s responsibilities change based on the type of project, the phase it is in, and the risks it faces. 

 

A guard watching 30 homes on a residential build in Santa Clarita has a completely different job than a guard watching a broken gate being fixed over the course of a week.

 

General contractors and site managers usually want to know whether they need a roving patrol, a standing guard, or both. That depends on the site-specific issues, the lot size, the project complexity, insurance or city requirements, and past incidents.

Construction Site Secrity Guard
Project TypeRecommended CoverageWhy It Fits
Ground-Up Commercial Builds
Overnight 6pm–6am or 24/7 Smaller builds usually need a guard overnight (6pm to 6am). Larger builds need 24/7 coverage for vendor check-ins, access control, and trespassing.
Residential Construction
12 Hour Overnight Shift Apartment buildings, houses, and condos do not always need full-time security. A 12 hour overnight shift is usually the better fit. The guard stays on-site through the highest-risk hours to watch for trespassing, property damage, and keep a visible presence.
Tenant Improvement & Renovation
Overnight Coverage These properties are already built and functional, just going through renovations. The timeline is not two weeks, but it is not two years either. We recommend overnight coverage focused on after-hours access to the active work zone.

All our guards are licensed and insured through BSIS. Construction environments can be hazardous, so when we place a guard on a construction site, we look for someone with experience around active work zones.

Guards who know their patrol reports are being tracked through Silvertrac's GPS-stamped checkpoint logs perform better than guards working without oversight. When every checkpoint is time-verified and visible to dispatch and the client portal, the coverage quality goes up. Not because the guards are different, but because the system removes the guesswork.

Reviews | 5.0 ★★★★★

Trusted by General Contractors Across Southern California

Rated Excellent on Google

★★★★★

"Professional team that takes security seriously. Response times excellent, communication top notch."

David M.
Google Review
★★★★★

"Best security company in the area. They go above and beyond what's expected. Highly recommend."

James P.
Google Review
★★★★★

"Outstanding service. Guards well-trained, attentive, truly care about the properties they protect."

Sarah K.
Google Review
★★★★★

"Excellent service from day one. Our property is secure and we have complete peace of mind."

Patricia L.
Google Review
★★★★★

"Safeguard Security has amazing service. Guards are polite, productive, efficient and trustworthy."

Carlos V.
Google Review
★★★★★

"Pleasure to work with Safeguard. Reliable, professional, great rates, always on time."

Riley C.
Google Review
What You're Risking

What Is Actually Happening on Unprotected Construction Sites

Theft is the most common problem. Copper wire, HVAC units, and power tools disappear overnight because they are portable, expensive, and easy to resell. The National Equipment Register estimates less than 25% of stolen construction equipment is ever recovered. Replacing it means paying current prices and waiting weeks for delivery.

Industry Recovery Rate
<25%
Less than 25% of stolen construction equipment is ever recovered. Replacing it means paying current prices and waiting weeks for delivery.
Source: National Equipment Register estimate

Break-ins cause more problems than just material loss. Partially built buildings attract trespassers, sometimes looking for something to steal, sometimes looking for a place to sleep. Encampments inside construction sites or along fence lines create liability issues most contractors do not think about until it is already a problem. If an unauthorized person gets injured on your site, they can argue you did not take proper access control measures, and they can win the case or walk away with a settlement.

 

Property damage is the other major reason contractors and insurers want security on site. Graffiti on the walls, destroyed electrical systems, and vandalized plumbing can cost thousands of dollars and push a project back weeks or months. Finding who caused the damage or filing a police report rarely solves anything. Construction equipment protection is not only about the equipment. It also protects the work already completed.

Insurance carriers often require security guards during certain phases of construction. 

 

Some lower premiums when coverage is documented through verified patrol logs. Others will not pay theft or vandalism claims if the site had no security at the time of the loss. Check your policy before you assume you can skip overnight coverage. The cost of a guard is usually less than the deductible on a single claim.

Materials Arriving Soon? Start Coverage the Same Day.

The cost of a guard is usually less than the deductible on a single claim.

Avoid These

Three Mistakes That Cost More Than the Security Itself

Hiring security too late.

We almost always get the call after the first theft has already happened. By then, the loss is not just the stolen material. It is the schedule delay, the insurance deductible, the replacement lead time, and the crew standing idle while you wait for new material to arrive.

Wrong coverage for the site.

A five-acre lot with multiple entrances and no fence is not a one-guard job. Some sites need marked patrol cars, some need a single guard, some need 24/7 coverage. Job site security only works when the plan matches the site.

Picking security based on price.

Contractors sometimes ask us why their previous provider's quote came in 30% lower. When a company quotes cheap, something is being cut, whether it is supervision, training, or insurance. Safeguard is not the most expensive company in the market and not the cheapest either. We cannot provide quality service at the lowest market rates, and we do not pretend we can.

Typical Hourly Rate Ranges
Short-Term
Long-Term
Shorter-Term Projects
$35 – $45/hr
Longer-Term Projects
$27 – $33/hr
$0$20$40$60$80$100

Construction site surveillance, fire watch, and access control all have different staffing needs. When a proposal groups everything under one line item labeled “security services,” there is no way to tell what you are actually getting. Are patrol intervals defined? Does “24/7” include weekends? Are supervisor visits in the price or billed separately?

Watch ForWhen a company quotes cheap, something is being cut — supervision, training, or insurance. A proposal that groups everything under one line item hides what you're actually getting.

Our 30-day trial contract exists because switching providers mid-project feels risky, and that hesitation keeps contractors stuck with underperforming vendors longer than they should be. If you are searching for construction site security companies near you and your current provider is not meeting the standard, 30 days is enough to evaluate reporting, guard reliability, and communication without committing long-term.

 

The contractors who get the most out of construction security treat it as a project input, not an afterthought. Build it into the budget before the first delivery arrives. Safeguard is available at (818) 469-0703 or through our request a quote form.

Build Security Into the Budget Before the First Delivery.

Walk your site with our team. Get a plan that matches the project, not a template.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does construction site security cost per hour?
Rates depend on the size, duration, risk, and responsibilities. Shorter-term projects usually run between $35 and $45 per hour. Longer-term projects are between $27 and $33 per hour.
Can a construction site security guard detain someone caught stealing materials?
In California, a security guard has the same rights as a private citizen. Under Penal Code 837, a guard can make a citizen's arrest if they directly witness a felony, which theft of construction materials often qualifies as, depending on the value. The guard can detain the person until the police arrive. But security guards are not law enforcement. They cannot follow people off the premises, they cannot detain on suspicion of a crime, and they cannot pretend to be police officers.
Do I need armed or unarmed guards for my construction site?
Construction sites rarely need armed guards. For most commercial properties, houses, apartment buildings, and warehouses, an unarmed guard is the right fit. Armed guards work, but it is an overspend.
How quickly can Safeguard deploy security to a new construction site?
In emergencies, we can deploy guards within a couple of hours. For larger or long-term projects, we usually take three to five days to write the post orders, select the guards, and train them on site-specific issues and requests.
What does a construction site security guard do during active work hours vs. after hours?
During work hours, the guard handles access control, verifies vendors, checks in deliveries, and prevents unauthorized entry. After hours, the focus shifts to theft prevention, patrols, vandalism prevention, and keeping trespassers off the site.
During Active Work HoursAfter Hours
Access controlTheft prevention
Vendor verificationPatrols
Delivery check-insVandalism prevention
Preventing unauthorized entryKeeping trespassers off the site
Should I hire a separate fire watch guard, or can my construction security officer handle both?
It depends on the jurisdiction and scope of work. Under OSHA 1910.252, a fire watch during active hot work has to be a dedicated observer, not a general construction security guard. Confirm with your jurisdiction and fire marshal. Our construction guards are trained to spot fire hazards as part of their regular duties, but that is not the same as a dedicated fire watch.
What is included in a construction site security post order?
Our post orders include reporting instructions, checkpoint locations, and a point of contact for emergencies or questions. They also cover delivery handling, vendor verification, the names and contact info for approved vendors versus non-approved ones, and any other site-specific details. The post order is a handbook for our guards to follow, so nobody is guessing what to do.
Why do some construction sites still experience theft even with security guards on site?
Two reasons. The first and main one is poor management. Unclear instructions, no supervision, no reporting, no timestamped photos, no specific checkpoints. Any of these can lead to theft or break-ins even with security on site. The second is that hiring security does not guarantee zero incidents. A well-managed construction security service will reduce liability and incidents, but no company can promise none at all.
How do I verify my construction security guards are actually patrolling the site?
We use Silvertrac for tracking and reporting. Our guards patrol every 45 minutes to an hour, and the reports go live on the portal instantly. Our dispatch checks the patrols and contacts the guard if a report is late. Clients have access to the portal, so you can see the reports yourself instead of wondering whether the guards are patrolling or sitting in the same spot the whole shift.
What is the biggest scheduling mistake general contractors make with construction site security?
Waiting until the expensive materials are already on the property. Some contractors bring security in two weeks or a month after the first delivery, and that gap is where the losses happen. Have the guards on site the same day the first copper, wire, HVAC, or plumbing equipment arrives.

Protect the Site. Protect the Schedule.

Start with a site walk. Get a coverage plan that matches the project. Start coverage the day the first delivery lands.