Shipping Container Security: Beyond Shipping Container Locks

You only need to have a Bobcat stolen once—or have the fuel siphoned out of one—to suddenly understand the reality of construction site theft and the importance of having a secure location for your equipment, such as a shipping container, aka storage container. Of course, it’s not just machinery that gets stolen: Tools, lumber and materials such as copper all have a tendency to walk off when left unattended.

Some theft is opportunistic—a crew member leaves the keys in a backhoe or fails to put tools away, and a pilferer takes advantage. Other theft is more sophisticated, carried out by organized gangs looking to ship items overseas and resell them there. Either way, construction site theft is rampant and has been increasing since a 2018 surge, according to Verisk. The cost of theft goes well beyond the immediate financial loss. Productivity can suffer, and insurance premiums may increase.

The value of a locking storage container

No matter what type of thieves may be tempted by your equipment, tools or materials, a locking storage container will secure it. Storing valuables in a container on the jobsite also keeps them out of your truck, which protects them from thieves who could make off with the goods while the truck is parked in remote parking lot, at your favorite lunch spot or in your neighborhood or driveway.

That said, the level of shipping container security matters. While a simple padlock is better than nothing, a standard shipping container lock can often be defeated by a determined thief.

The PV3: Safe. Secure. Simple.

United Rental’s PV3 locking storage container, which comes in 10-foot, 20-foot and 40-foot models, gives contractors and subcontractors convenient access to their tools and supplies and extra protection from theft. It features interior locking rods and a hard-to-access solid brass lock with a hardened steel pin for superior security. It accepts a separate padlock that allows you to further restrict access to the container—for example, you could reserve those keys for the team leader.

The PV3 is made of weatherproof 14-gauge steel. Interior solar lights are a handy add-on for enhanced safety and convenience.

In addition to offering outstanding protection from theft, the PV3 guards against another threat: being accidently trapped inside the container. People have been known to get locked in containers when the doors slam shut or someone outside closes them without realizing there’s someone inside. The situation can be both terrifying and dangerous. The PV3 has the industry’s only emergency exit feature: an interior handle that enables you to easily open the doors from inside, even if the door lock is engaged.

Construction site theft is real. Storing items in a locking storage container helps ensure that you have the equipment, tools and materials you need to stay productive and get the job done. Choosing a model with advanced shipping container security gives you extra theft protection, as well as the peace of mind that comes from knowing you can safely and easily get out of the container.

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