BOISE, Idaho — Every month, the Boise Police Department receives multiple reports of thefts from construction sites.
Now, they're teaming up with the stars of HGTV's "Boise Boys," Clint Robertson and Luke Caldwell, to help get that message out and draw attention to construction thefts.
"In the past year we've had 73 reports of theft coming from construction sites, whether it be a home remodel or a construction site itself or a business or residence," Ed Fritz, Boise Police Crime Prevention Supervisor said.
‘The Boise Boys have experienced construction theft personally.
“I had a trailer stolen in Oklahoma at a hotel, didn't have it locked up and they took it, bailed and we lost about $45,000 worth of stuff,” Caldwell said.
They’ve even had it happen in Boise.
“We also lost a trailer here in Boise over on the Bench when Luke and I first started working together,” Robertson said.
The warning isn’t only for folks who are in the construction business though.
“It's not just the person on the job site, but the person who is doing some remodeling around their house or even someone working in their yard and doing construction in their home themselves,” Fritz said.
Thefts like these, which can sometimes involve large equipment, can hurt a person’s bottom line.
“Tools are not cheap, so if you've got a lot of tools or even a few tools in a trailer, a trailer is not cheap, so if you lose a trailer and tools, you're looking at thousands and thousands of dollars,” Robertson said.
These crimes can be prevented though, if you take the right precautions.
“So much of what we see here is just crime of opportunity, but the best part of that is you can affect that crime by doing little things like adding a light or a lock here, doing simple things that will prevent you from being a victim,” Fritz said.
Here are some tips from Boise Police to prevent construction thefts:
- Remove tools or secure them at the site
- Secure trailers
- Avoid deliveries on Friday that will not be used until Monday
- Lock all doors and windows
- Change garage codes frequently
- Report suspicious activity
You can watch the entire Boise Police prevention piece here.