Theft on the job site or at a commercial facility is one of the most common problems faced by business owners today. In addition to unsecured tools and equipment, generators are one of the most sought-after items by thieves. They are expensive, moveable, and don’t lose value on resale. Learning how to secure a generator from being stolen is important if you want to protect this expensive piece of equipment.
Generator Security For Portable Generators
Generators are an important addition to a facility’s power needs. They are a reliable and efficient source of alternative energy during an emergency situation, whether due to the grid going down or bad weather conditions. However, these alternative power sources are prone to theft and vandalism. It is important that you take generator security seriously, and learn how to secure your investment before it is stolen.
Five Key Ways To Secure Your Generator
- Get rid of the wheels – many portable generators feature wheels so that it is easy to move them around. However, this makes it easy for thieves to move the generator, too. By removing the wheels and placing your generator on wooden blocks or another secure surface, you can deter thieves from stealing your generator. When you need to move the generator, you can simply reattach the wheels.
- Keep the area well-lit – it’s a simple fact: anything left in the dark is easier to steal. Stop thieves in their tracks by keeping the area where your generator is set up well-lit. You can purchase an alarm system that comes with a combination of solid and motion-sensing lights to ensure that an alarm sounds if any suspicious activity is detected in the area around the generator. To improve your security even more, keep the lights plugged into both the grid and generator power so they are on at all times.
- Lock the generator – a simple lock and chain will not keep your generator safe. However, a hardened lock and chains will improve the safety setup around your generator. These types of locks and chains can only be cut with a grinder, and it is unlikely that a thief would be carrying one around.
- Block access to the generator – if your generator is easy to access, it will be easier to steal. Blocking access to the generator, by building a fence or other enclosure, makes it more difficult to access the generator. (Just make sure the enclosure provides sufficient ventilation for the generator to avert the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.)
- Hire security – if your site has several expensive generators installed, it may be a good idea to hire a professional security company to provide guards on site. This is probably the easiest and safest way to provide generator security at a job site, commercial building, or industrial facility.
Secure Your Generator With a Generator Fence Enclosure
One of the easiest ways to protect your generator is to build a protective fence enclosure around it. This allows you to safely store your outdoor portable generator away from prying eyes and adds a first line of defense to your generator security system. Fencing is one of the most effective security measures that you can use to safeguard your generator. A simple, basic fence can be effective, or you can opt for a more elaborate box that surrounds the generator on the top and bottom, as well as on the sides. This can protect the generator from bad weather (as well as thieves).
Recovering Your Generator If The Unthinkable Happens
While learning how to secure a generator from being stolen should be your first concern, knowing how to recover it if the unthinkable happens and having a plan in place for its recovery is just as important. The following measures can increase your chances of recovering a stolen generator.
- Make your generator identifiable – Carve or engrave either your initials, full name, or even an entire message on the body of your generator, to let any second-hand buyers know that this device belonged to you and has been most likely stolen.
- Record the serial number – write down your serial number and keep it in a safe place so that you can share it with law enforcement if your generator is stolen. In addition, you can enter the serial number into an online database that tracks stolen goods to further increase your chances of recovery.
- Use a GPS tracker – it may seem like overkill, but generators are expensive. Attaching a GPS tracker to this piece of equipment might help you recover it if it goes missing!
Having a portable backup generator for emergency situations is vital for commercial and industrial applications; however, making sure your generator is secure is vital to ensure that the generator will be there when you need it. The steps mentioned above will help keep your generator safe. You don’t need to invest in all of the security measures mentioned above, even a simple generator fence enclosure can act as a powerful deterrent to would-be thieves.
