Your Site Was Robbed – Could a Shipping Container Have Prevented It?
Last Updated on September 2, 2025
Have you recently had a break-in at your site? Is it time to consider more secure storage solutions? A shipping container may be a great investment to help prevent further theft and ensure your peace of mind.
In this blog, we will discuss the pros and cons of using a shipping container to boost your site security.
What Actually Happens in a Site Theft?
Having your site broken into is a horrible situation. Items such as tools, fuel and materials are all susceptible to theft, especially if stored in open yards, insecure sheds, or with temporary fencing in place. Thefts can happen very quickly and easily if items are not stored securely.
These days, it is unfortunately a very common occurrence and can be very difficult to prevent.
How Secure Is a Shipping Container, Really?
Among the wide range of shipping container uses, a secure storage container is a very common one. So would a shipping container actually stop a thief?
Shipping containers are made from high-quality corten steel, which is much stronger than most steel sheds, as it is thicker and of a higher grade. Containers have reinforced hinges on the doors, with 3 or 4 locking bars to secure them, and are also fitted with a lockbox which protects the area where the padlock is sited, so bolt croppers cannot be used to remove the padlock.
Standard sheds are generally made of wood or mild steel and can easily be forced open with a crowbar or hammer.
To be totally honest, there are no security measures that can completely stop a would-be thief; however, with the specifications of a shipping container, your goods stand a significantly higher chance of staying securely stored.
Why Some Site Managers Are Turning to Containers
Many of our customers work on construction sites, where they need to store high-value items for day-to-day use, and it is not always practical to transport them to and from the site daily. Sites that are unoccupied overnight are one of the many security challenges of the construction industry, and CCTV towers and security systems are not always an option. Shipping containers are perfect for construction site security as they can be securely padlocked and are very strong, keeping tools out of sight and temptation, which in turn deters a would-be thief.
A shipping container is quick to site and ready to be used straight away, saving time for the workers on site as tools and materials are right there, ready to use. A storage container is a very cost-effective, secure way of storing valuable equipment.
Is a Container Right for Your Site?
To assess whether a container would be right for your site, firstly consider what size container you might need. Shipping containers come in 3 general sizes: 10ft x 8ft, 20ft x 8ft and 40ft x 8ft. They usually have one set of double doors on the 8ft end, but 20ft and 40ft containers are also available with double doors on both 8ft ends, and a 20ft container can even have a side opening door.
The ground conditions are very important as a container needs to stay level in order for the doors to work properly. Any overhead cables or drains that may block access for delivery also need to be considered.
It is possible to have a container ordered and on site within approximately 5-10 working days, and the driver will be able to position the container for you, too. So it is quite a quick turnaround.
How Billie Box can help
As a company, we can either sell a container for site security or, at a very low cost, we can hire out a container for various lengths of time. This will not only make your storage secure but is also a convenient and cost-effective solution.
If you’re not sure whether a container is suitable for your needs, we’re happy to advise honestly – even if the answer is no. Please do not hesitate to contact us, and we can talk it through with you. If you would like a quote, please let us know, and we will arrange this for you.
Get a quote or telephone us on 0800 121 7388. We look forward to hearing from you for a quote and will happily answer any questions you have.
