In January 2026, thieves hit the construction site of PowerCo’s massive EV battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario, stealing equipment valued at roughly $200,000. The overnight theft targeted GPS devices and other gear from bulldozers at a $7‑billion facility slated to employ up to 3,000 people when operational. For manufacturers and OEMs across Canada planning large greenfield builds or expansions, the incident is a vivid reminder: before a plant produces its first part, its construction site is already a high‑value industrial target.

The St. Thomas theft did not just represent replacement costs for stolen equipment; it also threatened schedule, labour productivity, and downstream commitments. For companies such as Magna‑scale manufacturers and global OEMs bringing new capacity to Ontario, even short delays can ripple through supply chains. Industrial CCTV for large Ontario manufacturing sites is no longer a “nice to have”—it is a foundational control for safeguarding capital projects and future production.

What the St. Thomas theft revealed about big‑ticket construction risk

The PowerCo site theft took place during a critical stage of the build, when heavy equipment, contractors, and materials were concentrated in one area but permanent security infrastructure was still evolving. Construction sites for mega‑plants often feature:

• Wide, open perimeters that are difficult to secure with fencing alone.

• Large numbers of subcontractors and rotating crews.

• High‑value mobile assets such as bulldozers, graders, and cranes.

Thieves exploited this environment by targeting GPS devices and other equipment from bulldozers under cover of darkness. These devices are vital to modern grading and layout work, and they are also relatively compact and easy to resell or repurpose. The loss meant not only immediate replacement costs but potential downtime while new units were sourced and calibrated.

For any large manufacturer building a new facility, these dynamics are familiar. In the early phases, it can be tempting to treat security like a secondary consideration and rely on temporary fencing, sporadic patrols, or a couple of mobile cameras. The St. Thomas case shows that sophisticated offenders will seek out precisely these windows of vulnerability.

Why industrial CCTV for large Ontario manufacturing sites must start at the construction phase

Many companies think about CCTV only once a plant is nearly complete and production lines are being installed. That is a mistake. Industrial CCTV for large Ontario manufacturing sites should be phased in alongside foundational work, with at least a core 32‑ to 64‑camera system in place while heavy civil and structural stages are underway.

Early deployment offers several advantages:

• Visibility over equipment and materials: Cameras covering laydown yards, fuel storage, and machinery parking areas help deter theft and support quick investigation if something goes missing.

• Evidence for claims and disputes: If equipment is damaged, vandalized, or misused, footage provides clarity for insurance and contractual discussions.

• Safety monitoring for complex operations: As crews work around excavation, cranes, and emerging structures, video helps safety teams identify recurring near‑misses and unsafe behaviours.

The PowerCo project is a prime example of the scale now common in Canadian manufacturing investments, and the theft there illustrates how quickly opportunistic actors can impact multi‑billion‑dollar timelines. Treating CCTV as “temporary site security” underestimates its strategic role in protecting long‑term industrial assets and workforce.

Designing 64‑camera coverage for evolving mega‑projects

A key challenge in deploying CCTV on large construction sites is that the environment changes constantly. Earthworks shift, buildings rise, and access roads move. That is why industrial CCTV for large Ontario manufacturing sites should combine fixed infrastructure with flexible, rapid‑deploy components:

• Fixed poles with IP cameras and integrated lighting at key gates and equipment yards.

• Mobile trailer‑mounted towers with PTZ cameras that can be repositioned as the project footprint evolves.

• Interior domes and bullets installed progressively as structures are enclosed and high‑value equipment is brought indoors.

An NVR platform designed for 64 cameras and beyond lets project teams add devices in phases without re‑architecting the system. As the plant approaches commissioning, cameras can be reoriented from pure theft prevention toward line‑of‑sight over loading docks, production cells, and finished goods storage—turning a construction‑phase asset into a long‑term operational tool.

Research into rail and industrial surveillance highlights the benefits of intelligent analytics in complex environments, from detecting unauthorized access to monitoring critical zones for unsafe actions. Applying these same tools on mega projects enables alerts when vehicles enter exclusion zones, when people approach crane swing radiuses, or when movement occurs on site after curfew.

Extending CCTV value into operations, safety, and HR once the plant goes live

Once a facility like the St. Thomas EV battery plant transitions from construction to full operation, its CCTV system should seamlessly support the core manufacturing mission. Industrial CCTV for large Ontario manufacturing sites becomes an operational intelligence platform rather than a standalone security expense.

For operations teams, camera footage helps:

• Diagnose bottlenecks at loading docks, staging areas, and high‑volume process steps.

• Validate whether material handling practices match standard work.

• Investigate equipment collisions or damage quickly and accurately.

For safety and HR, video provides the context needed to coach rather than simply discipline. If a near‑miss occurs around a forklift lane, supervisors can review how signage, lighting, and traffic patterns contributed to the risk. Over time, this reduces injuries and fosters a culture where workers know that cameras support safer work rather than just “watching” them.

For risk and insurance stakeholders, a robust CCTV record demonstrates that a manufacturer with CN‑scale operations treats asset protection and safety as integrated disciplines. That can positively influence premiums, deductibles, and the speed with which claims are resolved after an incident.

If you are planning or expanding a large manufacturing facility in Ontario and are unsure when and how to introduce CCTV, ForceVision can help you phase a 64‑camera design from early civil work through full production. ForceVision works with industrial owners, EPC firms, and plant managers across Southern Ontario to build video systems that protect capital investments while supporting long‑term operational excellence.

The lesson from St. Thomas is straightforward: do not wait for a six‑figure equipment theft to validate your security strategy. Map your highest‑value construction assets, identify where conventional measures leave blind spots, and design a CCTV roadmap that grows with your project—from breaking ground to shipping finished product.

FAQ

Q1. Should CCTV be included in the initial construction budget for a new plant?
Yes. For mega projects, integrating CCTV into early budgets ensures coverage for high‑value equipment, supports safety oversight, and avoids rushed, piecemeal installations later.

Q2. How many cameras does a large manufacturing site typically need?
Most large Canadian manufacturing plants require 64 or more cameras to properly cover perimeters, loading areas, production zones, and high‑value storage.

Q3. Can construction‑phase CCTV be reused once the plant is operational?
With the right design, yes. Poles, cabling, NVRs, and many cameras can be repositioned or repurposed from outdoor construction coverage to long‑term interior and perimeter monitoring.

Q4. How does CCTV support worker safety and retention in manufacturing?
Video helps identify unsafe behaviours and conditions, enabling coaching and engineering fixes that reduce injuries and help create a safer, more stable work environment.