Have you ever walked or driven past a construction site? You may think nothing of it, but the large machines and gritty materials on the sites can cost a fortune! Sadly, this makes construction a common target for equipment theft. With the number of construction supply crimes in the UK every year, you are more likely to lose your tools to theft than to natural disasters.
The construction industry has been fighting an uphill battle to prevent this issue, but it hasn’t been easy. Construction theft in the UK keeps growing at a startling rate. Sites continue taking the burden of these crimes, like financial losses and major damage to their influence. Find out how you can prevent equipment theft from happening at your own construction site in this article!
What is equipment theft?
Equipment theft is the criminal act of stealing or trying to steal construction equipment. You may think thieves only aim for small tools like hammers and wrenches. You can see these tools lying around, so thieves have plenty of chances to smuggle them. It’s also harder to notice small items that are missing.
While this may be true, large machines are also a common target in this crime. They are very costly, so thieves aim to resell these machines. However, they are much bigger and more difficult to move around, so cases of stolen large machines are less common. Even so, replacing these machines costs a lot of money, so you should not think they are not at risk.
Equipment theft is a major problem in the UK, to the point that the government has set up the Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) and the National Plant & Equipment Register programmes. Companies can register their equipment in these programmes to help find stolen items. Of course, it’s always better to prevent crime from happening in the first place.
Equipment theft trends in the UK
Machine theft is a major problem in the UK, but how bad is it? The insurance company Allianz Cornhill reports that the industry takes a financial loss of £800 million from equipment theft every year. Moreover, 92% of UK construction site managers report that they have been damaged by this crime.
There are also different types of construction theft. Sometimes, thieves steal an entire tool or machine from a site. It’s also possible that they only remove specific components that have a high value. For example, engines and hydraulic parts are easier to remove than the whole machine. Furthermore, there are items that are very prone to theft, such as:
- Copper: The price of each copper sheet is high, and it is very common around construction sites. Copper theft can delay major projects or even affect the surrounding area.
- Small tools: Tools like saws and hammers are easy targets for thieves because anyone can easily carry them around.
- Power tools: Power tools like drills and power saws are more costly than small hand tools, so they are common targets in equipment theft.
- Heavy machinery: Machines like bulldozers and cranes are less likely to be theft targets. However, they provide a high-risk, high-reward setting for thieves.
How to prevent equipment theft
To prevent machines and tools from being stolen, we must know what drives this crime. In a nutshell, equipment theft has two main factors. The first is easy access to construction sites due to the lack of surveillance in some job sites. Any random person can stumble across an open construction site and find the chance to steal some tools.
The second reason this crime is so common is the high resale value of tools. Construction parts are in high demand, and it’s easy to resell on online marketplaces. If a tool is in good condition or comes from a nice brand, it can be sold for a higher price. It’s also common for people to buy second-hand tools without asking important questions, such as where they come from or how long the previous owner has had them. Knowing all this, how do you protect your construction equipment from being stolen?
Record all of your supplies.
Most tools have serial numbers, but we often ignore them. Thieves can also steal a tool and wipe away the serial number so it’s harder to find. This is why, to prevent equipment theft, you must be familiar with each tool in your stock. Know which company created your tools, the model and serial number, and when you bought each item.
In the UK, there are programmes where you can register your equipment. Construction Equipment Security and Registration (CESAR) and the National Plant & Equipment Register are some examples of such programmes. You can also record the details of your tools on the Equipment Register, an online database for checking and retrieving stolen equipment.
Prevent people from breaking into your site.
A construction site without protection is like an open invitation to thieves. Even a random person with no prior motive can take a tool or two if they are desperate enough and the chance is presented to them. Prevent equipment theft by setting up fencing around your site and machines. Use chain link fences, fence covers, and gates to shield your assets.
Hire night guards
Equipment theft often happens at night when no workers are around the site. If you want extra protection around your site, you can invest in on-site security guards. Site managers can choose to hire their own security personnel or pay guards from private companies. Guards should know the local police protocol, especially in the case of a major break-in involving many people.
Use devices to detect and prevent equipment theft.
Even if you guard your entire site, you should still add more security precautions. Prevent heavy machines from being moved by locking the wheels and ignition. Skilled thieves can still find a way around this, so you should also add a GPS tracking system to your machines. Furthermore, you can detect attempts at theft with motion sensors, cameras, and light towers.
Move equipment to a safer location.
Equipment theft can still happen during the day, so you shouldn’t let your guard down. Smaller tools are often stolen because they are left lying around during breaks or off-hours. Remind your workers to keep every tool and material in a safe storage area when they are off the site. Packing and unpacking the tools every time you work takes time, but it’s worth the extra effort.
Report equipment theft right away
The moment you discover a theft case on your construction site, quickly let the police know. If a stolen item is attached to a GPS or registered in a tracking system, you can also look for it via the map feature. Late reports of stolen items are a huge reason why so few items are restored. The earlier you report the theft, the likelier you are to get your lost items back.
Final thoughts
Equipment theft is a big issue in the UK that causes major losses to the construction industry. A high resale value, combined with easy access to tools, can lead to stolen items. Companies have to suffer financial loss, project delays, and a hit to their reputation. Therefore, it’s important to take safety measures against this crime.
Don’t wait until you become the next victim of equipment theft. Learn how to safeguard your construction site by taking classes provided by the College of Contract Management. Our online courses are taught by industry experts who will teach you everything you need to know about construction site security. Enrol today to ensure the safety of your materials!
