Thefts from construction sites across the UK are increasingly being carried out by organised criminal groups, security experts have warned, amid fears that the problem could worsen during the Christmas shutdown of building projects.
Tools, copper cables and high-value machinery including telehandlers and diggers worth tens of thousands of pounds have been stolen in recent months, according to the security firm Kingdom Systems.
Industry figures are now warning of a surge in thefts during the festive period, when many construction sites close for up to two weeks, leaving equipment unattended.
Criminals are said to exploit longer winter nights to access sites under cover of darkness, targeting expensive tools and machinery left behind. Paul Worsley, chief services officer at Kingdom Services, which provides temporary CCTV to more than 100 construction sites across Scotland and northern England, said darkness plays a significant role.
“Darkness helps thieves to move in the shadows,” he said. “They use the Christmas period as an opportunity because construction sites close for a longer period and there is less chance of them being spotted by someone coming on to site.”
Worsley said construction site theft has increased sharply during the cost of living crisis. He also pointed to the widespread availability of battery-powered cordless angle grinders, which has made it easier for criminals to break through locks on storage cabins and buildings.
The scale of the problem has been highlighted by the National Federation of Builders, which estimates that tool theft alone costs the construction industry nearly £100m a year and has forced some traders and firms out of business.
Rico Wojtulewicz, head of policy and market insight at the NFB, said tool theft is almost universal across the sector. “I have never met a member who has not had an issue with tool theft or site theft,” he said, adding that one contractor suffered two separate thefts during last year’s Christmas period and is already bracing for more this year.
While criminals have historically targeted copper cables, steel and piping, industry experts say there has been a noticeable shift towards stealing tools and heavy equipment. This, they believe, points to the growing involvement of organised crime groups.
“They have the ability to get this equipment started, they know how to drive it,” Worsley said. “To move big plant equipment on, you have to know what you are doing.”
The Chartered Institute of Building has called for stronger deterrents to tackle the problem. A bill proposing tougher sentences for those convicted of tool theft is currently progressing through parliament.
David Barnes, head of policy and public affairs at the CIOB, said many small and medium-sized construction firms are already under pressure from rising costs and late payments. “The cost of having to replace their tools can be difficult to bear at any time, least of all Christmas,” he said.
Security firms have urged construction companies to take preventative measures, including installing effective lighting, grouping storage containers in central areas away from perimeter fences and improving site monitoring through CCTV, to reduce the risk of theft during the holiday shutdown.
