Staffordshire Police

The theft of these high-value pieces of equipment has a major impact on both the industry and the public who are affected by delays in major building projects.

To reduce the chance of being targeted you could consider whether your business is high risk or not, for instance:

• are you overlooked or isolated – having the public around can deter thieves
• well lit or gloomy – a site that is well lit when not in use is less attractive to thieves than one sitting in darkness
• are there good transport links for removing the machinery quickly and easily
• are you in a high crime area
• how easy would resale of the stolen items be
• do you have a stable, experienced workforce

Next look at what you can do to make the site harder to target – contact your local crime reduction officer for more information.

You could also:

• consider the use of a security company
• erect fencing and lighting around the site
• ensure vehicles are locked and keys stored securely.

There are also a number of systems which are recognised as helping to deter thieves:

• identification marking makes items harder to resell and easier to identify if recovered
• mechanical deterrents – industry recognised locking systems on steering and brake systems can delay thieves by several minutes per device
• vehicle immobilisers can be expensive but very effective ways of safeguarding your machinery
• tracking systems help your property to be traced.