Theft and delays rise as construction crime surges

A new industry report warns that rising site theft is delaying projects and putting serious pressure on margins across the UK construction sector — with concrete contractors, suppliers and subcontractors among the most affected.

The 2024 Construction Crime Index from security firm BauWatch estimates theft now costs the UK construction industry at least £800 million a year. Based on a survey of 500 site professionals, the report found that 70% had witnessed theft on-site in the past year, while 62% said crime had become more sophisticated.

Almost a third of respondents (31%) said theft had caused delays on live projects, with one in ten cases resulting in work being unable to continue. In around a quarter of delayed jobs, the setback lasted more than four weeks — adding significantly to disruption costs and client dissatisfaction.

Theft of small tools was most common, followed by copper, cable, and handheld equipment. High-value items such as vehicles, fuel, and heavy machinery also featured, with personal loss of tools reported by 25% of workers. Opportunistic crime accounted for 40% of incidents, while inside jobs made up 27%.

“These figures make it clear: no trade is safe and no sector is immune,” said Alexis Potter, managing director of BauWatch UK and Ireland. “We heard from people across energy, housing, infrastructure and real estate — and 7 in 10 admitted to seeing theft at work.”

The report links a rise in theft to budget pressures, poor planning, and a lack of early security measures. Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said security should be considered before construction begins — yet more than a third described it as a low priority on the sites they worked on.

With copper and cabling cited as priority targets — particularly for rail and infrastructure sites — the report notes that high-profile projects like HS2 have become magnets for organised crime, costing taxpayers and contractors alike.

BauWatch recommends investing in early-stage security planning, visible deterrents, and regular staff training to prevent incidents escalating.

Full report available at BauWatch.