{"id":74595,"date":"2020-04-07T12:54:53","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T11:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=74595"},"modified":"2020-04-07T12:54:53","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T11:54:53","slug":"plant-theft-covid19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/plant-equipment-supplies-news\/plant-theft-covid19\/74595\/","title":{"rendered":"Construction plant theft surges by 50% as COVID-19 forces sites to close"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tool and plant theft from vehicles and sites has increased by around 50% in the last two weeks, as construction sites shut and scale down in the face of COVID-19<\/h2>\n

The Construction Equipment Association<\/a> (CEA), owners of the CESAR scheme \u2013 the plant marking and registration initiative \u2013 has reported a marked increase in plant and tool theft from both vehicles and site compounds due to COVID-19 site closures.<\/a><\/p>\n

David Smith, chairman of the Combined Industries Theft Solutions<\/a> (CITS), said: \u201cAs a result of the coronavirus situation, some construction sites have been forced to close, and personnel, including on-site security, have left. Under these circumstances, organised criminal gangs may try to exploit the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere construction plant and equipment has been left on-site, it is hoped that the police will be as vigilant as ever. Any unusual activity, on or near construction sites which have closed, needs to be investigated. This also applies to any unusual transport movements for construction plant, for example, during an unusual time, or if the vehicle is moving numerous items of plant belonging to different companies.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor owners of construction plant, it may be useful, for example, to ensure that tracking companies are alerted to the plants’ location.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith added: \u201cWith all sectors working together, we will have a better chance of preventing crime during this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018Open season\u2019 for criminal gangs<\/h3>\n

Nick Mayell, Datatag\u2019s CESAR Police training and liaison officer and security expert, said: \u201cThe coronavirus \u2018lockdown\u2019 has meant that it\u2019s currently \u2018open season\u2019 for criminal gangs who target construction<\/a> plant.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe abrupt abandonment of work-sites has left machinery unsecured and vulnerable.\u00a0 Whereas a company would normally \u2018wind-down\u2019 for seasonal closures by \u2018off-hiring\u2019 kit and moving their own machines \u2013 sites have closed overnight – in the blink of an eye \u2013 and the thieves are having a field day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mayell added: \u201cThe shifting of kit has also become much easier as trucks and vans are moving freely during the lockdown where car travel is restricted to \u2018essential\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

Remove tools and plant equipment from sites<\/h3>\n

Firms should aim to remove the majority of tools and plant away from site compounds, advised Ian Elliott, group head of security, Clancy Docwra and CITS vice chairman.<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cWhere traditionally companies would perhaps have used plant containers \u2013 during these challenging times – companies are advised to leave these almost empty and remove plant and tools to a head-office, where possible, or placing the tools and small kit, within brick or concrete buildings well out of sight of the criminals.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor sites where a company can\u2019t physically remove kit \u2013 then the machinery should be placed within containers and for the containers to be blocked in by placing large concrete blocks or vehicles in front of the containers \u2013 blocking the doors. Keys for the vehicles must not be left on site!\u201d<\/p>\n

DC Chris Piggott, rural vehicle crime intelligence officer at the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service<\/a> (NAVCIS), advised: \u201cMany construction and agricultural vehicles now have so-called smart keys containing electronic information needed to start the machine, so it\u2019s vital that keys are removed from machines and stored securely in a remote location.<\/p>\n

\u201cOther measures include the CESAR marking and registration system, immobilizers and tracking devices which are effective in deterring thieves and aiding police recoveries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other advice for contractors with higher risk sites include:<\/h4>\n