Who is most affected by construction crime?

Since the Home Office abandoned plans to mandate forensic marking of power tools and compulsory fitting of immobilisers to machinery, a new report has uncovered alarming trends in the rise of construction site crime in the UK.

It reveals that on site crime is becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, with young workers bearing the brunt of the impact.

According to the latest findings, an overwhelming 67% of construction professionals say crime on sites has increased over the last year. This trend is even more pronounced among younger workers, with 69% of 18-24 year olds and 72% of 35-44 year olds reporting that criminal activity has risen sharply.

The situation is only set to worsen as the autumn and winter months approach, with 64% of construction professionals reporting that crime intensifies in autumn and winter.

Young workers worst affected

Young workers are experiencing the fallout most acutely. Nearly one-in-five 18-24 year olds witness theft monthly, with 22% seeing vandalism on sites weekly, far higher than the sector average.

Alarmingly, over a quarter (28%) of young workers say they have lost work due to incidents, and 26% have witnessed colleagues suffering physical or mental harm related to crime, highlighting the personal toll of rising insecurity.

Compounding these challenges is a worrying normalisation of intimidation tactics. Over half of young workers say they have been approached with offers of mafia-style protection, and 41% admit to paying for such services.

These pressures occur amid widespread concerns about cost cutting. 55% of respondents cited budget pressures as the main reason site security is neglected and, despite 41% of firms planning improvements in theft prevention, only a quarter prioritise employee training on crime prevention.

All of this means that teams are left intimidated at work, with little guidance on how to protect themselves, report incidents or prevent crime on site.

Urgent culture change needed

At a time when the sector is desperate for new talent, with over 250,000 recruits needed by 2032[1],  is critical that site security is updated to ensure construction is an attractive career choice. Furthermore, with 20% of recruits into the sector leaving their job within the first year (CITB), addressing the current culture of fear is essential to retaining the workforce already in place.

It’s not just individuals feeling the impact. The effects are felt deeply on projects and margins. Over 42% of respondents report seeing delays caused by crime, impacting already-tight margins, and 33% said that theft often leads to material substitutions, threatening compliance, sustainability targets and regulatory breaches.

These interruptions contribute to an approximate 5% increase in average project costs, and recent statistics estimate that theft alone costs the UK building industry £800m annually, factoring in related consequences such as project delays and increased insurance premiums.

Mim Mogul, UK Managing Director at BauWatch, said, “The rising tide of site crime, especially targeting our young workforce, demands urgent action. As the sector faces a critical talent shortage, we cannot allow the culture of intimidation and risk to drive away the very people we need to build the future. Protecting workers onsite is critical if construction is to succeed in attracting and retaining the talent it needs.”

A wake-up call

The report also uncovered that criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated (67%) through coordinated and organised operations (32%), cloning or hacking of digital access credentials (22%), drones being used for surveillance or reconnaissance (21%) and even AI-driven fraud or impersonation (13%).

In response to its findings, the report advocates an urgent cultural shift to embed physical and digital crime prevention into every aspect of working life. It recommends a robust, layered security strategy encompassing physical barriers, cutting-edge technology, and thorough staff training.

It also urges firms to share intelligence with local law enforcement, emphasising this as a vital component in disrupting black market activities and recovering stolen assets.

Mogul continued: “As criminal techniques continue to advance, the construction industry faces an urgent challenge to strengthen defences and invest in comprehensive security solutions that protect both traditional crime and emerging digital threats.

“It’s time for firms across the sector to take the lead by reshaping site culture, ramping up investment in training and protection, and fostering environments where young workers know that they are safe and valued.