Construction Crime Continues to Rise

Escalating crime hits firms and vital projects with costly delays and disruption

• Continual rise in site crime: 67% of professionals report an increase in crime since last year
• Severe project delays: of up to six weeks, adding an average of 5% to overall project costs
• Impact on personal finances: 33% of workers had to personally pay for replacements
• Persistent protection rackets: 49% of workers have been offered “protection” and 27% paid
• Thriving stolen goods market: 31% say stolen goods circulate “often” (+11pp).

A new report has revealed that despite ongoing efforts, site crime in the UK construction industry continues to escalate sharply, causing severe financial losses and significant project delays for firms and critical infrastructure projects across the country.

According to the BauWatch Construction Crime Report 2025, an alarming 67% of construction professionals have witnessed an increase in site crime over the past year – nearly double the European average. The impact is not limited to stolen tools and materials; increasingly sophisticated criminal operations are wreaking havoc on construction projects, impacting already tight margins and leading to costly delays.

The report found that nearly one-third (31%) of construction projects have been delayed due to crime-related incidents, with one in four of those projects facing slowdowns exceeding four weeks. This is causing significant financial impact not only on the companies involved, but across the entire supply chain, hampering public infrastructure programmes and residential construction projects – projects that are crucial to meet housing targets, modernise critical infrastructure and support the energy transition.

These interruptions contribute to an approximate 5% increase in overall project costs, driven by extended labour, equipment hire, and rescheduling challenges. In fact, recent statistics from insurer Allianz Cornhill estimate that theft alone costs the UK building industry £800m annually, factoring in related consequences such as project delays and increased insurance premiums.

The report also highlights the widespread use of intimidation tactics, with 49% of workers reporting offers of “protection,” while 27% admit to paying, suggesting that racketeering is an entrenched issue harming the sector’s integrity and worker wellbeing. Further to this, 33% of employees said they have had to replace tools themselves, and 23% of respondents said that construction crime has even led to job losses.

At the same time, the black market for stolen goods continues to thrive, with 31% of respondents saying stolen construction materials and tools “often” circulate through underground networks and car boot sales – up 11 percentage points from previous years.

Mim Mogul, UK Managing Director at BauWatch, the construction site security specialist, describes the situation as the “industrialisation of construction crime,” warning: “These are not petty thefts. They are calculated operations run by well-organised networks. Beyond the immediate financial impact, the consequences include delayed projects, increasing insurance costs, and even serious mental health issues for those affected, particularly SMEs and sole traders.”

Despite UK firms deploying fixed CCTV on 48% of sites (double the European average), criminals are increasingly using sophisticated tactics, with 63% of respondents noting professional tactics such as hacking security systems (28%), drone reconnaissance (26%), and cloning access credentials (22%) to evade detection.

The most commonly stolen items are small tools, power tools (52%), copper (48%), and cables (33%).

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 theft and emerging digital threats.”

The report concludes by calling for a robust, layered security strategy encompassing physical barriers, cutting-edge technology, and thorough staff training. Intelligence sharing with local law enforcement is also emphasised as vital component when it comes to disrupting black market activities and recovering stolen assets.

Click here to download the full report