CONSTRUCTION WATCH SCOTLAND

BULLETIN 14/03/2024

This bulletin covers the last three weeks of incidents since 8th February 2024. Please take the appropriate measures to protect machinery, material, especially cable and fuel tanks at your construction sites, these continue to be targeted by criminals. 

Police approved security products can be found at www.securedbydesign.com . Security guidance can also be found here for both businesses and domestic situations. Although this has been in the bulletin for a number of bulletins, The National Business Crime Centre (NBCC) has also produced the following excellent guidance; Construction Site Security Guidance (nbcc.police.uk)

FUEL THEFT

Fuel remains a valuable commodity and, as you can see, is a target for criminals. Sites should ensure your fuel tanks and machines are adequately protected, and the minimum amount is left in machinery when unattended. 

Below are a brief note of the incidents, where they happened, and their crime report number. 

PS-20240214-0626          

Theft of fuel/damage to plant    

FALKIRK              

Site broken into and digger damaged and 500 litres of diesel stolen from fuel bowser.

PS-20240219-2437          

Att Theft of fuel              

ABERDEEN         

Attempt theft of fuel from tanks at site, locks broken open but no fuel stolen.

PS-20240219-0614          

Theft of fuel      

BATHGATE         

Theft of fuel from site. (NFD)

PS-20240219-1217          

Theft of fuel      

BATHGATE         

Machines at construction site have had fuel stolen out of them. (NFD)

PS-20240221-0666          

Theft of fuel      

INVERNESS         

Fuel syphoned out of fuel tank of lorry at site.

PS-20240224-1110          

Theft of fuel      

NEWTON STEWART        

Fuel stolen from 2 tractors.

PS-20240223-0553          

Theft of fuel      

INVERNESS         

Staff member reporting between 1730hrs 22/02/2024 - 0700hrs 23/02/2024 Approx. 500 - 750l of diesel been stolen. Access been gained to 1000l container and attempts to access other container however have failed. Unknown exact value of diesel – Approx.. £1000 

PS-20240226-0950          

Theft of fuel      

WINCHBURGH  

Fuel stolen from 2 diggers and a roller on site.

PS-20240228-0483          

Theft of fuel      

PETERHEAD       

Caller reporting that between 16:00 yesterday and 06:15 hrs this morning persons unknown have attended and siphoned off half a tank of diesel from his HGV tank they have also snapped off the fuel cap. 

PS-20240304-0404          

Theft of fuel       INNERWICK       

Lorry parked up in lay by overnight, driver woke to discover that all the fuel from hos vehicle had been stolen.

PS-20240307-0039          

Theft of fuel      

GREENGAIRS     

Caller reporting an unknown quantity of fuel has been stolen from plant and machinery overnight.

PS-20240307-0565          

Theft of fuel      

GLASGOW          

Caller reporting a large quantity of fuel (nfd) has been stolen from a fork lift truck on site.

PS-20240307-0665          

Theft of fuel      

IRVINE  Approximately 50 litres of fuel stolen from a machine at site.

PS-20240308-0687          

Theft of fuel/Damage    

INVERNESS         

Fuel cap and hydraulic cap broken off of a JCB 8026, 3 TONNE EXCAVATOR, and fuel tank is empty.

PS-20240311-0669          

Theft of fuel/Damage to site      

BATHGATE         

Someone has come onto building site and has damaged machinery and stolen fuel from. They have cut fuel lines in engines, been inside cabs of machinery. 

PS-20240311-0619          

Theft of fuel/Theft from site      

AUCHINLECK      

300lts white diesel. Unknown value. 1 forward and reverse diesel whacker - tool. 1 laser level - tool. Stolen from site.

PS-20240311-3924          

Theft of fuel      

KIRKLISTON        

Males seen by security and Police attended finding Fuel caps removed on plant and machinery at locus and suspect that fuel has been stolen (unconfirmed).

PS-20240312-0957          

Theft of fuel      

BATHGATE         

Diesel has been removed from machines onsite and a quantity of copper also stolen.

PS-20240313-0461          

Theft of diesel   

GLASGOW          

Caller states theft oif diesel from 3 trucks happened between 18:30 pm - 04:30 this morning.

PS-20240313-1000          

Theft of fuel      

 COATBRIDGE    

Staff reporting theft of diesel from diesel tank within the yard. Staff advised this has happened 3 times since February.

PS-20240227-1045          

Theft of fuel/metal         

GLENROTHES     

Caller reporting theft of scrap metal from the business premises, on Friday 23/02/24, and theft of diesel yesterday Monday 26/02/24. 

PS-20240228-1985          

Theft of fuel      

STIRLING            

Male syphoning diesel from HGV lorry, claiming that he worked for the company and the vehicle was too full.

THEFTS AND DAMAGE TO PLANT AND MACHINERY

Theft and damage to plant can be particularly disruptive and expensive. Below is details of incidents where this has occurred. Plant and machinery is of particularly high value to criminals and operators should ensure that plant is adequately secured.

PS-20240209-1370          

Theft of plant    

STRATHPEFFER  

Whacker plate and pedestrian roller stolen from trailer.

PS-20240213-0658          

Recovered Stolen plant 

KILCREGGAN      

JCB stolen from site and recovered in Hillingdon Glasgow.

PS-20240216-0708          

Theft of plant    

BISHOPTON       

Dumper truck stolen from site (NFD).

PS-20240221-0524          

Theft of plant    

GLASGOW          

Caller is doing works in the area and locus is where they store the machinery. Item stolen is 1.5tonne cat machine, valued at £25-30k, the machine was sitting on a trailer.

PS-20240220-0735          

Damage to plant             

EDINBURGH       

Caller reports vandalism to machinery at locus. Caller states a digger and dumper truck (hired vehicles). 

PS-20240301-0541          

Theft/recovery of plant 

ARDROSSAN      

Dumper truck found abandoned at the foot of a set of steps. Owner made arrangements to recover vehicle.

PS-20240311-0823          

Damage to plant             

BATHGATE          

Caller states that one of their expensive diggers has been set on fire over the weekend. U/K value.

PS-20240312-0540          

Damage to plant             

EAST KILBRIDE

Damage to digger. The digger is a hired machine. The rear window is smashed. The driver was in the veh at the time yesterday.

PS-20240314-0124          

Theft of plant    

BUCKIE 

Dumper truck stolen by youths and abandoned in middle of street.

OTHER THEFTS AND CRIMES

A continuing trend throughout the UK is the theft of surveying equipment as well as the theft of cable and wiring. Please ensure that sufficient measures are in place to protect these assets. 

The brief details of other crimes that have been reported in the last two weeks are as follows;

PS-20240212-1437          

Theft from site  

GIRVAN

Cable drum with cable stolen from site by Ford Transit.

PS-20240213-0571          

Theft from site  

SOUTH QUEENSFERRY   

30 sheets of insulation have been stolen from site.

PS-20240214-2543          

Theft from site  

BONESS

38 sheets of insulation stolen from site.

PS-20240214-3830          

Theft of copper 

GALASHIELS       

Male found to be burning off the insulation on a quantity of copper wiring.

PS-20240219-0701          

Theft from site  

ELGIN    

Locks of containers have been ground off, and 25 lengths of copper pipes stolen.

PS-20240219-1559          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Pallet of cement and tap stolen from site.

PS-20240219-0512          

Theft from site  

SOUTH QUEENSFERRY   

26 sheets of insulation stolen from site.

PS-20240219-1389          

Damage to site  

HAMILTON         

Children throwing rocks at new build houses, damaging one window.

PS-20240219-1445          

Theft from site  

ABERDEEN         

43 fencing panels stolen from locus.

PS-20240219-2010          

Theft from site  

HAMILTON         

Armour cable stolen from site (NFD).

PS-20240220-2415          

Theft from site  

 DALGETY BAY   

Equipment including a Milwaukee cable cutters and a water pump stolen from the locus. The caller reporting that £3500 in total was stolen. The cutters were approx. £3150 and pump approx. £400.

PS-20240220-0532          

House breaking  to site  

 ALEXANDRIA     

Caller is staff at locus reporting the site office has been broken into overnight nothing stolen.

PS-20240221-1556          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Tools stolen from site (NFD)

PS-20240221-2061          

Theft from site  

BLANTYRE          

Caller reporting substantial theft of tools from one of their sites. It is a lot of very expensive tools - estimated value of £20,000+. Things missing include impact drivers, lasers, and various other items. 

PS-20240222-2317          

Damage to site  

EDINBURGH       

Around 1800 hours on 21st February 2024 a silver vehicle has driven through multiple security gates at the site, comprising of about 10 sections of Heras gate fencing. This has caused £500 damage.

PS-20240225-0540          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Suspicious male seen on building site. Police attended and male arrested for theft.

PS-20240226-0492          

House breaking to site   

BONESS

Caller reporting break into several buildings on site. Nothing appears to be damaged or stolen.

PS-20240224-3496          

House breaking to site   

STIRLING            

3 x youths have forced open a fire door at a building on a construction site. Police attended and 3 persons arrested. Nothing appears to have been stolen.

PS-20240226-1143          

Theft from site  

GLASGOW          

600 slates in a pallets stolen, 4 pallets taken – approx. 1000 slates - for roof. 

PS-20240226-0668          

Damage to site  

SOUTH QUEENSFERRY   

Several windows broken at new build houses construction site.

PS-20240226-0988          

House breaking to building site 

EDINBURGH       

Caller Footage of a male entering the site at 0326hrs, trying doors and rummaging through bins until approx. 0430hrs. Unknown if anything damaged or stolen. 

PS-20240228-0533          

Theft from M/V              

EDINBURGH       

Break in to works van however no signs of forced entry. The left side rear door is open. The toolbag and tools are gone. There would be over £2k in tools missing.

PS-20240227-3879          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Between 01/2/24 and 08/02/2024 tools have been stolen from building site several power tools with batteries and charger. Items were Hilti circular Saw, Hilti drill driver, Hilti impact driver, batteries, Hilti charger, Milwaukee multi-tool & charger.

PS-20240228-2161          

Theft of cable    

PENCAITLAND   

7 drums of copper cable stolen from telephone site.

PS-20240228-1105          

Theft from site  

INVERKEITHING 

Box of silicon sealant has been stolen having been left on scaffolding at Church.

PS-20240228-1563          

Theft from site  

BIGGAR 

Trailer and 2 x fuel bowsers stolen from site.

PS-20240228-2558          

Theft from site  

METHIL 

MACHINERY HAS BEEN STOLEN FROM DIGGER OVER NIGHT, VALUE NOT KNOWN.

PS-20240229-1151          

Theft from site  

BANCHORY        

Caller had his nail gun stolen from site.

PS-20240302-0739          

Theft from M/V              

DUNDEE             

White ford transit custom has been broken into overnight, caller states the side door has been forced open and tools have been stolen from the back, caller states saws nail guns chop saws etc. to the value of £8000 have been taken.

PS-20240303-0945          

Theft from site  

METHIL 

Vibrating plate stolen from site.

PS-20240304-0566          

Theft from site  

ABERDEEN         

Theft of an Ifor Williams trailer and Nilfisk pressure washer from site.

PS-20240304-0652          

Theft from site  

WINCHBURGH  

Theft of diesel, about 200 litres drained from machines. The caller says that a container has also been broken into but nothing taken. This has happened between approx. 1630/1700 hrs on Friday 01/03/2024 and 0700 hrs on Monday 04/03/2024. 

PS-20240304-0781          

Theft from site  

MOFFAT             

The site has been break in over the weekend fence has been cut entry forced to the cabin items have also been taken from the machine on site.

PS-20240304-0540          

Theft from site  

ABERDEEN         

Caller reporting the theft of a generator and some pieces of metal which were lying next to it - the generator was sitting in the yard, approx. value £5000, make is a Perkins.

PS-20240306-0530          

Theft from site  

ALEXANDRIA      

The site compound between 1700 hours last night and 0730 hours today has been broken into. He believes angle grinders have been used to open main outer gate and the container and all of the power tools have been stolen. The broken padlock is still there. The container has anti vandal systems. 

PS-20240305-1017          

Theft of cable    

EDINBURGH       

Caller to report that 6 cable wooden drums with cable have stolen from locus along with a smaller drum. Caller has stated that the drums were secure in a locked ironed fencing with gate. Caller has stated that to get through security barriers to get to this and you would need a vehicle to remove them due to the size of them. 

PS-20240306-0683          

House breaking 

UPHALL STATION            

The site has been broken into along with 3 houses, kitchen items have been stolen, freezer, hob, over, microwaves. Value unknown. There are residents on the site. 

PS-20240307-1101          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Caller confirming that his battery gun has been removed between 1630hrs on 06/03/2024 and -0800hrs 07/03/2024.

PS-20240307-2425          

Theft from site  

METHIL

Theft of two water pumps and some tools from our construction compound last night between the hours of 18:00 and 07:00 last night.

PS-20240307-2614          

Theft from site  

BALLATER           

Caller is a site manager at the site at locus. Caller states that last night forced entry has been gained to their building at locus. Caller states that entry has been gained via a window which has been damaged. Caller states that a drill has been stolen from the building. The drill is a Hilti TE70 drill.

PS-20240308-0834          

House breaking to new build     

LIVINGSTON      

Someone has forced rear door of new build property and appears to have used for the purposes of consuming drugs.

PS-20240310-2091          

House breaking to new build     

EDINBURGH       

Rear door forced of new build property and a quantity of power tools have been stolen from within.

PS-20240311-0009          

Theft from site  

CRIANLARICH    

Four lifting chains removed from vehicle left in layby between 1700 09/03 and 2305hrs 10/03 from vehicle fuel cap tampered with fuel possibly removed from vehicle.

PS-20240311-0360          

Theft from site  

HOLYTOWN       

A white power wash machine missing from outside the gate. He said he went out the gate and noticed it gone. 

PS-20240311-0483          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Fence at site has been pulled down and entry gained to the block of flats that are still in the process of being built - copper has been taken, unsure of anything else at this time. 

PS-20240311-0522          

Theft from site  

EDINBURGH       

Caller states that suspects have forced the padlock off the 8 foot container, and have taken stihl saw x 2, along with more tools however yet to have a look and value. 

PS-20240311-0751          

Theft from site  

GLASGOW          

£600 of building equipment (nfd) has been stolen from construction site.

PS-20240313-1032          

Theft of cable    

LIVINGSTON      

4 x drums of cable stolen from site.

PS-20240313-1530          

Theft of batteries            

LINLITHGOW     

Staff for virgin media reporting theft of batteries from street cabinets and cut through main power cable. 4 x batteries stolen.

PS-20240313-1283          

Theft from site  

LARKHALL           

A Sthil saw has been stolen from their site. Caller states that the item was stolen between 09:00 hrs and 11:00 hrs on 13/03/2024.  

Should you recognise any of the incidents and have any information, please contact Police Scotland on 101 or report information anonymously via the charity Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111.