CONSTRUCTION WATCH SCOTLAND

BULLETIN 17/11/2023

This bulletin covers the last three weeks of incidents since 27th October 2023. Please take the appropriate measures to protect machinery, material, especially cable and fuel tanks at your construction sites. There was a sharp spike of thefts from sites over the last two weeks, so please ensure that perimeters, equipment, machinery and materials are secured when the site is unoccupied.

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 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-20231027-1518         

Theft of fuel     

INNERWICK, DUNBAR    

Caller reports that large quantity of diesel has been stolen.

PS-20231028-0900         

Theft of fuel     

ANNANDALE WATER M S A        

The locus is the truck park at Annandale Water Services. The caller has just woke up to find all of the fuel from his HGV. 3/4 of a tank taken. Happened overnight, between approx. 2300 - 0600 hrs.

PS-20231029-2705         

Theft of fuel     

SELKIRK

Theft of diesel from vehicle reporting a theft of diesel from a dumper truck which was in a Heras fenced off area.

PS-20231030-0556         

Theft of fuel     

TRANENT           

Theft of diesel, large quantity stolen. Fuel pipes cut on truck. (nfd).

PS-20231030-2061         

Theft of fuel     

CUMBERNAULD

Theft of large quantity of diesel from fuel tank. Hose ran out of the tank to a close by access road.

PS-20231101-2091         

Theft of fuel     

MACMERRY

Theft of about 70 litres of diesel from lorry which had been parked by roadside near Gladsmuir

PS-20231104-0412         

Att. Theft of fuel            

GREENOCK        

2 x suspects seen to be bending down next to fuel tank of truck with container and attempt to steal fuel. Suspects made off and left container at scene.

PS-20231106-0641         

Theft of fuel     

WEST CALDER  

Site broken into and approx.. 1000l of fuel has been stolen. Persons have broken chain to gate at entrance to site.

PS-20231107-2267         

Theft of fuel     

DUNDEE            

Holes have been drilled into their fuel tank on site causing damage in attempt to steal the diesel that is inside.

PS-20231108-0613         

Theft of fuel     

NEWTON MEARNS        

£600 of diesel has been stolen from fuel tanks on site.

PS-20231108-0772         

Break in to site/fuel theft           

WINCHBURGH 

Containers at site broken into and 150 litres of fuel stolen from machinery at site.

PS-20231108-3941         

Theft of fuel     

EDINBURGH      

Caller reports that the fuel tank of his work van has been drilled through.

PS-20231109-2096         

Theft of fuel     

EDINBURGH      

Caller reporting that last night the fuel tank of her vehicle had been drilled into and the fuel has been syphoned out. Caller states that this has occurred sometime between 20:15hrs last night and 08:30hrs this morning.

PS-20231114-0478         

Theft from site/fuel      

HAMILTON        

Contractor carrying out resurfacing work have had a portable diesel tank stolen, towed off site containing large quantity of diesel.

PS-20231113-0577         

Theft of fuel     

INVERURIE        

Caller reporting a theft of fuel from construction site (nfd)

PS-20231113-0631         

Theft of fuel     

AIRDRIE             

Caller reporting a theft of diesel from site on 2 occasions - 7/8th and 11/13th of November.

PS-20231114-1507         

Theft of fuel     

FAULDHOUSE   

Caller was notified by CCTV that a group of 3 youths were on site. They have smashed the locks of the vehicle and also took diesel.

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-20231027-4140         

Theft of plant   

BALERNO           

Reporting theft from site at locus. Items stolen are 2 excavators, 1 dumper and 400l of diesel. (nfd on items)

PS-20231030-0650         

Theft of plant   

BISHOPBRIGGS  

A digger has been stolen from locus. No vehicle reg on it. JCB digger grave master - yellow in colour.

PS-20231101-1589         

Theft of plant & Trailer 

GLASGOW         

Theft of trailer and various items of plant (nfd) stolen a number of weeks ago.

PS-20231106-0702         

Damage to plant            

ABERDOUR       

Reporting mini digger has been damaged and broken into whilst parked, front door lying off and window smashed.

PS-20231107-2430         

Damage to plant            

ARMADALE       

Digger has been damaged, glass was smashed, caller didn't witness the vandalism.

PS-20231114-0944         

Theft of plant   

EAST KILBRIDE  

Reporting theft of a Bomad 8o heavy duty, driveable roller from site.

PS-20231114-1189

Damage to plant            

ELGIN   

2 machines, 7 ton dumper and 3 cx west subjected to vandalism. Looks also as though tried to set fire to toolbox which has been taken from the digger.

PS-20231116-3327         

Theft of plant   

AYR      

Caller reports 2 persons have stolen dumper truck. Dumper abandoned and recovered.

OTHER THEFTS AND CRIMES

A 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-20231026-0634         

Theft from site 

SHOTTS

3 boilers have been stolen from 3 new build properties.

PS-20231026-2004         

Theft from site 

EDINBURGH      

Two skips have been stolen. Both skips contained material.

PS-20231030-0428         

Att theft from M/V        

KILMARNOCK   

Caller has gone out to his work van this morning to find someone has tried to jemmy the back door.

PS-20231030-0607         

Theft from M/V             

GLASGOW         

Caller found the side and rear doors unlocked. Caller states they have found the following missing, three drills, routr, power saw, laser level, jigsaw.

PS-20231030-0509         

Theft from site 

BELLSHILL          

Reporting the theft of around 20 plastic mats which were down on an access road (nfd).

PS-20231102-0568         

Vandalism to site           

EDINBURGH      

Heras fencing knocked over, access gained to storage area of site and plasterboard damaged. Likely to be youths/children.

PS-20231102-3495         

Att theft of cable            

PERTH  

Caller is reporting three suspected teens attempting to steal what looks like coils of cable .

PS-20231105-1267         

Theft from site 

HAWICK             

Caller reported the theft of a Pipe laser in a yellow carry case approx. 600mm x 400mm.

PS-20231105-3266         

Theft from M/V             

EDINBURGH      

Work van broken into and the side door looks like it has been cut open. Looks like a box of Makita batteries, 2 impact drivers and a hoover is missing.

PS-20231104-1749         

Theft from site 

AIRDRIE             

Two males dressed in black have broken into the site and are stealing items. They are stealing signage from next to an orange container.

PS-20231106-3122         

Theft from M/V             

EDINBURGH      

Work tools have been stolen from works van. A mixer, 3 tool boxes, cutters etc. Caller states happen between yesterday 16:30 and 09.00. No signs of forced entry.

PS-20231106-3254         

Att Theft from M/V       

EDINBURGH      

Work van has had a large hole cut in the door. Nothing apparently stolen.

PS-20231106-0826         

Theft from site 

ARBROATH       

Site broken into and fuel stolen out of the diggers, tools stolen, power tools, generator, and hand tools. They have also damaged the hardwood windows and doors.

PS-20231106-1544         

Theft of cable   

PORTLETHEN    

Theft of 2x 350 metre drums, containing copper cables. Labelled. Last seen at the site last week.

PS-20231107-1558         

Theft of metal  

LIVINGSTON     

States his worker was in the yard when a vehicle drove in - seen no one was around at the back so reversed and have filled the vehicle with aluminium.

PS-20231108-1440         

Theft from site 

FALKIRK             

Caller advises container broken into and nail guns and reciprocating saw have been stolen.

PS-20231108-0798         

Break in to site

MUSSELBURGH

Reporting break in to sales building with number of items stolen from site. Happened between 2030hrs on 07/11/2023 and 0700hrs today. (NFD)

PS-20231109-0237         

Theft from M/V             

STIRLING           

Caller has just witnessed a male stealing from the back of a van in the street. Caller shouted out and chased him but he has ran away with a Stihl saw.

PS-20231108-1712         

Theft from site 

EDINBURGH      

Builders carrying out works reporting theft from locus aluminium scaffolding has been stolen from locus.

PS-20231109-0347         

Theft from site 

BELLSHILL          

Caller is reporting intruder on building site, the male was last seen at 05:03 taking tools from the site, the male walked in gate to the property at 04:57hrs and has been in twice grabbing items and leaving.

PS-20231110-0446         

Att. theft from site        

GLASGOW         

Security alerted and two suspects on site attempted to steal a reel of cable.

PS-20231109-0547         

Damage to site 

MACMERRY      

Caller reporting entry gained by forcing the barrier then causing damage to properties within, incident occurred overnight they have entered one of the homes and spray painted within the property, also smashed several windows on the property.

PS-20231109-0707         

Theft from site 

FRASERBURGH 

Reporter states that neighbour is stealing large stones from construction site which is part of flood defences.

PS-20231110-1096         

Theft of cable   

BONESS             

Left the site on the 16th October and there was 95 metres of 185 low voltage cable caller has went back yesterday and it’s gone.

PS-20231113-0555         

Housebreaking

SOUTH QUEENSFERRY  

Someone has got into the site so far they have broken into 6 houses, 6 french doors damaged and 6 boilers stolen.

PS-20231113-1334         

Att. Theft from M/V      

EDINBURGH      

Suspects have cut a hole in the van door using a chisel or similar in an attempt to open the door and most likely steal the tools from within. However this has been unsuccessful.

PS-20231113-3580         

Att Theft from M/V       

MUSSELBURGH

Caller returned to discover damage to van, hole cut out of van where lock is. Cutting tool of some sort used. Access gained to van nothing of value in van.

PS-20231113-0612         

Theft from site 

BATHGATE        

Break into one of containers at the company's sites. Caller reporting items taken were 6 drums of diesel, 2 9-inch machine buckets, 1 6-inch machine bucket and 2 batter blade buckets.

PS-20231113-2529         

Theft of cable   

LOCHGILPHEAD

Caller reporting theft of wire from locus. Copper cable. Approx 2 to 3 tonne. Last seen approx wednesday 08/11/2023 and noticed missing mid day on 13/11/2023.

PS-20231113-3578         

Theft of skip     

DUNBEG            

Caller reporting the theft of one of his companies skips. Skip was being used at site and was situated in lay-by.

PS-20231114-0587         

Theft from site 

DOUGLAS, LANARK        

Between 19:00hrs on Friday 10/11 and 06:00hrs this morning someone has cut the heras fencing and entered on site, they have drained the diesel from construction machinery and have also broken into a container and taken items such as various PPE, a toaster and total station.

PS-20231114-0631         

Theft from site 

LOANHEAD       

Caller entered the site and found his container to be open and the lock snapped off and lying on the ground. Looking into his container he observed that no tools were missing however a large amount of copper pipe, towel rails and other general plumping materials had been taken.

PS-20231114-2199         

Damage to site  

DUNDONALD    

Persons u/k have broken into site and damaged locks.

PS-20231115-0513         

Theft from site 

EDINBURGH      

Between 16:00hrs yesterday 14/11/2023 and today someone has gone into the site and stolen electrical equipment unknown at present what or value.

PS-20231113-0927         

Housebreaking

EDINBURGH      

Caller reports that over the weekend they have had a break in to two of their empty properties, electrical appliances taken including microwaves, and double combi ovens, also oven hood wall unit taken. Caller states that in one of the properties the person has used a scaffolding pole to jemmy open the garage.

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.