December 2020 Building and Construction Industry Statistics
Welcome to 2021 and with the increased building and construction industry activity we are looking forward to a very busy year ahead.
PACT Site Security reported a total of 26 incidents of burglary, theft and damage to Police during December. This represents a 33% reduction from November reports and 25% reduction from the 2020 monthly average.
Building site burglaries were high with 9 reports and 2 attempted burglaries. Other reports included 9 x stealing and 6 x damage reports, increasing with the school holiday period, with an additional 9 x illegal rubbish dumping reports.
Crime incidents occurred across 18 metropolitan suburbs with 73% of reported offences occurring in the southern suburbs. 4 reports were received from the state's Southwest, with 24 crime reports from residential builders and 2 from civil contractors.
Reported offences were sporadic with the largest number of offences occurring in Golden Bay (5), Treeby (3), Byford (2) and Dalyellup (2)
Investigators liaised with Mandurah Detectives leading into the Xmas break with Golden Bay identified as a hot spot. 4 burglaries were reported through PACT with another 5 reported direct to Police by non-member builders. Offenders targeted whitegoods and lighting with one installed hot water unit stolen from its installed position. Several GPS tracking devices were fitted to assets on members sites in the area with no further incidents report by PACT member to date.
On December 20th a civil construction site in Dawesville was targeted by offenders who removed a bobcat and compactor totalling $60,000. The offender bypassed security cameras to enter the compound, stealing the bobcat and using it to pick up a compactor before leaving the area in the bobcat. More information HERE
On another civil construction site in Brabham offenders damaged fencing after ramming temporary fencing in a vehicle, unfortunately for the offenders, their registration plate was ripped from the car and inquiries are now continuing with local Police.
After new scrap metal regulations commenced on December 1st, no reports were received in December concerning the theft of copper pipe, wiring, cable or water meters. Although the new regulations may have assisted in a December reduction in reports, unfortunately, this has not continued into 2021 with reports of copper mains and a water meter received in January to date.
A member of the public assisted investigators after the theft of cement bags from a Ventura South West site in Australind. The witness took several photos of 2 males in hi-viz, who removed up to 10 bags of cement from the site shed and loaded it into a trailer.
Thankyou gift basket delivered to witness
With registration numbers and photographic evidence, PACT investigators liaised with Bunbury Police who located offenders and stolen cement, which was immediately returned to the site by the offenders. Police suggested the two offenders could be 'let off' with a warning as they were apologetic for there actions. (only because they had been caught!) After discussing the matter with Ventura South West and maintaining our 'No Tolerance to Crime' policy, a request was made to charge the offenders with the theft. Police issued $500 criminal infringements to the offenders.
The witness was extremely grateful after she received a surprise gift basket from PACT Site Security to thank her for her assistance.
2021 will see a continued focus with our members on the reporting of ALL crime to increase the awareness of crime within the building and construction industry with Police, the industry and the wider community, with the identification of high crime areas and allocation of appropriate resources to these areas.
We will continue to closely liaise with WA Police through our industry-based MOU to provide a holistic approach toward the reduction of crime and illegal rubbish dumping and to provide a safe and secure environment for members, trades and the wider community.
Builders, land developers and civil contractors can contact 1800 272 836 for or go HERE to connect.