August/September 2021 Building and Construction Industry Crime Statistic
August 2021 saw a spike in reported theft with 39 total crime reports. 7 x burglaries, 28 x stealing and 4 x damage, with an additional 6 x illegal rubbish dumping reports. A 22% increase from the 20/21 monthly average. Of the total 45 reports, 43 were from residential builders, with single reports from civil contractors and land developers.
With increased crime reports, PACT investigators closely liaised with supervisors and local Police to reduce onsite crime. In conjunction with Police, numerous GPS tracking devices were deployed in high crime areas, and we continued working with Police to assist in several ongoing investigations.
As a result of ongoing strategies and investigations, an adult male was charged with the theft of 2 hot water systems after GPS tracking identified his home address in Armadale. More information HERE. One juvenile was charged, and another cautioned after damaging windows in Gosnells, and a roof carpenter was charged with stealing timber from a site in Hocking. To top off a busy month, a Woodlands resident received a $200 infringement and was required to remove rubbish dumped in a site bin in Hale Road.
Organised thieves targeted sites in the Iluma Estate, Bennett Springs stealing three installed air conditioning compressors from three separate sites on or about August 4th, whilst in Averly, thieves broke into a civil contracting compound and stole a twin axel caged trailer.
With the price of scrap copper remaining at an all-time high, four residential sites in Hammond Park had the mains electrical cable stolen.
September saw a reduction in reports with a total of 26 incidents, consisting of 8 x burglaries, 16 x stealing, 2 x damage and an additional 7 x illegal rubbish reports. A 22% decrease in reports from the 2020/21 monthly average. Of the total 33 reports, three related to Land Developers and the remainder metro residential builders.
Only three burglaries resulted in the theft of goods. The remainder resulted in minor damage to shopper doors with two incidents of damage, throwing paint and grout throughout the site.
After a Dawesville burglary in April 2021, a male offender has now been charged after forensic evidence was obtained from a screwdriver left onsite. He is due to appear in the Mandurah court after pleading not guilty.
The theft of copper cable continued to rise with three sites in Wellard and twelve units in Carlisle with mains electrical cable cut from the ground.
As of December 1st 2020, any businesses wishing to trade in scrap copper and copper alloy (including bronze and brass) will be required to be licenced under the Pawnbroker and Second-hand Dealer Act 1994 and the Pawnbroker and Second-hand Dealer Regulations 1996. More info HERE.
Licensed dealers will need to comply with the requirement to record and report all copper and copper alloy transactions, whilst sellers are required to produce 100 points of identification on all transactions.
The penalties for non-compliance range from fines of $2,000-$5,000 and 12 months imprisonment for an individual, or a body corporate fines of up to $20,000.
If the building industry wants to reduce scrap metal theft then it is imperative to report all incidents of scrap metal theft. Theft of water meters, copper pipe and electrical cable should be reported asap to identify ongoing theft. The accurate reporting of scrap metal theft will activate police investigations and allow increased scrutiny of scrap metal dealers trading in stolen copper.
PACT Site Security continues to liaise with WA Police through our industry-based MOU. We provide our building industry members with a fast, efficient, and effective conduit to report crime, follow-up investigations and Police and local government liaison regarding crime and illegal rubbish dumping.
Builders, land developers and civil contractors can contact 1800 272 836 or go HERE to connect and discuss