Year in Review: 2024 Highlights in Reporting, GPS Tracking, and Offender Prosecution
As we bid farewell to 2024, it's a perfect time to reflect on the tremendous efforts of our members in reporting onsite crime. These efforts have led to the apprehension of offenders and played a vital role in helping the construction industry identify and reduce crime.
Over the past year, PACT submitted 718 criminal reports to WA Police, down slightly from 772 in 2023. These reports, made on behalf of our Builder, Civil Contractor, and Land Development members, reflect the various offences affecting the construction industry:
270 burglaries – a significant increase from 169 the previous year,
30 attempted burglaries – down from 33,
332 stealing incidents – a notable decrease from 425,
86 damage reports – down from 141
25 suspicious activity reports – up from 21, not typically a criminal report.
In addition to these efforts, PACT investigators reported 202 incidents of illegal rubbish dumping, 139 on building sites and 63 in new land developements estates with most of the rubbish removed by local councils.
With a significant increase in burglaries PACT investigators arranged over 300 Police forensic examinations of crime scenes that resulted in, to date, 14 persons identified through DNA or fingerptrint analysis and charged with burglary or other offences.
Our dedicated PACT investigators strategically deployed 128 GPS tracking devices to enhance site security for our members. This proactive initiative led to onsite activations and the apprehension of 13 individuals involved in the theft of hot water units, ovens, hotplates, and rangehoods from our members sites.
Of the 13 individuals charged over 20 additional charges were laid against these offenders that related to builders that were not members of the PACT program.
Beyond this, PACT investigators conducted 105 additional investigations, resulting in a total of 50 individuals being dealt with by the WA Police Force for 58 offences committed against our members ( + an additional 30+ charges against non-PACT members sites), this compares to 43 offenders and 49 offences in 2023.
These outcomes highlight the critical role of crime reporting and proactive measures in safeguarding the construction industry.
In September 2024 the JWH Group took a proactive step by joining the PACT program, demonstrating their commitment, along with long standing PACT members, in reducing the impact of crime on their projects and the wider construction industry.
Despite notable progress, significant challenges persist in the fight against construction industry crime. Many major construction companies continue to overlook the importance of reporting theft and vandalism, hindering collective efforts to combat these issues. This lack of reporting enables offenders to continue their activities unchecked, perpetuating a culture of tolerance for criminal behavior within the industry.
Failing to report such incidents not only impacts individual businesses but also damages the integrity and reputation of the construction sector. To address this, builders and stakeholders must prioritize crime reporting, collaborate closely with law enforcement, and adopt robust security measures.
Proactive strategies like consistent crime reporting, forensic analysis, offender identification, and GPS asset tracking are critical. By embracing these measures, the industry can reduce theft and vandalism, safeguard valuable resources, and cultivate a safer, more trustworthy environment for all.
Let’s make 2025 a year of stronger collaboration and a shared commitment to reducing crime and illegal rubbish dumping within the construction industry.