Report: Rising construction theft delays projects, drives up costs

Theft and vandalism at construction sites are on the rise, according to the 2025 Construction Industry Crime Report by security company BauWatch. The report is based on a survey of 4,000 professionals in the construction and infrastructure sectors. The researchers found that 37 percent of theft incidents resulted in project delays of three to four weeks. Such delays can, in turn, drive up the project costs.

“Mobile video surveillance and other temporary security solutions can help companies mitigate these risks and better protect their projects,” the report noted. However, stronger security measures are becoming increasingly important, the researchers state.

Crime at construction sites has also evolved from smaller thefts into large-scale ones of machinery, materials, and components.

Additionally, crime in the construction industry is becoming increasingly “sophisticated,” BauWatch notes. For example, 44 percent of surveyed construction professionals reported that individuals had approached them with offers of “protection” services in exchange for payment. In addition, 62 percent said they had been offered stolen materials, and half of those respondents said it happens regularly.

“The connection between construction-site theft and the illegal trade in construction materials highlights the seriousness of this growing problem,” the researchers state.