June 2020 Building and Construction Crime Statistics
With the COVID-19 restrictions beginning to ease in June, we have continued to see a decrease in reported crime from PACT members. A total of 51 reports were received, which consisted of 8 x burglaries, 1 x attempted burglary, 21 x stealing, 2 x damage and 1 x graffiti. This represents a 36% reduction in reported crime from members compared to the pre-COVID-19 months. additionally 14 x illegal rubbish dumping and 4 x suspicious activity reports were recorded.
With the the significant rise in residential land sales and future building activity we expect land developers, civil contractors and builders will see an increase in building and construction industry crime over the coming months.
Two local Police districts contacted PACT Investigators in June after increased reporting of building site crimes was identified by Police in the Alkimos area and eastern suburbs. These areas have not registered as PACT program high crime areas which provides some positive results for our members with offenders appearing to target non PACT members building sites.
Builders members reported 31 incidents of burglary, stealing and damage, land developers 2 x damage, 7 x illegal rubbish dumping and 4 x suspicious activity and civil contractors 2 x stealing incidents.
Local councils have continued to assist with the removal of illegal rubbish from land developments areas. Several investigations are continuing into the dumping of rubbish into builders site bins with evidence located of possible offenders.
A building site in Bidgemia Road, Golden Bay was broken into with offenders stealing 2 installed ovens, a hotplate and unsuccessfully trying to remove a rangehood. In Ashworth Way, Brookdale offenders forced their way into a site taking a boxed hotplate and hot water unit, while in the Bartram Mews Estate, Success, offenders stole a mirror, blinds and installed carpet after breaking into a site on Marwood Circuit. In the Hammond Grove Estate, Hammond Park offenders broke into a site on Melbourne Loop stealing bathroom fixtures. Other burglaries in Madora Bay, Beeliar and Cassia Estate, Parmelia had no property stolen.
PACT Investigators arranged Police forensics to attend all burglaries and followup outcomes of all examinations through the Memorandum of Understanding with WA Police.
Scrap metal theft reports were down with only four reported incidents of electrical cable and copper pipe, 2 in Cockburn Central, 1 in Pearsall and Bennett Springs.
PACT Investigators liaised with Police installing a GPS tracking device in a hot water system on June 20th on a BGC Housing Group site in Riverton. The hot water system was stolen on June 23rd and with Police assistance recovered from a residential home in Winthrop. The units was returned to the building site with the purchaser is now ‘out of pocket’ $500 after purchasing the unit from a social media buy and sell page. Inquiries are continuing with an identified offender with more details to follow when investigations are finalised.
Midland Detectives have charged a man following investigations into thefts from newly completed homes in the Dayton area.
It will be alleged the man forced his way into homes under construction and removed items, such as cook tops, ovens and hot water systems.
A 35-year-old Middle Swan man has been charged with 4 counts of Burglary and 5 counts of stealing and is due to appear in the Midland Magistrates Court on 24 July 2020.
PACT Site Security continues to work with WA Police and its members to provide efficient and effective reporting systems to identify crime trends within the building and construction industry. Accurate reporting of all crime activates resources to reduce theft risk, track and recover property, as well as deter future incidents. Police liaison, GPS Tracking, CCTV, security patrols and community engagement are just some of the strategies implemented.
The reporting of crime and illegal rubbish dumping through the PACT Program heightens the awareness of the issues faced by the building and construction industry amongst industry stakeholders, WA Police, local government, and the wider community. This enables a unified approach to reduce building and construction industry crime.
Call 1800 272 836 or click here to contact.
Follow us on Facebook / LinkedIn