Construction crime shifts to remote sites and high-value kit

Construction crime across Europe is becoming more organised, more digital and increasingly focused on high-value assets and remote sites. Image: Adobe Stock

The BauWatch Crime Report 2026, based on responses from 4,100 construction professionals across ten European countries, found that 57% of respondents believe construction crime is increasing.

But the report said the bigger issue is not just the volume of crime, but the way the threat is changing.

It found that criminals are increasingly targeting isolated construction sites and moving towards higher-value assets such as vehicles and heavy machinery, rather than traditional targets such as tools and copper.

Incidents on remote construction sites rose from 30% in 2025 to 38% in 2026, according to the report. Theft of heavy machinery rose from 9.8% to 11.2%.

By contrast, theft of small tools and hand tools fell from 54% to 46%, while copper theft dropped from 55% to 48%.

BauWatch said the shift suggested that construction crime was becoming more selective and professional, with criminals targeting assets whose theft requires planning, transport capacity and technical expertise.

Construction crime becoming more technology-assisted

The report also warned that crime is becoming more technology-assisted. AI-driven fraud or impersonation increased from 11% to 15%, while the use of drones for surveillance rose from 13% to 17%. Cloning or hacking of digital credentials increased from 13% to 15%.

Cyber security was also identified as a growing risk for construction companies. The report said connected equipment, digital access systems and cloud-based project tools were creating new attack surfaces for criminals.

Petra Ehrhard, group marketing officer at BauWatch, said, “Construction crime in Europe is becoming more organised, more digital and more targeted. Security can no longer be treated as a reactive measure. It must be integrated into project planning, operational resilience and long-term risk management.”

The BauWatch Crime Report 2026 is based on responses from 4,100 construction professionals across ten European countries. Image: BauWatch

The report said the consequences of construction crime are also becoming more severe. The proportion of respondents reporting financial damage to workers rose from 17% to 23%, while those reporting physical or psychological harm increased from 12% to 17%.

Those saying that a project could not continue following an incident rose from 11% to 15%. Among delayed projects, 40% were delayed by one to two weeks, 33% by three to four weeks and 13% by more than a month.

However, BauWatch said many construction companies are reducing security spending at the same time as threats become more sophisticated.

A total of 71% of respondents said budget pressure was leading to security cutbacks, up from 60% in 2025. Among respondents who rated security as a low priority, 33.7% cited budget concerns as the main reason.

The use of perimeter fencing fell from 44% to 35%, while alarms declined from 36% to 29%. The use of on-site guards fell from 31% to 25%, and fixed CCTV systems dropped from 25% to 21%.

BauWatch said the findings showed a widening gap between the sophistication of criminal threats and the level of protection on construction sites.