Young construction workers most affected by crime – experts call for urgent culture shift
Posted by: electime 30th October 2025
- Continual rise in crime: 67 per cent of construction professionals say crime on sites has increased in the past year, with 64 per cent saying it intensifies during the colder months.
- Young workers worst affected: 28 per cent of young workers have missed out on work due to crimes on site; and 26 per cent have seen colleagues physically or mentally harmed, compared to only 2 per cent of their senior counterparts.
- A weekly occurrence: 22 per cent of 18-24 year olds witness site theft at least once a month, and 22 per cent witness vandalism weekly, more than double the average across the workforce.
- Mafia style protection: Two-thirds of young workers report being approached for mafia-style protection on site, with 41 per cent admitting they have paid for “protection.”
Just days after the Home Office abandoned plans to mandate forensic marking of power tools and compulsory fitting of immobilisers to machinery, a new report has uncovered alarming trends in the rise of construction site crime in the UK.
It reveals that on site crime is becoming more frequent and more sophisticated, with young workers bearing the brunt of the impact.
According to the latest findings, an overwhelming 67 per cent of construction professionals say crime on sites has increased over the last year. This trend is even more pronounced among younger workers, with 69 per cent of 18-24 year olds and 72 per cent of 35-44 year olds reporting that criminal activity has risen sharply.
The situation is only set to worsen as the autumn and winter months approach, with 64 per cent of construction professionals reporting that crime intensifies in autumn and winter.
Young workers worst affected
Young workers are experiencing the fallout most acutely. Nearly one-in-five 18-24 year olds witness theft monthly, with 22 per cent seeing vandalism on sites weekly, far higher than the sector average.
Alarmingly, over a quarter (28 per cent) of young workers say they have lost work due to incidents, and 26 per cent have witnessed colleagues suffering physical or mental harm related to crime, highlighting the personal toll of rising insecurity.
Compounding these challenges is a worrying normalisation of intimidation tactics. Over half of young workers say they have been approached with offers of mafia-style protection, and 41 per cent admit to paying for such services.
These pressures occur amid widespread concerns about cost cutting. 55 per cent of respondents cited budget pressures as the main reason site security is neglected and, despite 41 per cent of firms planning improvements in theft prevention, only a quarter prioritise employee training on crime prevention.
All of this means that teams are left intimidated at work, with little guidance on how to protect themselves, report incidents or prevent crime on site.
Urgent culture change needed
At a time when the sector is desperate for new talent, with over 250,000 recruits needed by 2032[1], is critical that site security is updated to ensure construction is an attractive career choice. Furthermore, with 20 per cent of recruits into the sector leaving their job within the first year (CITB), addressing the current culture of fear is essential to retaining the workforce already in place.
It’s not just individuals feeling the impact. The effects are felt deeply on projects and margins. Over 42 per cent of respondents report seeing delays caused by crime, impacting already-tight margins, and 33 per cent said that theft often leads to material substitutions, threatening compliance, sustainability targets and regulatory breaches.
These interruptions contribute to an approximate 5 per cent increase in average project costs, and recent statistics estimate that theft alone costs the UK building industry £800m annually, factoring in related consequences such as project delays and increased insurance premiums.
Mim Mogul, UK Managing Director at BauWatch, said, “The rising tide of site crime, especially targeting our young workforce, demands urgent action. As the sector faces a critical talent shortage, we cannot allow the culture of intimidation and risk to drive away the very people we need to build the future. Protecting workers onsite is critical if construction is to succeed in attracting and retaining the talent it needs.”
A wake-up call
The report also uncovered that criminals are becoming increasingly sophisticated (67 per cent) through coordinated and organised operations (32 per cent), cloning or hacking of digital access credentials (22 per cent), drones being used for surveillance or reconnaissance (21 per cent) and even AI-driven fraud or impersonation (13 per cent).
In response to its findings, the report advocates an urgent cultural shift to embed physical and digital crime prevention into every aspect of working life. It recommends a robust, layered security strategy encompassing physical barriers, cutting-edge technology, and thorough staff training.
It also urges firms to share intelligence with local law enforcement, emphasising this as a vital component in disrupting black market activities and recovering stolen assets.
Mogul continued: “As criminal techniques continue to advance, the construction industry faces an urgent challenge to strengthen defences and invest in comprehensive security solutions that protect both traditional crime and emerging digital threats.
“It’s time for firms across the sector to take the lead by reshaping site culture, ramping up investment in training and protection, and fostering environments where young workers know that they are safe and valued.”
Click here to download the full report
The BauWatch Crime Report 2025, polled 3,900 construction professionals across Europe, including a 500-strong sample in the UK. Building on last year’s iteration of the whitepaper, it paints a particularly bleak picture of an industry increasingly plagued by high crime rates.
For more information on BauWatch click here.
