What is the real cost of theft to the UK construction industry in 2025?

Theft cost the UK construction industry up to £800 million in 2020 - now it's over £1 billion. In this blog, we explore what that means for your business in 2025 and the practical steps you can take to protect your most valuable assets.

Anna Edwards·4 min read

Man in high vis and hard hat on phone managing building site

Contents

What’s being stolen – and what it’s really costing you High-value thefts don’t always make headlines – but they happen every day.The scale of the problem in 2025 How to protect your most valuable assets – plant, tools and vehicles 1. Use real-time tracking on plant and powered machinery 2. Track handheld tools with Bluetooth beacons 3. Create a clear chain of accountability 4. Automate mileage and location records for compliance Beyond protection – smarter use of what you already own A simple way to stop losing time, money and tools Sources:

In 2020, we reported that construction theft cost the industry up to £800 million a year – five years on, the figure has grown significantly.

Construction site theft is no longer just an inconvenience. It is a daily operational and financial risk facing companies across the UK. In 2025, the annual cost of theft to the construction industry now exceeds £1 billion, as the cost of machinery, materials and downtime continue to rise.

But what is the true cost of theft to construction businesses today? And what tangible steps can you take to stop your essential plant, tools and vehicles from disappearing?

We’ve pulled together some insights to help construction managers, fleet owners and project leads understand the impact – and most importantly, take control.

What’s being stolen – and what it’s really costing you

High-value thefts don’t always make headlines – but they happen every day.

From a stolen mini digger on a Monday to hand tools going missing mid-week, theft causes more than just insurance claims. The ripple effect of missing machinery can shut down an entire site.

The hidden costs include:

Project delays and rescheduled jobs
Idle workforce and subcontractors
Emergency hire of replacement equipment
Increased insurance premiums
Downtime claims or penalties from clients
Productivity loss across multiple trades

Even something as simple as one van driver retracing steps to locate a missing concrete saw results in hours lost and more fuel burned – all adding up across the course of a year.

The scale of the problem in 2025

£1 billion+ – Estimated total annual cost of construction theft in the UK
11,000+ reported thefts of construction plant and equipment each year
92% of construction companies have experienced theft on site
Less than 25% of stolen equipment is ever recovered
£4,470 – Average value of tools lost per tradesperson per year
38 hours a year per worker lost searching for misplaced tools

How to protect your most valuable assets – plant, tools and vehicles

So, how can construction companies take real, measurable steps to avoid asset loss?

1. Use real-time tracking on plant and powered machinery

Attach robust, hardwired GPS trackers to diggers, dumpers and other high-value machinery. These can’t be easily removed, and if an asset moves out of a defined area – like your site compound – you’ll be notified immediately.

Geofencing, available via ABAX Worksite, lets you define virtual boundaries. If a tracked machine leaves its assigned zone, you get an alert – day or night.

2. Track handheld tools with Bluetooth beacons

For smaller items, use Bluetooth-enabled tags. These can be affixed to drills, saws and laser levels, and will report their location when in range of a vehicle or phone running the ABAX app. This means no more tools left behind or vans loaded with equipment that doesn’t belong to that driver.

3. Create a clear chain of accountability

Who had the excavator last? Which driver used that van this morning? Asset tracking logs every movement, every handover and every route – so there’s no confusion about who’s responsible. ABAX systems keep a digital audit trail that helps resolve issues quickly and encourages responsible equipment use.

4. Automate mileage and location records for compliance

Avoid manual entry errors – and costly fines. Tools like ABAX Triplog automatically record mileage for HMRC and maintain seven years of tax-compliant travel logs.

Beyond protection – smarter use of what you already own

Tracking technology doesn’t just reduce theft. It also improves how efficiently you run your business.

With full visibility of your assets, you can:

Identify underused machines that could be deployed to other sites
Reduce unnecessary journeys and lower your fuel costs
Cut CO₂ emissions to support your ESG and tender obligations
Monitor idling and driving behaviour to reduce wear and tear
Improve scheduling and prevent project overrun

Put simply – if you can see it, you can manage it.

A simple way to stop losing time, money and tools

ABAX customers across the UK construction sector – from groundwork contractors to modular builders – have seen how easy-to-install tracking transforms their asset control.

Whether it’s protecting a £20,000 excavator or preventing a £200 grinder from being left behind, ABAX gives you: