Why are construction sites uniquely susceptible to fuel theft?

Although inflated fuel prices have somewhat settled since the summer, recent changes in legislation mean construction sites are particularly vulnerable to attempted fuel thefts.

Read on to find out what’s changed, and what’s proving effective in mitigating the threat.

What are the changes?

As of April, this year red diesel can no longer be used in a range of vehicles, including those in construction. That means fuel bowsers are now filled with the same white diesel available to members of the public at petrol stations across the country.

In contrast to red diesel, white diesel is not illegal to use in vehicles on public roads and it also attracts a higher rate of fuel duty. As such, it is a much more lucrative entity for thieves to steal and is vulnerable to both internal and external pilfering. It also makes it more challenging to trace perpetrators who can no longer be identified through the presence of red diesel in their fuel tanks.  

Who is most at risk?

Rural and unmanned sites

A rise in attacks has been reported in Thames Valley and Cumbria, areas with a large amount of countryside

Rural and unmanned sites are particularly vulnerable, with sites in remote spaces seen as ‘easy money’ for thieves.

Indeed, a rise in recent attacks has been reported in regions such as Thames Valley and Cumbria, areas with a large amount of countryside.

Construction vehicles and fuel bowsers

Construction vehicles and fuel bowsers are both at risk where they are more remote. Often, these sites are poorly lit and barely protected, making them particularly susceptible to larger-scale thefts.

By June of this year, a reported 167 cases of fuel thefts had been reported in Cumbria alone, around eight a week.

Smaller, temporary construction sites

Comparatively, smaller, temporary construction sites are often located in more densely populated and busier areas. These are more likely to be easily seen and well-lit by surrounding street lamps. Sites like these are less vulnerable to heavy siphoning. However, they can still be targeted and, further, face restrictions on the kind of security solutions that can be installed. 

For example, tall physical barriers may not be permitted in city areas and there may be a limit on the kinds of CCTV that can be erected. All kinds of construction sites, therefore, face a threat to their fuel security.  Understanding these differences in risk level is the first step to creating a bespoke solution to fuel theft.

What next?

1) Deterring entry:

A primary and basic line of defense would be installing physical gates and barriers to dissuade criminals from entering

Criminals can first and foremost be deterred from a site by its physical appearance and the presence of deterrent infrastructure. A primary and basic line of defense would be installing physical gates and barriers to dissuade criminals from entering the premises.

Although simple, deterrents such as these are often all that is needed to discourage and decrease theft. Restricting key entrances to sites also restricts the size of containers or vehicle potential thieves can get onto sites, minimising the financial impact of the theft.

Access control systems

More sophisticated access control systems can fortify this first line of defence. These allow owners to have greater control over who enters their premises by protecting entrances with a passcode, for example. This can be tailored to specific areas of the site or cover the area as a whole.

Access can also be time-restricted, deterring theft during darker hours, a time when it is most likely to occur. In doing so, the flow of authorised personnel can continue while unwanted visitors are restricted.

2) Detecting criminals:

The threat of detection and potential conviction is perhaps the biggest deterrent to those wishing to carry out fuel theft. This can be achieved in multiple ways, including:

• Surveillance

CCTV is one of the most effective ways to deter criminals from entering a site. It is important that CCTV cameras are visible, and therefore that the threat of identification is evident to thieves. With good lighting and extensive coverage, CCTV-ed areas are often avoided by criminals looking to steal fuel.

Intrusion detection and monitoring

24/7 surveillance and verified visual monitoring systems should be placed in strategic locations to deter thieves

You might also consider more fortified versions of surveillance such as rapidly deployable self-monitored camera systems and intrusion detection units for 24/7 surveillance and verified visual monitoring.

These systems should be placed clearly and visibly in strategic locations to deter thieves who are unlikely to try their luck against units with both low lighting capabilities and vocal warning systems. With this imposing presence, sites can be safely secured against temporary threats.

Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC)

For site managers seeking further protection and reassurance, intrusion detection and video surveillance units linked to an in-house Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) are a great way to further bolster fuel security on-site.

In the ARC, a team of SIA licensed operatives provide around-the-clock monitoring, thus ensuring rapid response to alarm activations and faster on-site action to prevent and detect intruders. In this way, if a theft does occur, it can be dealt with swiftly and its potential impact reduced as much as possible.

• Forensic marking

The threat of identification can also be achieved via forensic marking. Fuel stores, bowsers, pumps, and tanks can be protected with unique forensic marking solutions to provide forensic trace evidence linking a thief to the scene of the crime.

Signs and stickers

As with CCTV, forensic marking systems must be made visible and signposted to enhance deterrent properties

Only needing a sample the size of a speck of dust to test, DeterTech scientists can provide police forces with powerful trace evidence. The more traceable fuel is, the less likely criminals will want to seize it.

As with CCTV, forensic marking systems must be made visible and signposted to most effectively enhance their deterrent properties. Labels such as signs and stickers can be used to signal the presence of SmartWater, thus deterring criminals who are familiar with the technology and know that the forensic liquid has a 100% conviction rate in tried court cases.

Preventative strategy

The rise in fuel theft can be symptomatic both of personal desperation and malicious external criminal organisations. However, it is important to be protected against it regardless of the cause, particularly in the construction industry, where the completion of projects risks being derailed.

Understanding the insecurities of different sites makes it possible to build a preventative strategy that can both deter and reduce the impact of criminal attacks.