Construction site crime - Construction theft and vandalism - companies complain of high losses
Eastern German construction companies are lamenting high damages caused by construction site criminality. While the number of burglaries and thefts in 2023 decreased, there can be no talk of relaxation, stated Robert Momberg, CEO of the Bauindustrieverband Ost (BIVO).
More than two-thirds (71.1%) of the construction companies were victims of burglaries or thefts last year. In addition, there was an increase in solicitations and vandalism on construction sites. The damage was in the three-digit million range.
The association referred to police crime statistics (PKS) for its statements, but also conducted a survey among its 260 member companies in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Brandenburg and asked about construction site criminality.
Association: €475 million damage
According to PKS data, there were 6518 registered thefts in the previous year, the association reported. This is a minus of 11.9% compared to 2022. At the same time, the clearance rate rose from 11.1% to 12.2%. However, the Bauverband pointed out that a much higher percentage of other theft cases were solved - namely 28.3%.
The damage caused to the eastern German construction industry by criminality, according to Momberg, amounts to approximately €475 million. This is a significantly higher value than indicated in the crime statistics (€25.6 million). This is mainly due to the fact that damages caused by theft, acquisition costs, personnel and legal costs are not taken into account and not recorded in all cases, nor is a damage determined by the police in all cases.
Besides thefts, construction companies in eastern Germany are also dealing with an increase in solicitations and vandalism. In 2023, 39.5% of the companies had to deal with this. In 2022, it was still 34.2%.
- Despite the decrease in burglaries and thefts in 2023, Robert Momberg, CEO of BIVO, emphasized that there's no room for relaxation due to high damage caused by construction site criminality in eastern Germany.
- The increase in solicitations and vandalism on construction sites in 2023 resulted in additional damage, affecting more than three-quarters of the construction companies in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Brandenburg.
- The Association of Eastern German Construction Companies (Bauverband) reported that police crime statistics showed a decrease in registered thefts in 2023, but the actual damage to the construction industry was significantly higher, amounting to approximately €475 million.
- In response to increasing instances of solicitations and vandalism on construction sites, police departments in Leipzig, Brandenburg, and Saxony have announced strengthened patrols and surveillance, ensuring enhanced security for construction companies.
- The Berlin construction company, AB Construkt, which recently fell victim to vandalism, is relocating its operations to Saxony in an attempt to minimize the impact of construction site criminality, allowing the company to operate in a safer environment.
