ABSTRACT
The loss of materials and equipment due to theft and vandalism is currently a massive
problem within the construction industry. It is estimated that industry losses resulting from
material and equipment theft exceed $1 billion annually. A study conducted by Construction
Equipment magazine in the year 2000 found that 73% of the participants within construction
industry listed construction equipment theft as a critical issue [1]. While theft and vandalism
may be an unavoidable reality on construction sites throughout the country, much more can be
done to reduce their damaging effects. This chapter will address how and why of theft within
the industry, and offer numerous techniques to mitigate this troublesome issue.
