120,000 euros in damage: tool theft in Lübeck building containers!

120,000 euros in damage: tool theft in Lübeck building containers!

In the St. Jürgen industrial area in Lübeck, theft led last week. On Monday morning, October 6th, employees of a construction site discovered at around 6.45 a.m. that all 24 construction site containers were broken up on the property in the Estonia ring. This reports the shz.de. The perpetrators stole tools with a total value of over 120,000 euros, which not only represents a financial loss for the companies concerned, but also endangered the entire construction project.

The theft occurred between Saturday afternoon, October 4th and Monday morning. All containers were openly opened, which indicates a well -organized crime. This type of crime is not new and is a growing problem in the construction industry. The investigation into this incident is currently conducted by the Commissioner 12 of the district criminal inspection due to particularly severe theft, as is also the case of the Press portal reported.

A growing risk on construction sites

The latest events in Lübeck are in a larger context. According to a current study by Bauwatch, which has asked 500 construction site managers, eight out of ten respondents experience theft at least once a year. It is alarming that around two thirds of the participants indicate an increase in construction site crime in 2023. Almost 20 % even report several thefts per year. This trendy crime requires a rethink in the security strategy, such as the Bauwatch recommends.

Thefts cost the German construction industry over 80 million euros annually. Small tools that are stolen in 53 % of cases are particularly affected, while copper and cables are also popular thieves. Over a third of the experts see security on construction sites as a low priority - a attitude that should be covered urgently. Investments in modern security measures, regular training for employees and an individual assessment of the threat situation are important steps for prevention.

Consequences for the construction projects

The consequences of thefts are not just monetary. In many cases, construction projects are in default due to thefts. Almost 43 % of the respondents report delays that can sum up to up to four weeks. In one of eight cases, projects cannot be continued. These factors not only have a negative effect on the schedule, but also on the work ethic and general productivity.

The incidents in Lübeck are a wake -up call for all companies that work in the construction industry. It is time to face the challenges and treat security on construction sites as a priority in order to counteract growing crime. This is the only way to ensure that construction sites can be operated not only profitably, but also safely.