Bogus construction sites set up by plant thieves

Plant hirers are being warned to redouble their credit checking following a spate of bogus constructions sites being set up by criminals intent on stealing plant.

One informed source said there were three separate investigations going on into plant that has disappeared after being delivered to bogus sites. "The normal credit checks don't appear to be throwing up anything untoward, so plant hirers must follow up the references," said the source.

Criminals gain a triple benefit from pulling this type of scam: the machines are delivered to them so they don't risk being caught breaking into a site they are given all the information necessary to de-activate any security system and they have up to a month before the machine is reported as stolen.

This situation had been predicted by Ian Elliott of the Met Police as levels of security and the registration of plant increased. However, the slowdown in the construction industry may have prompted the criminals' actions.

With building activities in a lull, criminals have a choice of sites to set up a bogus operation and many plant hirers may rush the credit checks in their eagerness to secure work in the current economic climate.