Cameras, invisible ink to help fight site thefts

HIGH-TECH cameras and invisible ink markings on tools and equipment will help combat building site thefts this summer, police have revealed.
Geelong Inspector Gary Thompson said a partnership between police and the building industry would combat a rise in thefts at building sites including Armstrong Creek, Ocean Grove and Clifton Springs.
Crime prevention officer Leading Senior Constable Adrian Goodwin said the region’s builders would use ultra-violet chemical sprays to protect their gear from theft.
“These are spray cans that can be sprayed on anything and be identified as belonging to your company. Thieves can’t see it, so they can’t get rid of it,” he said.
Snr Const Goodwin said tradesmen would spray equipment including generators and hand-tools as well as timber and valuable copper.
“I’ve also advised the builders looking after the sites to have some facility like a container safe to store some heavy equipment that has to stay on site.”
Snr Const Goodwin said new technology allowed builders to access security cameras via their iPhones, creating potential for quicker police responses.
“These are movement-activated and they send a picture to your iPhone.”
Housing Industry Association regional executive director Gil King said the average cost of thefts from building sites was $1500 per site.
“With construction levels around 50,000 new starts per year, this amounts to a massive $75 million raw cost passed on to consumers,” he said.
Common items stolen were doors, windows, appliances, hot water units, fixtures and fittings, Mr King said.
“Make no mistake, if you steal from a building site over the holiday season the chances of being caught have just increased significantly.”