Barometer of thefts and post-theft recovery in the construction industry: 7 out of 10 professionals affected by 2025

As companies in the Building/Construction and Works sectors operate in an uncertain economic climate, the theft of vehicles, machinery and equipment remains a major concern for professionals in the sector, with serious financial consequences.

For this 2025 edition, Coyote supplements the data collected from field operations and the activity of its Coyote Secure service with a study by the YouGov institute. A representative sample of 411 construction professionals responsible for purchasing and/or managing equipment and vehicle fleets in metropolitan France, interviewed on behalf of Coyote, over a period from February 3 to 15, 2025.

“Towards more numerous and more expensive flights”

First lesson of the study: construction professionals say they are much more concerned about theft than in 2022, the date of the previous barometer.

The phenomenon of theft is measured by its importance and recurrence, since three quarters of professionals declare that their company has been the victim of at least two thefts.

To combat this scourge, Coyote Secure has established itself as the most effective solution for quickly recovering stolen equipment and machinery. Thanks to cutting-edge technology and teams of operational detectives with proven expertise, Coyote has become the market leader in the recovery of machinery and vehicles, thereby reducing the impact and cost of theft.

7 out of 10 professionals affected by theft!

68% of construction professionals surveyed for this barometer said they had experienced theft, either directly or indirectly.

The majority of professionals therefore have to deal with the phenomenon of theft.

Construction industry increasingly affected

In 2022, 5 out of 10 professionals said they were concerned about the problem of theft. Three years later, 40% more said they had experienced theft.

76% of professionals have experienced at least 2 thefts

The phenomenon is far from isolated, and construction companies must deal with the risk of theft on construction sites or in warehouses on a daily basis. Thus, for the majority of professionals who report having been victims of theft in their businesses, the phenomenon has occurred multiple times: 45% of professionals said they remember at least three thefts in their businesses. One in five professionals has even been the victim of more than six thefts!

Stolen machinery and equipment

The risk of theft is five times higher for construction machinery and equipment than for private vehicles.

Parks at risk?

The risk of theft increases significantly depending on the number of machines or vehicles owned by companies. Small and medium-sized construction companies appear to be particularly exposed to the risk of machine or equipment theft. Thus, fleets of three machines and/or twenty utility vehicles or more are significantly more exposed to theft.

Consequences: between anxiety-provoking situation and heavy financial losses

For several years now, professionals' fear of the risk of theft has been increasing, even for companies that have never suffered theft.

This alarming finding is causing companies to worry about the stability of their operations. In fact, nearly one in two companies consider their construction equipment to be unsafe.

• 86% of professionals say they are more worried about theft than before.
• 25% of professionals who have suffered a theft consider stress and the feeling of insecurity among staff as a consequence of this act.
• €31.000: Average financial loss suffered by a company following theft.

Top 5 major consequences suffered by professionals following a theft:

1. Cost of replacement and repurchase of equipment
2. Delay in projects/operations
3. Time wasted on administrative procedures and staff organization
4. Stress and feelings of insecurity among staff
5. Cost of administrative procedures

For David Babin, Director of Coyote Business Services: "What we see among our customers is that for every €1 invested in a Coyote Secure solution, we get €4 worth of equipment. Very often, the value of the machine is compounded by hidden costs such as operating losses, lost team time, and disorganization."

An insurance risk that is difficult for professionals to anticipate

Despite the considerable risk associated with theft, the majority of professionals do not have adequate insurance coverage for damages related to theft.

Only one-third of businesses have insurance coverage that allows them to receive full financial compensation following a theft. This figure remains low, despite the growing exposure of professionals to this scourge.

• 68% of professionals do not have insurance coverage that would allow them to be fully reimbursed for a theft and its consequences.

Security solutions to protect against theft are often insufficient

To address the risks of theft, professionals are equipping themselves with security solutions to protect their assets. It's clear that the resources invested in security are insufficient to effectively combat this phenomenon, which continues to increase.

7 out of 10 professionals implement at least one security solution (cameras, alarms, etc.), yet they all remain exposed to theft.

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.