Construction sector upsurge sparks rise in border county thefts of digger and track equipment

An upsurge in the construction industry has sparked a sharp rise in the theft of digger and track equipment in the border counties.

In recent weeks there has been a spate of thefts of valuable machinery from building sites and farms across Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Fermanagh and Tyrone.

Garda Sgt Paul Wallace, Divisional Crime Prevention Officer said as well as fitting ‘kill switches’ to machinery, company owners should lock up machinery in secure areas. His warning comes an upsurge in the theft of diggers, dumpers, particularly of the Hitachi make, and other machinery.

A Hitachi ZX130 digger, worth €50,000, was recently stolen from the site of a road upgrade in Ballybofey, Co Donegal, but recovered two days later on a flat-bed lorry in Co Leitrim.

Sgt Wallace said: “With the uplift in construction and general excavating work the criminals are also shaking off the dust and getting involved in the theft of machinery again as recent thefts illustrate.

“Excavators are valuable pieces of equipment and can be stolen quite easily by criminally minded persons who are organised.

“Owners in the border regions are advised to consider installing ‘kill switches’ tracking devices and covert marking to aid recovery and/or when possible park them in a secure compound.”

He said owners of plant should consider registration in the property marking initiative ‘Theft Stop’ currently being promoted by An Garda Siochána as part of Operation THOR in conjunction with the IFA.