On the 8th January 2025, a national hire company reported an attempted fraudulent hire of two whacker plates and a petrol disc cutter from two of its branches; Brighton (Portslade) and Southampton

The hirer provided the following details:

• Name of caller: Alan (07761 561244)
• Account: Graceland
• Site for delivery: Hove BN3 7BS

A Doncaster based hirer’s depot was broken into at the weekend of 4th January 2025. Thieves entered the building by removing some of the brick work from the external wall. Various small tools were taken.

If anyone has any information please report to the police on 101 stating crime reference number 14/12026/25.

A JCB 540v140 14m Telehandler, with Serial Number 3244113, has been stolen from a site in Brentford (Great West Rd, Brentford TW8 0GP) on 15th November 2024 following a fraudulent order.

The unit has been tracked to a storage facility (Street Farm Container Self Storage, Tyssen Place, South Ockendon, RM15 6PL) but unfortunately it is no longer on site.

Mannordale Design Cons Ltd, set up a credit account in Oct with various hire companies. They hired tools, lifting and survey equipment in the Bristol and Cardiff area.

No payments have been received to date and they have disappeared with all the hired assets.

On 23rd December an attempted fraud was reported against Caddick Construction.

A cold email was received from a person giving their name as Lee Wright using leewright@caddickconstruct.com (fake email) requesting three excavators for delivery to Hollingwood Dental Surgery, 580 Manchester Road, Oldham, OL9 7LS.

It has been reported that Redfields Landscaping & Design Ltd had ceased trading on Friday 6th December due to being insolvent. Their yard was broken into where vans and equipment, including hired-in equipment, were stolen.

On the 17 December 2024, a survey unit was stolen whilst on hire in the London Docklands area – the thief, wearing a black balaclava, broke through the site’s fence  and stole the EDM unit, this happened whilst the engineer was about to set up, the thief then took off in a black minivan.

It has been reported that Redfields Landscaping & Design Ltd had ceased trading on Friday 6th December due to being insolvent. Their yard was broken into where vans and equipment, including hired-in equipment, were stolen.

The stolen hire equipment consisted of:

• 5 x 8HP BCS Cultivators, serial numbers - A001086811, A001086810, A001086809, A001086800, A001112056
• 1 x 5HP Camon Rotovator, serial number- A14-22031
• 3 x Stihl Heavy Duty Brushcutters, serial numbers- 192438369, 193459758, 175226935

A national hire company’s Aylesford’s depot in Kent was targeted by a fraudster, who claimed to be Dan Barker of WWM Martin Ltd, Dane Park Road, Ramsgate, Kent.

On Thursday 12th December, an individual claiming to be Alex Mineni of 38 Bosworth Avenue, Derby, DE23 1LE, attempted to fraudulently hire a Bumpa Hoist.

On the 10th December, Sunbelt’s depot in Coalville was rammed by a white Mercedes Sprinter van.

The depot’s shutter doors were attacked, and five people stole a variety of survey equipment including Rotating Lasers and Trimble Sensors. Generators were taken too.

A Thwaites 1-tonne skip loader dumper was stolen from a site at Ewshott, Hampshire, on the evening of the 03.12.24.

The CESAR/Datatag triangle number is 97BD8R.

A 2022 Kubota KX027-4 3-tonne excavator was stolen from a site in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.

The CESAR/Datatag triangle number is 02BD9F.

A Caterpillar 302.7 mini-excavator was stolen from a JN Civils site in Lydiate Lane, Eccleston PR7 6LY, sometime on the evening of the 03/12/2024.

The machine was 12 months old and branded in Readyplant’s logos. The machine’s serial number is CAT03027CCZ602703

Over the weekend of 23/11/24, a site in Hull was broken into by smashing through the hording panels.

Items stolen included an Arrowhead R45 hydraulic breaker with the serial number R455E2302.

We have received an alert that there is a fraudster operating in the Middlesbrough area and is using the following details:

MANOR FM LTD c/o Manor FM Ltd

The vehicle shown may look familiar!

The reason, this suspect and his vehicle were involved in the theft of scrap metal back in January 2022. However the same suspect with the same lorry is continuing his thefts in the surrounding areas and has made numerous attempts with other contractors throughout SE England. The latest was on the 13th November 2024 at a site in Beckton whereby they tried to gain entry to collect scrap materials.

A male called ‘James’, claiming to be from Sawdon & Sons has attempted to place an order for a 3-tonne excavator, for delivery to a timber yard in Dutch River Side, Goole, DN14 5TB.

The mobile number given was 07440 202442.

Sawdon & Sons has advised that they did not place this order.

In the early hours of Friday 29th November 2024, perpetrators overcame the security gates of the compound, and stole a Kubota 1.5-tonne mini-excavator, and a 1.5-tonne trailer from Croft Court Butts Close, Thornton, Cleveleys, FY5 4JX.

A HAE member has had a 2023 Niftylift trailer-mount boom stolen from a Thurrock depot (Essex). The item was used only for training and in ‘as-new’ condition, and so was in Niftylift colours.

The Serial number is 04 54482.

The Kent-based depot of a national hire company has been left with a minor debt and some missing small tools from dealings with the following business:

BBS Builds Ltd, 92 Walderslade Road, Chatham, ME5 0LL

A HAE member has had a company called Fortuna Contract Services set up a credit account with a registered address of 21 Walnut Grove, Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, AL7 4EY. Director name given as Cosmin Aurelian Boghiu.

They have hired various tools and a 1t dumper, delivered to areas including Cambridge, Maidstone and Barking and have since received no payment.

A Thwaites 3 Tonne Swivel Dumper was stolen from a site in Grays, Essex, RM16 2XE.

The Dumper is painted in the Company Colours of Blue and Orange and marked with fleet number D379. It was also marked with corporate logo stickers NPH Newmarket Plant Hire.

On the 18th November 2024 a site was broken into in Sprotbrough, Doncaster. During the incident, the plant stolen was a HAMM HD8VV Tandem Roller and a 3T excavator.

If you have any information please contact the police on 101 stating the Crime Reference Number; SYP/20241115/0161.

A Person has ordered 9 tower lights posing as an employee of Hilliard Civil Engineering, it has later been discovered that this was a fraudulent hire.

The Delivery address was;
A40 MOTORWAY
JUNCTION A40
Old Oak Common
London W3 7BA.

It has been reported to the NCATT team that 32 Develon DX10 mini excavators have been stolen from a site near Bath between the 1st and 4th November. They have a combined value of more than £480,000.

All are new models to the UK and have a longer boom, and they all are universal key. None of the machines are CESAR tagged.

We have been alerted to an incident where a company has had numerous gas detectors purchased from them. They received what appeared to be a genuine Sunbelt Rentals PO, unfortunately this was not genuine.

On Monday 4th November, stolen traffic lights were recovered by the police from a location in Essex. If you believe these units belong to your company please contact the NCATT team by emailing ncatt@northumbria.police.uk.

2 x commercial vehicles have attempted to enter site and remove scrap rail / scrap metal. The external CHiP storage area currently under MSI PC control was approached by an occupant of a grab lorry stating they were instructed to collect all scrap. The MSI supervisor challenged the occupants of the vehicle and it was clear after a short period of time that their was criminal intent.

An individual giving his name as Paul with the mobile 07918 909996 has contacted several plant and tool hire companies in the Hull and East Yorkshire area looking to hire:

• 1.5 ton breaker
• 1 ton dumper

Over the weekend (26th & 27th October) a site was broken into in Thorne, Doncaster area. The following plant stolen was:
– 3T Kubota excavator
– 2T Thwaites dumper
– HD8VV HAMM roller

In the early hours (01:45) of Monday 21st October the lock up store of West Country Tool Hire was broken into and 19 tools were stolen, the majority of which were STIHL, Makita & Hilti.

On Friday (1/11/24) evening a telehandler was stolen from a site in Immington, Humberside.

The Crime reference number is 24000156825.

The individual gives his details as John Watt, director at Brook Star Ltd of Barcroft Street, Bury, Lancashire, BL9. The contact details given are john.watt@brookstarconstruction.co.uk with a mobile number of 07768 177635.

Late on Tuesday 1st October the Coventry branch of a national hire company received an order by mobile phone from a male purporting to be Mr James Rogers, the MD of Rogers Civil Engineering Ltd., also based in Coventry. The request came from this mobile number: is 07918 909996.

A plant, tools and equipment hire company in Lancashire has had a GP1300 HONDA 4HP 325mm petrol plate compactor stolen when what appeared to be a genuine customer failed to return the equipment.

A gentleman giving his name as Wayne Seddon of Streamline Projects UK in Atherton, Greater Manchester, opened a trade account and paid the initial hire costs with a credit card. The hire commenced on Wednesday 14th August and Mr Seddon collected the equipment from the depot in person.

Three separate container hire companies have been targeted by the same person, giving their name as 'Andy' and claiming to be operating on behalf of BAM Construction. He gives his mobile number as 07351 080643 and email address as bamconstruction@accountant.com

A Sunbelt Welfare Unit has been stolen (06th September 2024) between 0001 and 0100 from Colton Road, WS153PH.

The Defib and tracker were removed from the unit before it was stolen.

Stolen 20/08/2024

• TEREX MBR71 BENFORD ROLLER
  Serial Number: SJ2928
• TERT0WIT VIBRATING ROLLER TRAILER
  Serial Number: SLBP0000EP1SA3613

On the afternoon of Friday 19th July, an individual successfully committed a fraud by obtaining plant machinery from a hire outlet in the Humberside area, which was delivered to an address in Burnley, Lancashire.

He gave his name as Alan Mackenzie, and produced what appeared to be a valid driving licence and insurance documents.

On Thursday 12th July, There was a report made by a hirer in Clitheroe, Lancashire of an attempted fraudulent hire. A gentlemen with a south-of-England accent giving his name as Michael, called the hire company stating that he was from one of their known and reliable customers. The mobile number used was 07404 850550.

CITS members are urged to be aware that individuals are trying to hire machinery and equipment by giving fraudulent company and contact names; however, they are using the same mobile number: 07404 850550.

Three individuals giving their names as Gary Wright, Jimmy Dewis, and James Marshall are fraudulently hiring equipment under the company name - Informa Markets based in London. Informa Markets is a legitimate company, but is being used as a front. The delivery site address for any hired equipment is Meek Street, Oldham, Lancashire.

Stolen at 1800pm 11/06/24 from Kiln Lane Industrial Estate DN41 8DN.

The Telehandler has the asset number 09MC0293 and was on hire from Ardent. The offenders cut through the gates and stole the item by unknown means, the tracker was removed at 1800hrs.

STOLEN: (11/03 @ 13:55)
TESCO SUPERSTORE - Highbridge Rd, BARKING, IG11 7BS

• Make: DOOSAN
• Model: D30GX
• Mast: 4700 Triple
• Fleet No: 11531
• Serial No: FDAOD-2710-14928
• YOM: 2021
• Notes: CW PLANT HIRE stickers on the forklift

The vehicle pictured may look familiar!

The reason, this suspect and his vehicle were involved in the theft of scrap metal from the Clancy Head Office back in January 2022. However the same suspect with the same lorry is continuing his thefts in the surrounding areas and has made numerous attempts with other contractors nearby. The latest was December 23 at FM Conways at their Hayes Heathrow depot. The vehicle, a white and black bodied (recently repainted from blue) is a Mercedes Atego HGV registration number YF65TDV.

On Tuesday 5th March an individual giving his name as Miguel Borges attempted to hire two 25Kva generators and trailers from a branch of a national hire company.

Mr Borges, gave his details as Mitsubishi Electric Europe EV, Travellers Lane in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, mobile number 07300 853422. He wanted the items delivered to an address in Brondesbury Park, London NW6, however these details proved to be partially false.

CITS urge its members to be aware after a hire company in the South East area of England contacted the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT) to report the theft of several pieces of equipment hired to a business called Tazeem Khan Ltd., and subsequently not returned.

CITS have been alerted to the following attempted fraud:

A company called Capital Cross Global Limited (Company number SC487112) attempted to hire some 20-foot containers for a 4-6 week period, in the summer of 2023. On 13th February 2024 the same company attempted to order 5000 litres of fuel on account.

CITS have been alerted to reports from a national hire company who have had visits from the same gentleman at multiple sites, using different names. In each instance the man has priovided a form of what appears to be valid identification; passport or driving licence.

CITS has been informed that two fraudsters - David and Richard Wallace using the mobile number 07405 430378 have been trying to hire a 0.8-tonne mini-excavator in the South Yorkshire area.

CITS member Hire Association Europe (HAE), have received reports from two different members, of a potentially fraudulent hire customer giving his name as Callum Panton from Sterling Construction and Renewables Ltd (Reg No 10628165), which is based in Bury, Lancashire.

Mr Panton made contact and ordered a high quantity of alloy tower components to be delivered to a site in Rochdale, OL16 postcode area.  The order was processed by an inexperienced hire-desk worker and, on arrival at the site address, it was discovered to be an unlisted caravan site. On that basis the delivery was aborted.