How to Prevent MEWP Theft on Site: 8 Simple Tips

By Kelly Burgess, Head of Hire at Horizon Platforms

Reports from the likes of Vertikal suggest plant theft is not going away any time soon. But when it comes to stopping MEWPs being stolen from sites, a few simple habits make all the difference: recording serial numbers, taking keys out and locking controls, parking somewhere visible and covered by CCTV, and making sure your team reports anything suspicious. We go into more detail below. And if a machine does go missing, call your hire company and the police straight away.

MEWPs are high value, easy to spot and, in the wrong hands, can be quickly moved around the UK or shipped abroad.

It's important to remember that access platform hire terms and conditions state that the MEWP is the hirer's responsibility while it's on hire. So, if you regularly hire access platforms, it's worth reading this advice to help avoid your hired MEWPs from “going walkabout"!

Who steals MEWPs and why?

Most plant theft isn't opportunistic. It's the work of organised criminal groups, and that's exactly why NCATT (National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team), the police's specialist plant theft unit, was set up. In one operation, officers stopped a lorry carrying eight stolen machines before it could board a ferry out of the UK.

Why are MEWPs stolen?

The reason is simple: money. Machines can be sold on quickly, often overseas, and in the past, the HAE (Hire Association Europe) says global events are driving up demand for stolen construction machinery. Across the industry, theft is still estimated to cost UK construction more than £800 million a year once delays and insurance costs are counted. And it's getting worse: the BauWatch Crime Report 2025, covered by Insurance Business, found that two thirds (67%) of UK construction professionals had seen site crime go up over the past year.

Where are MEWPs stolen from?

Mostly from sites where construction, refurbishments and maintenance are taking place such as warehouse builds, superstore fit outs and factory shutdowns, for example. But we’ve heard of hired equipment going missing in broad daylight from large logistics and distribution units.

But there is a common theme. The hired machinery is easy to get to: open or poorly fenced sites, machines parked near gates or boundaries, and kit left out of sight of CCTV. Shared sites with lots of trades coming and going are also a risk, because a stranger near a machine is less likely to stand out.

When are MEWPs most likely to go missing?

When nobody's around. Insurers point to weekends, nights and holiday periods as the most vulnerable times, and a long bank holiday or shutdown periods (Easter, Summer, Christmas) gives thieves days rather than hours. Darker evenings matter too. In a BauWatch survey, reported by Construction UK Magazine, over half of construction workers said they'd seen crime increase in autumn and winter.

But don’t forget, fraudsters are brazenly calling hire companies to dupe them into delivering kit under the guise of an existing or new customer. We have an article called ‘Is Someone Hiring Plant in Your Company's Name? How to Spot Hire Fraud and Stop It.’, that covers this in more detail.

Which trades are most affected by MEWP theft?

There's no official breakdown by trade. But the risk is highest for anyone who keeps MEWPs on site for weeks at a time, especially on busy or shared sites. And the criminals won’t be selective in who they steal from. M&E, HVAC, fit-out and maintenance contractors can all be targets. After all these crimes are opportunistic, the longer a machine stays on site, the more chances a thief has to spot it. As mentioned earlier, we’ve heard reports of equipment going missing from in broad daylight. So, the criminals are not fearful of being caught or the consequences of such crime.

8 tips to keep hired MEWPs safe on site

This section is the biggest takeaway from this article and should be used on all sites where you hire access platforms, plant machinery or other equipment.

1. Record the serial number, not just the fleet number

Log the make, model and serial number of every machine in your site register when it arrives. IPAF (International Powered Access Federation) points out in their powered access rental fraud prevention guide that police rely on serial numbers and other identifiers, not fleet numbers, to identify stolen plant. Without them, recovered kit can be hard to prove.

2. Take a photo when it's delivered

A quick photo of the machine and its ID plate on arrival gives you a record of what was delivered and when.

3. Keys out, controls locked

Every time the machine isn't in use, not just at the end of the day. Lock the ground controls where possible and keep keys somewhere secure, not in the cab or the site cabin drawer.

4. Park it in view

Leave machines within sight of CCTV and in well-lit areas, away from site gates and boundaries. Better still, store them in a secure compound or building overnight. Tucked out of sight is where thieves like them.

5. Limit who can use it

Keep access to an authorised list of trained operatives and managers only. The fewer people who can move a machine, the easier it is to notice when something's wrong.

6. Know where every machine is

Check hired kit at the start and end of each shift. A machine that's been moved overnight is a warning sign, even if it's still on site.

7. Brief your team on the warning signs

Thieves don't always force their way in. Often, they look for an easy opportunity. Ask your team to watch out for:

• Unfamiliar vehicles parked near plant, especially out of hours

• People asking unusual questions about equipment on site

• Any unauthorised or suspicious activity around hired machinery

• Someone turning up to "collect", "service" or "test" a machine that nobody booked. Of course, all site visitors should report to the site office or site lead

• Kit that looks like it's been moved or tampered with

If something doesn't look right, check with your hire company before letting anyone touch the machine.

8. Know what to do if it goes missing or is tampered with

Call your hire company straight away. For Horizon kit, that's 01924 270383. The sooner we know, the faster we can help. Report any theft to the police and get a crime reference number.

Remember, under your hire agreement you're responsible for the equipment while it's on hire, including loss or theft. If you're unsure what that means for you, speak to our team and we'll talk it through.

What happens if a hired MEWP is stolen?

Of course, you need to report the theft to the police and your hire company, so action to recover the machine can take place.

As the hirer, you'll need to have cover for theft. If you claim on your own hired in plant insurance, that often means weeks of going back and forth with your insurer, paying a high excess and being stung with a premium hike at renewal. All while your project needs to carry on with another MEWP you’ve had to source and pay for!

That's where Platform Protect comes in. It's a waiver you can add to your hire contract, that avoids hefty financial penalties and lengthy claims processes: you report it to us, and we take care of the rest.

Read more about Platform Protect here or call our team to see how you can stay protected with Horizon Platforms.

Don't forget about fraud

Not all MEWPs leave sites on the back of a truck. Criminals are also hiring equipment using real companies' names and having it delivered straight to them. Find out how to protect your business in Is Someone Hiring Plant in Your Company's Name? How to Hire Fraud and Stop It.

Questions about kit on hire?

If you're worried about security on your site or something doesn't feel right, contact our team. We're here to help.

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