Retailers in the DIY and building trades have got together to fight crimes against their businesses, including the rise in copper thefts.

Household names such as B&Q, Homebase and Travis Perkins have come together to form the DIY and Building Trade Loss Prevention Forum, reports retailfraud.com. The members aim to share best practice in security, and crime data to help reduce losses due to theft and fraud.

There are a number of security problems unique to the sector such as the size and location of the premises and their yards. The high value of the items also makes them a target for thieves.

One of the problems they have had is thieves hiding copper piping inside cheaper plastic pipes and then paying only for the plastic pipes. Another issue is people taking advantage of the size of the yards by simply filling up their vans then driving off without paying.

If you store building materials such as copper piping and wiring, either on a construction site or at a storage facility then you should consider your security. Other metals such as steel and lead are also being targeted by thieves and plant theft is an ongoing problem. At Fortus Security we supply construction site security and retail security, and we can provide security guarding to meet your needs.