Thieves use drones to target plant

28 December 2022

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) reports that thieves and well-organised gangs are increasingly using drones to target construction plant, farm machinery and vehicles. 

The drones are being piloted over sites and premises to identify potential targets, preventative measures like CCTV, security weak spots, and entry and exit points without detection.

The association says that lightweight drones do not require a licence and can be bought for under £100. It adds that compact machines like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and quad bikes are at particular risk on farmland.

The CESAR Compact System system, which was developed for the CEA by Datatag ID, can be fitted to plant and machinery as a deterrent and identification system. It incorporates tamper evident warning labels, RFID transponders and Datadots that contain a forensic DNA solution.