Published: 05 Nov 2025
Equipment security remains an important priority for surveyors, and TSA is continuing to take proactive steps to address it. TSA is pleased to announce a new partnership designed to strengthen protection across the industry and support members in safeguarding their valuable equipment. This collaboration represents a significant move toward reducing losses, deterring crime and ensuring greater peace of mind for survey professionals.
The next phase
Since 2017, TSA has worked with industry partners and law enforcement to address the growing issue of survey equipment theft. In 2018, TSA partnered with SmartWater (now DeterTech) to record incidents and build a clearer national picture of the problem. With that successful foundation now in place, the formal partnership with DeterTech has concluded and TSA is moving into the next phase of action to further strengthen protection for the survey profession.
When TSA’s Council met in October, it agreed for TSA to become a Donor organisation to the National Construction and Agriculture Theft Team (NCATT). This is headed by Supt Andy Huddleston, who has already spoken at TSA events and directly supported members. TSA joins the Donor Group which consists of the Construction Equipment Association, Construction Plant Association and Hire Association Europe, as well as insurers and suppliers.
A specialist unit
NCATT is a dedicated unit within Northumbria Police. It supports police forces to respond to thefts and target the perpetrators that are often the same offenders that officers are dealing with for construction and agricultural machinery theft. So there’s a mutual benefit of communicating information. NCATT is the UK’s only fully industry-funded specialist police unit. It will also carry out sting operations and provide both monthly and quarterly reports on its activities, which will be circulated to TSA members in the strictest confidence.
If you are unfortunate enough to be targeted by thieves, you must report to the police immediately where the unit was stolen. This is imperative, as they are responsible for investigating the crime – and only they can circulate the items as ‘stolen’ on police systems. In instances where equipment is live tracking and the owner cannot get a response from the police, contact NCATT immediately. In any report, copy the manufacturer of the stolen equipment into your information. This works twofold – firstly, so they are aware of the theft, secondly so the manufacturer can log it on their system as missing. In some cases, the manufacturer will be able to let NCATT know if someone is trying to service stolen equipment, as the item will show up as being stolen – just like the way a car numberplate can be traced on stolen vehicles.
Reporting of all thefts and attempted thefts is essential in the fight against surveying crime. All the information on how to report theft is on TSA’s dedicated webpage here.
