TSA shares new Theft Mitigation advice

Published: 30 Oct 2018

TSA steps up the campaign to halt equipment theft

New advice available for site staff and managers to download

The Survey Association (TSA) is sharing its latest anti-theft Briefing Note with the wider construction and engineering industry in a bid to deter opportunistic crime and aid the recovery of stolen equipment.­­­­­

A new document, endorsed by crime prevention experts, SmartWater contains information to help companies review their security, with advice on safeguarding high value survey instruments routinely targeted by thieves.

The free to download Briefing Note, includes strategies to protect equipment from theft whilst onsite and when transported in a vehicle.

In addition, and also free to download, is an A4 poster/checklist for employees that could be shared on staff noticed boards. If a theft occurs, personal safety and obtaining good evidence should be the main considerations.

Both documents and others on a range of technical topics can be downloaded at https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/downloads/

A three-year agreement between TSA and SmartWater, sponsored by the leading manufacturers, is the first, co-ordinated response to thieves that persistently target surveyors.

Information submitted through SmartWater’s Intelligence Portal is shared with the police to identify crime hotspots, emerging crime trends and possible links to current investigations.

TSA manager Rachel Tyrrell said, “Theft of equipment is not limited to the surveying profession which is why we are sharing our crime prevention advice with the wider industry.

“TSA Members, non-Member companies, and those in the wider construction and engineering industry, can download our documents and report incidents of theft through the Intelligence Portal to ensure the whole picture is captured.”

To submit information on equipment theft visit: https://www.tsa-uk.org.uk/equipment-theft/

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Notes to Editors

The Survey Association was formed in 1979 and now has private survey company members in all areas of geomatics. TSA represents members on a wide variety of initiatives including the Survey Liaison Group, the GEO Business Show, Defra Flood Forum, BSI drafting panels, the UK BIM Alliance and continual Government lobbying. TSA is governed by a Council of 12, elected from the Full Member companies. A full-time Secretariat, based in Newark-on-Trent, runs the operational side of the Association.

The Survey School: In May 2014, TSA took over the running of the Survey School in Worcester. The TSA Surveying Course, written by TSA in 2001 to address the chronic shortage of survey training in the UK, continues to go from strength to strength. TSA is committed to training the next generation of surveyors and is expanding the number of short courses available at the School. TSA has also offered a Student Bursary to students in their second year at Newcastle University since 2011.