Carried by a Few, Benefiting Many... How Long Can It Last?
Many in the building industry don’t realise it, or maybe they do, but they are already benefiting from PACT Site Security, whether they are members or not.
Since 2017, a relatively small group of committed residential builders, civil contractors and Land development estates has funded and supported PACT. Through that commitment, a system has been built that works directly with WA Police to track, report, and respond to building site crime in a coordinated and targeted way.
The impact of that work extends far beyond those contributing members.
Every time a theft is reported through PACT, it adds to a growing intelligence picture, identifying high-risk areas, commonly targeted materials, repeat offenders, and emerging crime patterns. That intelligence is shared with WA Police, allowing PACT and Police resources to be deployed where they are most effective.
The result is fewer offences, more offenders identified, and stronger enforcement outcomes.
That benefits the entire residential building industry.
Even builders who have never lodged a report or contributed to PACT are operating in an environment where:
Police have better visibility of building site crime
Known offenders are being identified and prosecuted
Stolen goods are being tracked and, in some cases, recovered
A level of deterrence exists that would not otherwise be there
In simple terms, the actions of a few have improved conditions for many.
A recent example highlights how this plays out in practice. Through GPS tracking deployed by PACT members, two offenders were identified and arrested in relation to building site theft in both the northern and southern suburbs, with over $3000 of property recovered. Importantly, those arrests don’t just resolve a single incident, they disrupt ongoing offending behaviour. Without intervention, these individuals would likely continue targeting multiple sites across multiple builders.
That outcome benefits far more than the builder directly impacted, it removes active offenders from the system, reducing overall crime exposure across the industry.
But that model has a limit.
PACT relies on consistent reporting volume to remain effective. The more data received, the clearer the intelligence picture. The clearer the intelligence, the more targeted and effective the policing response.
When participation is limited to a small group, the system continues to operate, but not at its full potential. And when reporting volumes decline, so does visibility, enforcement capability, and ultimately the deterrent effect.
There is also a broader reality.
Without PACT, individual builders are left to manage crime on their own, reporting incidents in isolation, with limited follow-up, and little ability to influence outcomes. The coordinated approach, built over more than two decades through initiatives like the Name and Shame Campaign, the BUSTed Program and now PACT, simply doesn’t exist without participation.
The current situation raises a simple question:
Is it sustainable for a small number of builders to continue carrying the load, while the broader industry benefits?
PACT was never intended to be supported by a few. It was designed as a practical, shared response to a shared problem.
The residential building industry is already seeing the benefits. The challenge now is whether more builders step forward to support and strengthen the system, or risk losing it altogether.