William Molinié 06:10, March 22, 2023

According to information gathered by Europe 1, burglaries are multiplying on the sites under construction of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. In the viewfinder of burglars, tools, materials, copper. Generally insecure objects which, in a context of tension over raw materials, are a boon for burglars.

The modus operandi is classic. Burglars break in either by climbing the gates or directly by breaking the padlocks of construction barriers. They are usually several, some dealing with the theft, others monitoring the possible arrival of the police. A last individual remains parked with a van nearby to quickly evacuate the proceeds of theft. According to information from Europe 1, thefts on the construction sites of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games increased last year.

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A quarter more flights between 2021 and 2022

In 2022, 37 facts were noted, compared to 30 facts in 2021, an increase of nearly a quarter (23%), according to a recent count by the police prefecture. Of the 64 projects to be delivered, 48 are still underway in the Paris region. Last week, on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, a team broke a palisade door to access the construction site of the Olympic Village in Saint-Denis, yet very monitored by the police. Two containers were forced with a circular saw. Copper fittings and earth bars were stolen.

Theft of tools, copper, materials... In a context of tension over raw materials in the construction sector, these products, generally insecure, are a boon for burglars. "Copper theft is a delinquency of opportunity committed mainly by nationals of Eastern European countries," said a police source.

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Seven daily violations recorded on construction sites in the Paris region

Olympic construction sites are not the only targets. The Ile-de-France is home to major real estate projects for construction, renovation or infrastructure launched as part of Greater Paris. According to information from Europe 1, a theft of copper cables was committed on January 12 on the site of the future line 14 of the metro. On site, no cameras or alarms. Damage: 150,000 euros. "An adapted security device is set up around the Olympic sites and related construction sites, provided by various local, territorial and public order and traffic management," says the Prefecture of Police.

If overall, offenses (theft of equipment, theft from locker rooms to the detriment of workers, concealed work, work accidents, etc ...) on construction sites in the Paris region have decreased by 8% between 2021 and 2022, their number remains high with 2,571 incidents recorded last year, or 7 each day.