Owner/builder Renne Dewaard is frustrated his water meter and taps were stolen from his building site in Lakelands.

Mr Dewaard said the thieves were stealing the items for the expensive copper and brass they were made from.

He said there had been other thefts from sites and unfinished homes in the area.

“People need to keep their eyes open and be aware of the thefts,” Mr Dewaard said.

Water Corporation communications officer Steven Mackenzie said the corporation was working with the Housing Industry Association and the police on prevention and management strategies for this issue.

“The housing industry has high levels of theft from building sites and the theft of water meters and associated copper piping from those sites is a subset of that bigger equation,” Mr Mackenzie said.

He said the loss trends of water meters and copper piping mirrored the general theft that was happening on construction sites and housing developments across the state.

Mr Mackenzie said there was a ‘name and shame’ campaign in place to reduce building site theft.

People reporting building site crime or theft can call 1300 2 739273 and may be entitled to a reward.