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How to Avoid Paving Theft

December 10, 2010

From time to time, a paving theft hit the news. Highly desirable Yorkstone is the most likely target. Here’s a tip that helps keep paving safe.

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Highly desirable reclaimed Yorkstone blends well with modern and traditional architecture, as shown in this project by Vu Garden Design and Landscaping.
Reclaimed Yorkstone paving is expensive and highly sought after. After all, it has classic appearance that look good anywhere. So much so that it’s not so unusual for councils to fall victim to the disappearing pavements. Google “how to stop paving being stolen” and you’ll find any number of news stories. Sadly, the crime isn’t totally restricted to public pathways. It’s not unknown for homeowners to return from a day out to find their driveway missing. Short of screwing slabs down, it’s difficult to stop the most determined thieves from stealing paving stones. However, there is something you can do when laying paving.

How to make Yorkstone paving harder to steal

Most thieves are after an easy ride. Nor do they want to be on-site for long, so the harder you make it to lift the slabs, the less likely they are to be stolen. If you’re laying a new patio or driveway and are worried that it might be a target for paving theft, then laying the slabs with a bond bridge should make a big difference. This is usually used only for slabs with low porosity to help them adhere to the mortar bed. Here, it's for security. Ensure the slabs are laid with a sticky mortar/SBR mix and add a generous coat of SBR to the backs of the paving slabs prior to laying. This will make them much harder for thieves to shift. Nothing like thwarting crime for a warm feeling of satisfaction! See our post on affixing coping and pier caps for more info on bond bridge. Post updated: June 2025