The Barbados Police Service (TBPS) is reporting an increase in crimes targeting construction equipment and people with gold jewellery, prompting a warning to contractors and members of the public to take additional precautions.In a crime prevention notice issued Monday, police said construction equipment has increasingly become a target of criminal activity and urged contractors to properly secure their machinery and strengthen security measures against theft and burglary.Police have also recorded an increase in criminal activity involving gold jewellery.The Service is warning people against wearing excessive amounts of gold jewellery in public and warned that those arranging to meet others to buy or sell gold could also become targets.The public was also reminded that stealing or knowingly handling stolen property is an offence and can result in prosecution.Anyone with information about those involved in these crimes is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 430-7189 or 430-7190, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or Police Emergency at 211.