How To Prevent And Recover Stolen Heavy Equipment

Construction equipment theft is a serious issue in the United States. Every year, millions of dollars worth of construction equipment are stolen, and the problem continues to worsen. In this guide, we'll discuss some steps you can take to prevent your equipment from being stolen and what to do if it is. First, let's get into some background information about heavy equipment theft.

BACKGROUND

Why is Heavy Equipment Stolen?

There are a few reasons why construction equipment is targeted by thieves.

1. Lax Registration: Because heavy equipment is not required to be registered, and because there is no national database of heavy equipment serial numbers, it makes them easy targets for resale.

2. High-Value Targets: Heavy equipment is valuable, and without registration, it's easy to resale. One piece of equipment can equal a loss of $30,000 -- that's a sizable take, in one hit, for a thief.

3. Unattended Equipment: In many cases, unoccupied heavy equipment is often left unguarded for extended periods, making it an easy target.

4. Lack of Justice: In addition to being costly, construction equipment theft is also a low-risk crime. In many cases, perpetrators are not caught, and punishment is minimal, if any if they are. This lack of serious consequences creates an environment in which construction equipment theft thrives.

Heavy Equipment Loss Statistics

Part of prevention is knowing the trends. Below are some statistics about how, when, and where heavy equipment is stolen.

Recovery Rate: There is only about a 20% recovery rate on all stolen equipment & tools, equaling over 1 Billion dollars a year nationwide.

Popular Machines: The most popular equipment stolen includes garden tractors/mowers, backhoes & skid steers, and tractors.

Popular Places: 6 States (TX, FL, NC, CA, GA, OK) make up 40% of all heavy equipment theft.

Popular Times: The majority of all thefts happen between July and October, and on nights, weekends, and holidays when typical job sites are closed.

Popular Brands: The top three brands stolen are also the most expensive in the industry: John Deer, Kubota, and Caterpillar. These are likely the most valuable and recognizable brands, making them easy targets. It's also worth noting that Caterpillar has the highest recovery rate, which is likely due to the tracking equipment available on most heavy equipment.

Now that you're a little familiar with the background behind heavy equipment theft, let's dig into actionable intel regarding prevention, beginning with documentation.

Identification

It's important to know your equipment for your information and to have it ready for law enforcement if heavy equipment goes missing.

1. Basic Data: Things like the make, model, PIN, and serial numbers should be stored and readily available at the job site.

2. Proof of Ownership: documents showing proof of ownership are important if heavy equipment goes missing

3. Owner Applied Numbers: since serial numbers are relatively easy for a thief to discard, adding your company markings is recommended. These should be applied via a permanent method like stamping or welding.

4. Photo/Video: regular photos or videos should be made of heavy equipment so they are easily identifiable if a search is needed.

As with other documentation, these identifying pieces of information should be readily available and retrievable upon need. It is recommended they are stored in a cloud-based server for easy access.

Job Site Defense

Another valuable step in loss prevention of heavy equipment is job site defense. This can be accomplished in a few ways.

Smart Parking

Rather than randomly parking the vehicles around the site, cluster them by size or type. For example, if you have a lot of different types of machinery on site, like excavators and bulldozers, park them in separate clusters.

Barriers to Entry

If possible, use fencing or gates to secure the job site. This will give you more control over who has access to the site and when. If you can't physically secure the site, consider using cameras or alarms as the next best thing. Consider having a single entry/exit point to limit who comes and goes with equipment.

Nighttime Security Cameras

Adding security cameras to the job site can help you keep track of who is on-site and when and can also act as a deterrent to theft. Make sure they are visible and well-lit, so potential thieves know they are being watched. Think about where you want your cameras to be placed and what type of security footage you need.

When installing an outdoor security camera, choose a location that will allow the lens to capture the image clearly while avoiding shadows and glare. The ideal location is close enough to the entrance to see who comes in and out of your job site but far enough away so that passersby cannot discern faces through the lens.

Motion Sensors

When you're choosing security solutions for your site, one option is to install motion sensors around the job site. This, in conjunction with security cameras, can give you a well-rounded approach to securing the site and any equipment on it. Motion sensors come in all shapes and sizes. Some are designed to detect movement only when someone gets close to them, and others are designed to detect movement from far away.

Motion sensors can be placed on doors, windows, or gates and can easily be hidden from plain sight. This type of sensor can be used in a variety of ways. For example, they can be used as an alarm system that will notify police or other authorities when movement near the sensor has been set off. They can also be used as part of surveillance systems so that a security camera will begin recording after it senses motion near that area.

Consider where you want to place the sensor and what type of coverage you want it to have before purchasing one for your site.

Logging

Having a single point of entry/exit for the job site can help you track who comes and goes. But even if you have multiple points of entry/exit, you can still keep track of vehicles and people by logging them as they come in. This can be done via paper or an electronic system. If you go the electronic route, make sure the system is secure and backed up in case of power loss or other technical issues.

Equipment Defense

Once you've secured your job site, it's time to focus on the equipment. Here are a few ways to accomplish that.

Anti-Theft Devices

Anti-theft/anti-vandalism devices can better protect heavy equipment, vehicles, and trailers during non-working hours. High-security, pick-resistant locks can be placed on steering wheels, axles, and fuel tank caps. Smaller equipment can be secured with a security chain to prevent them from being moved offsite.

Alarms

Alarm systems can be used to protect a variety of equipment. Alarm systems can be used on heavy equipment, vehicles, and trailers, sheepsfoot roller and they can be set to notify the police or other security personnel when there is movement near the sensor that has been set off. For example, an alarm system can help to protect construction equipment from vandalism.

The system could be placed on the door of a construction vehicle, such as a bulldozer or front-end loader. If someone tries to open the door without authorization, it will trigger an alarm that notifies authorities. Alarm systems also help prevent theft with unattended vehicles.

These systems are often referred to as "automated security systems" because they are automated and do not require human intervention to detect suspicious activity nearby.

Tracking Devices

GPS tracking devices can be used to track the location of equipment if it's stolen. This information can then be used to recover the equipment or, at the very least, identify the thieves. Tracking devices can also be used to set up geofences. A geofence is a virtual perimeter for a real-world location.

Geofences can be used to monitor equipment on a real-time basis as well as alert you when it leaves an area. Geofences are an extremely useful tool for monitoring and tracking your mobile equipment. You can use geofencing to track the location of anything from a single truck to an entire fleet of vehicles. With geofencing, you will know that your equipment is always safe and where it's supposed to be.

Immobilize Equipment

When equipment is not in use, it should be immobilized to prevent it from being moved or used without authorization. There are a few ways to do this, such as chaining equipment to a fixed object or removing the battery.

Chaining equipment to a fixed object is one of the most effective ways to immobilize it. This can be done with a chain and padlock or a security cable. The chain should be long enough to allow the equipment to be moved but short enough that it cannot be removed from the site.

Another way to immobilize equipment is to remove the battery. This will prevent the equipment from being started without the battery being replaced. If you choose to do this, be sure to store the battery in a safe, secure location.

Personal Defense

And finally, to ensure oversight when you are not on the job site, engage the local police department. Here are some simple steps to involve the local police in the theft prevention of your heavy equipment.

1. Introduce Yourself: When entering a new area, have a foreperson make a formal introduction to the local Police department. Have them explain what the job entails, how long they plan to be there, and other information that can help them identify "normal" procedures.

2. Provide Job Site Information: Make sure to outline how long the job will be running and normal working hours. Identify key personnel who are allowed access to the site at any time and when the site will be left unattended.

3. Provide Equipment Information: Include a folder or disc drive or just describe the heavy equipment used on the site. Make sure to indicate where the equipment will be stored, and the hours it will be in use. This way, if there is suspicious activity, it can be apparent to the Police officers on patrol.

4. Provide a Key Contact: Make sure to have someone on call during the project and be available to answer if any suspicious activity is detected. It does no good to have an officer monitoring the area if there is no one to call and verify the information. Make sure this person is available by phone 24/7 and that they will pick up for even odd numbers.

5. Consider Comfort: When asking officers to patrol your site, consider giving them access to a Jobsite office where they can use the facilities, heat a meal, or rest their feet for a while. This is not expected, but if there is a spot to "hang out" for a bit, an officer may be more keen to spend some time on the site. Keep in mind, just a police presence can ward off potential thieves.

6. Request Patrols: At a minimum, request that officers patrol the area when it is unattended to keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Again, leveraging the local police will ensure thieves know there is a police presence and can deter them from making your heavy equipment their next target.

Heavy equipment theft is a major problem in the construction industry, but you don't have to be a victim. While you can't prevent theft from happening entirely, you can take measures to protect your equipment.

Make sure your job site is protected either by physical or electronic means, and make sure the equipment has preventative theft measures as well. Additionally, engaging the local police department can help deter thieves and provide the extra security you need when the site is unattended.

Finally, refer to this guide regularly to ensure you've taken all the preventative measures you can to ensure you are not the next victim of heavy equipment theft.

Here's a table summarizing the key points from the article "How To Prevent And Recover Stolen Heavy Equipment":

This table offers a concise overview of the strategies discussed in the article for preventing and recovering stolen heavy equipment, including background information, statistics, identification methods, defense measures for job sites and equipment, and personal defense tactics involving engagement with law enforcement.