Theft Prevention Strategies & Materials

Caution: Watch for Red Flags

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Organized crime rings are delaying our jobs, costing the public and construction companies time and money, and forcing insurance companies to raise their premiums to balance out paying to replace stolen equipment.

The majority of these crimes are happening during non-peak construction times; this means evenings, weekends, and holidays. Help catch a thief on the move, in the yard, or on a jobsite by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity, particularly on non-workdays and off-hours. Companies need permits to move equipment, and these permits are only valid on weekdays from sun up to sun down. Any equipment being hauled at night or on weekends, is open for a large overweight and no permit ticket ($10,000 to $20,000).

If you see any suspicious activity, please report it to local authorities.

Tricks of the Trade

Help keep your equipment safe by using the following strategies recommended by the National Insurance Crime Bureau:

	Install hidden fuel shut off systems
	Remove fuses and circuit breakers when equipment is unattended.
	Render equipment immobile after-hours or on weekends by clustering it in a “wagon circle.” Place more easily transported items, such as generators and compressors, in the middle of the circle surrounded by larger pieces of equipment.
	Develop and maintain an inventory of each piece of equipment with photos and list of PIN and component part serial numbers.
	Dye stamp, steel punch, or engrave corporate logos and PIN numbers on all pieces of equipment in hidden areas.
	Use hydro locks to fix articulated equipment in a curved position, preventing it from traveling in a straight line.
	Use sleeve locks to fix backhoe pads in an extended position, keeping wheels off the ground.

Technology

Invest in technological resources to help keep your equipment safe.

	Install a system that disables the electrical or ignition system if universal keys are used.
	Install global positioning satellite tracking devices in each piece of heavy equipment.
	Install surveillance cameras at storage facilities and yards
	Install motion detectors to automatically turn on lights or trigger an alarm

Resources

Download our Manual
to disseminate to your employees

Local Authorities Contact

Are you a member that provides theft prevention or recovery services?
Contact us.