Theft of construction equipment is an ongoing risk that could have serious effects on your company. Equipment prices are way too high and if it gets stolen, it will surely put a major burden on your company and ongoing project as well. Many research report shows that in the U.S. alone, this burglar activity costs around $300 million to $1 billion (National Insurance Crime Bureau). Whereas, in another report by the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), each month about 1000 pieces of equipment get missed from its ownership yards. The actual value is way too high as most of the cases are unreported.

Hence, it is extremely important to take preventative measures to stop construction equipment theft rather than leaving your company open to attack.

Real-Time Monitoring

Using tracking via GPS or theft-recovering technology, like Lojack, is a significant weapon in your toolkit against these uncertain attacks. These gadgets provide real-time monitoring, enabling you to get quick alerts whenever your equipment is moving from its location. 

Swift Detection

Your chances of recovering stolen heavy equipment machinery improve as soon as you become aware of it. With GPS monitoring, you can act quickly to notify the National Equipment Register (NER), your insurance provider, and the police about the incident.

Thief Prevention

If thieves are aware that there are tracking devices present, they could be reluctant to steal equipment. In certain cases, they may do this to see whether anyone will come looking by leaving the stolen equipment in a parking lot or distant location.

Keeping Complete Equipment Documents

It is like building a safety net for your assets to maintain an extensive equipment inventory. This data becomes invaluable in the event of theft. The documents you need to keep on record are:

• Document the type of equipment, the manufacturer, and the model number. Law enforcement can rapidly identify stolen goods due to this information.
• The serial, VIN, or PIN number of each piece of equipment should be in the record. Also, try to stamp or engrave a special number and your company logo on the equipment if these identifiers are not there. It will be simpler to locate and recognize as a result.
• Keep a record of the date from where and at how much price you get each piece of equipment. By doing so, ownership and value will be easy to track.
• Keep track of the locations where each piece of equipment is standing and used. The recovery operations will get help from this knowledge.
• Maintain sharp images of each piece of equipment, emphasizing its special characteristics and any identifying signs.
• Make a list of the individuals who have permission to use each piece of equipment. This is useful when someone tries to use or steal equipment without authorization.

Adding Equipment to the National Equipment Register (NER)

Since many pieces of construction equipment lack standardized serial numbers or PINs, proving ownership can be difficult. Registering your equipment with the National Equipment Register (NER) will be helpful, in this case:

Support for Law Enforcement

NER gives law enforcement organizations access to a centralized database for equipment that are missing, making it simpler to locate and recover stolen goods. An affordable solution is to register your equipment with NER. This costs, on average, $3 to $4 per machine each year.

Prevention through Immobilization

Making it physically difficult for thieves to take your equipment typically be sufficient to prevent theft. Here are a few sensible strategies:

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be removed whenever equipment is not in use. Making the equipment immovable with this one step can lessen the risk of theft.
• Consider implementing anti-theft equipment including hidden deactivation mechanisms, wheel locks, battery switches, and fuel shutoff systems.

Increasing Workplace Security

You must guarantee the safety of your job site. Targeting easily accessible locations with insufficient lighting is more common among thieves. Here are some tips to increase job site security:

Effective Lighting

Set up enough lighting to keep your job location well-lit at night. Areas with adequate lighting are less alluring to would-be burglars.

Fencing

To build a physical barrier that prevents unwanted access, erect strong fencing all around your job site.

Security Camera

Invest in security cameras to keep an eye on your job site around the clock. These cameras serve as both a resistance to theft and a useful piece of proof one should have.

Employee Credentials

Implement credentialing procedures for both your workers and your subcontractors. This prevents unauthorized individuals from easily driving in by limiting access to authorized staff exclusively.

Engaging the Community and Law Enforcement

Cooperation with local communities and law enforcement will greatly help you prevent the theft attempts of your equipment:

Community Outreach

Make contact with residents through neighbourhood business associations, homeowner associations, and crime-stopper organizations. Inform them of your activities and provide them with your contact details in case they spot anything unusual.

Cooperation with law enforcement

Connect with relevant organizations. When thieves are more likely to strike during off-hours or on holidays, request additional patrols.

Possibility of Employee Compliance

A security plan can only be as effective as the staff members who carry it out. To ensure adherence to your security protocols, follow these practices:

Education and Training

Inform your staff about security measures and give them instructions on how to use them. Insist that they play a crucial part in reducing theft. Also, teach them how to react and where to inform if they see any unusual burglary activity around the site.

Support and Resources

Allocate enough time and money for your staff to follow security procedures without sacrificing their productivity. Encourage them to immediately disclose any security issues.

Footnote

Theft of construction equipment is a widespread issue that requires thoughtful action to lessen its effects. Though it is hard to completely eliminate the risk, an approach comprising continuous tracking, thorough documentation, cooperation between law enforcement, and employee involvement may significantly enhance your attempts to avoid theft. You can safeguard your assets, maintain project timelines, and guarantee the long-term success of your construction project by investing in preventive now.