how can you prevent equipment theft

^{Some ways to prevent equipment theft include:}

• Keep good records for all equipment.
• Pay attention to equipment theft trends.
• Ensure that sites where vehicles will be left unattended are secured.
• Move equipment to another area if security isn't possible.

How to prevent theft in the workplace?

Light deters thieves from stealing equipment as they are easily seen. This is why you can see many grocery stores having their lights turned on even when they are closed. Make a security plan: Make a worksite security plan and conduct a security audit to see where are the biggest safety gaps.

How can you reduce the odds of equipment theft?

Even though equipment theft is common and recoveries are rare, there are steps that you can take to decrease the odds of theft occurring on your fleet. 1. Know What Drives Construction Equipment Theft The market for equipment theft is due to several factors, including: In a nutshell, equipment theft is driven by easy access and resale value.

How do you protect your manufacturing equipment from theft?

Manufacturers usually use etching tools, dye-stamping, or a steel punch to make sure that the product ID stays visible for years to come. Immobilizing: Consider physically immobilizing your equipment so that no one other than you or authorized person can use it. That works especially for middle or big sized vehicles like trucks, mowers or mixers.

How can I keep my site safe from theft?

See if you can get local law enforcement to patrol the area with greater frequency during off hours, especially if your site is in a high-theft area. If your site looks even slightly more secure than average, a lot of thieves will skip it for a more vulnerable location. 6. Use Nighttime Cameras, Motion Sensors, and/or Light Towers

Why Is The Equipment Stolen?

If there is a great opportunity for theft with little to no consequences, that makes a perfect ground for assets to go missing.

What to do if you don't want to be a part of the theft statistics?

If you don’t want to be a part of the theft statistics, put equipment theft prevention on top of your To-do list.

How to report stolen tools?

What If Your Equipment Gets Stolen Anyway? 1 Alert the authorities as soon as possible: If you do it quickly enough, there’s a good chance that you can recover your tool as most stolen tools are found within 100 miles of the site of stealing. 2 Register your complaint with all the details: You can use the same report to claim your insurance if your equipment is insured. 3 Include all info about the missing asset: PIN, manufacturer, model, size, color. If you have any photos, you can attach them too. 4 If it’s a costly tool, consider offering a reward.

Why is good inventory management important?

Good management of your company’s inventory is irreplaceable for both theft prevention and equipment retrieval.

What does "secure your worksite" mean?

Securing your worksite mainly means adding physical barriers and measures that make stealing difficult or impossible. Here are some ways you can secure your worksite.

Why is it so difficult to track stolen equipment?

The absence of a global serial database makes it more difficult to track equipment when it’s stolen. Other risks contribute to such high theft rates, such as organized crime, loose fences and gates on sites, and no custom theft defense.

How much of stolen equipment can be recovered?

According to risk managers and insurers, companies only recover about 10-20 percent of the stolen equipment.

The Full Scope of Loss From Construction Equipment Theft

It’s no secret that construction equipment theft leads to significant losses. Probably the first thing that comes to mind is the cost of replacing the lost equipment, which would fall on the company that is liable for the loss.

Equipment Insurance 101: The Most Commonly Stolen Construction Equipment

It would be irresponsible to assume that big machines are not susceptible to getting stolen because of their size. In fact, some of the most common stolen equipment from construction sites include the following:

Tips for Preventing Construction Equipment Theft

A poorly lit project site, whether abandoned for the night or staffed with only a few busy contractors working the graveyard shift – all while machinery is in plain view – is like an open invitation to thieves.

Protect Your Business with Tailor-Fit Equipment Insurance

The smooth operation of your business may rely on a number of tools and equipment. Both theft and vandalism are potential risks that can happen at any point, leading to financial loss and project delays that will strain your relationship with clients and stakeholders.

1. UNDERSTAND YOUR RISK

Review your job site and consider potential targets, identify opportunities to increase securite and consider how timing and seasonality can impact your risk.

2. LIGHT UP THE JOBSITE

Criminals tend to prefer working in the shadows. Installing security lighting throughout your jobsite can deter thieves. There are a few options for doing this. Motion sensor lighting puts a spotlight on unexpected movement on your jobsite. This will alert you to suspicious activity, and could potentially scare off criminals.

3. ENGAGE WITH YOUR TEAM

Dishonest employees can help criminals access heavy equipment. Building a rapport with individuals and making a point to stay up to date on job progress can deter crime, The Balance pointed out.

4. INSTALL TRACKING TECHNOLOGY

If equipment theft does occur, the best outcome you can hope for is to recover it. Unfortunately, only about one-in-five pieces of stolen equipment are recovered.

5. ENSURE YOU'RE INSURED

Taking proactive measures to prevent equipment theft can help your company avoid costly crimes. Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to guarantee that no crime will ever happen at your jobsite. The best way to protect your business is to ensure you have the proper commercial insurance to help you financially recover from theft.

What do thieves do with stolen equipment?

The thieves — and often crime rings — who make stolen heavy equipment their business access jobsites after hours, load equipment onto trailers, then typically do one of three things: resell it to unsuspecting buyers, dismantle the equipment and sell the parts, or illegally export it to other countries.

How much does theft of equipment cost?

In fact, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and National Equipment Register (NER), the annual estimates of the cost of equipment theft vary between $300 million and $1 billion annually — with most estimates panning out around the $400 million mark. And every month, nearly 1,000 pieces of commercial equipment are reported stolen ...

What was stolen in 2011?

In 2011, mowers were the most common equipment reported to be stolen, followed by loaders. Source: 2011 Heavy Equipment Theft Report.

What is the most proactive step fleets can take?

Mossman said the most proactive step fleets can take is to make prevention a priority. “Fleet managers who think as proactively about security as they do about issues like budgeting and utilization will be far ahead of the problem,” he said.

What are the precautions to take when a vehicle is stolen?

Vehicle theft is a problem well known to drivers and fleets alike, so fleet managers take the necessary precautions: educating drivers on protecting their vehicles, installing security alarms, or employing GPS.

Why do we need GPS tracking devices?

GPS tracking devices can also provide unit location information for monitoring as well as quicker recovery. The sooner a theft is discovered, the better the chances of recovery. Calling the police immediately after equipment is discovered to be stolen — and providing the correct PIN — can improve chances of recovery.

Can a PIN be used to change the identity of a piece of equipment?

With equipment, there is a lack of standardization for product identification numbers (PINs) and serial numbers. It’s also relatively easy for thieves to change the identity of a piece of equipment by removing or switching a PIN.

Short Term Precautions

Fully illuminate your shop building and equipment yard at night and eliminate any shadowed spots where thieves might hide. New LED bulbs cast a lot of light and use less electricity than traditional lights.

Long Term Solutions

Telematics have made a huge difference in equipment security. These “black boxes” can be programmed to send you an alert anytime a machine moves outside of a “geofence” you designate on the software. The better systems are hidden out of sight and difficult to tamper with and can track the equipment as it's being hauled down the road.

In Broad Daylight

While most theft occurs at night, our sources in law enforcement say there are enterprising thieves who concoct sophisticated schemes to steal equipment on the jobsite, right under the nose of your foreman.

Top States for Equipment Theft

According to National Equipment Register, the top five states for equipment theft are:

How to deter thieves from stealing your tractor?

Place a chain on the steering wheel or tire spokes. This serves as a physical deterrent as well as a physical one. When thieves see the chains they know it will not be an easy mark and may elect to move on to a different tractor or piece of equipment. For most thieves, the goal is an easy target. The more you can do to make your tractors and equipment look like a hassle the less likely you’ll be the target of their attention.

How to deter thieves from using fuel lines?

Install a fuel line shut off. While this isn’t a visual deterrent for thieves, it is something they aren’t likely prepared for. Most thieves are prepared for things like fuses being removed and bring their own keys along for the ride. Fuel line shutoffs aren’t immediately visible but cause substantial delays in starting the equipment to drive it off that may encourage them to choose another mark.

Is theft of tractors a problem?

Tractor and equipment theft is a bigger problem than most people realize. Or that most dealers would care to admit. The equipment is expensive. Plus, it doesn’t present many challenges to being stolen in its own right. That means owners must take extra steps to protect their investments and prevent the theft of their tractors and other equipment. These are some steps you can take.

How to prevent theft in a car?

Never leave coins, banknotes, wallets, tablets, mobile phones or laptops visible through the windows of your car. Take them indoors and store them properly . This can encourage vehicle theft, and possibly more.

How to protect your home from thieves?

If you have a fence, keep the gates closed and put up no trespassing signs, which gives the message to thieves that you're taking security seriously.

How to prevent burglary in basement?

You can help prevent theft at your home by putting a clear thick window film on your ground floor and basement windows to keep them from being broken. There are clear, frosted and reflective (mirrored) films, depending on your privacy needs.

How to increase night visibility around your home?

Keep your home well-lit. Increase night visibility around your home by employing outdoor lighting. Modern LEDs are waterproof and use much less wattage than conventional outdoor lighting.

How to deter thieves from coming into your house?

Many thieves use some excuse to come into the home to get some idea of what to steal. Going outside will help deter them. If they ask, politely say no.

How to prevent a break in?

You can engage the alarm when you're away, as well as setting it to night or stay mode, for your own safety while you're in for the night. Invest in a system that will alert the police (or fire station) immediately and your home phone should receive a call from them asking if everything is all right.

How to keep your house safe when moving?

1. Change your home's exterior door locks if you've recently moved in. For the optimum security, your home needs to be outfitted with strong deadbolts and door locks to keep your stuff and your family safe. You can do this yourself, as door locks are easy and inexpensive to replace.