Construction Equipment Theft

Building and Construction work is a tough, expensive business. It is critically important to have the right type and quantity of equipment available to complete projects. This means that medium and larger contractors have a lot of money invested in their machinery. Unfortunately, contractors face a problem that appears to be inherent…equipment theft. The most popular theft targets are:

Generators/air compressors/welders
Skid steers

Loaders (backhoe, skip, wheel and track)
Lifts (Fork and Scissors)
Light Utility Work Trucks and trailers

There are numerous reasons why construction equipment theft is so prevalent.

Since equipment theft is very profitable, professional theft rings are common. Naturally,a large number of thieves with a high level of proficiency increase the volume of thefts.
Unlike autos, trucks, SUVs, and vans, there is no comparable level of registration or title documentation for construction equipment.
There is no standard for placing unique identification numbers on such equipment. The poor ability to track ownership makes the stolen equipment easy to sell. This is the primary reason that stolen equipment is not usually recovered.
To make equipment easy to use, different equipment manufacturers use a similar key entry system so that a master key can be acquired and used by thieves.
Most large construction projects are outdoors and at various sites; equipment is often stored without special security or locks.
Construction sites are usually unoccupied and unsupervised on weekends so that thefts may go unreported for long periods of time.
Equipment components are highly standardized, so equipment is vulnerable for theft for purposes of chopping and re-selling the parts

There are ways to help minimize theft losses. One method is the registration of construction equipment. Registered equipment should be conspicuously marked with the registration information. Engine, serial, and transmission numbers are all suitable for use with an equipment registry. Other theft deterrents are mechanical security devices (for instance, tire clamps or boots), electric lockdown devices, and/or use methods (such as LoJack or GPS systems) to track equipment deployed at remote job sites and after they are stolen. Other methods are the use of more lighting and cameras around equipment storage areas, the use of fencing, and making it more difficult to get access to smaller equipment.  It is also helpful to weld company name and other information onto otherwise unmarked equipment (such as buckets, skids, booms, frames, cranes, etc.) and report theft losses quickly.

As an incentive to promote anti-theft efforts, some insurers award companies that use various security measures by applying premium discounts, reimbursing vehicle registration fees, or waiving deductibles for stolen equipment. A Hertvik Insurance Group professional is just the person to contact to discuss this very important issue.