Get In the Know:

Protect Your Equipment from Theft

Presented by

Agenda
Equipment Theft:

A Large and Growing Problem

Facts You Should Know:

The Who, What, When, Where & Why of Theft

Protecting Your Equipment From Theft:

A Practical, Step-by-Step Approach

Questions & Answers

Equipment Theft:
Large and Growing Problem

Equipment Theft: The Problem

Annual cost of theft as high as $1

billion

72% have experienced theft

76% never saw their equipment

again

65% of equipment recovered was

damaged

Source - NICB

Has your company

experienced
equipment theft in
the last 5 years?
Source LoJack 2005 Theft Study

The Price of Equipment Theft

Direct Costs

Initial investment

Deductibles

Project delays

Equipment replacement

The Price
Hidden
Costs of Equipment Theft
Beyond the loss of equipment, what other impact
has equipment theft had on your firm?
37%
35%

23%

21%

9%

Losses from
Uninsured
Equipment

Costs for
Added Site
Security

Source LoJack 2006 Theft Study

Job Delays

Increased
Insurance
Premiums

Contract
Penalties

Facts You Should Know:

The Who, What, When, Where
& Why of Theft

Whos Behind Theft and Why?

Organized crime rings
They know just what they wantand how to get it
A profitable undertaking
Most heavy equipment carries a hefty price tag
With typically low risks
Lack of site/vehicle security & investigation issues
Lack of attention from law enforcement
Lack of familiarity with equipment

What is the Most Common Stolen

Equipment?

Thieves target equipment that is:

In-demand and easy to resell
Easy to remove from jobsites
Smaller and more versatile
Skid steers, mini-excavators, mini-track loaders
Towables: easy pickins
Generators, compressors, welders

Top Stolen Equipment

2007 Top Stolen Equipment Categories
1

Skid Steers

Backhoe / Skip Loaders /

Wheel Loaders/ Track Loaders

Generators/ Air Compressors/

Welders (Towables)

Light Utility/ Work Trucks and

Trailers

Forklifts and Scissor Lifts

Dump Trucks

Source LoJack 2007 Theft Study

Where & When is Equipment Stolen?

Equipment is typically
stolen from jobsites

Equipment yards /
storage facilities are
also targeted

The vast majority of

equipment thieves
operate at night
Weekend thefts are
common
Theft often not discovered
until Monday morning

Source LoJack Theft Study

What Happens to Stolen Equipment?

Taken to a remote location for a cooling

off period or concealed in a garage/ warehouse

Taken to another job site

Taken to a theft ring operation where PINs are removed

and item is readied for resale

Hot States for Theft - 2007

Hot Theft State

Source LoJack 2007 Theft Study

Why is Equipment Vulnerable to Theft?

Theft detection issues

Remote sites, weak inventory control
Relatively easy to change identity of equipment
No unique identifiers
Law enforcement usually more focused on vehicle theft

And

investigation challenges
Lack of standards for PINs, S/Ns
Lack of documentation for equipment

Protecting Your Equipment From Theft:

A Practical, Step-by-Step Approach

How to Protect Your Equipment and

Business From Theft
Good Records are Essential

Label equipment with unique identifying numbers

Product Identification Numbers (PIN)
Owner Applied Number (OAN)
Mark numbers in multiple locations

Keep accurate inventory records

Record manufacturer, model number, year, PIN and
purchase date
Record serial numbers of each major component part

How to Protect Your Business and

Equipment from Theft
Focus on Physical Security
Fence in or park equipment together to deter access
Communicate with law enforcement
Request more frequent patrols
Use immobilization devices such as wheel locks, fuel
shut-offs or ignition locks
Install battery-disconnect switches
Install equipment tracking devices for:
Equipment recovery (LoJack) or
Asset management (GPS solutions)
Register equipment with a national database

What to do if Equipment is Stolen

Contact police immediately to file a stolen equipment

report

Provide the following information:

Manufacturer
Model number and color
Serial or Product Identification Number (PIN)
Date of purchase
Identifying marks
File an insurance claim within 24 hours of theft
Provide a copy of the police report or the case
number
Spread the word

Commercial Recovery Story Highlights

Stolen Mini Excavator Leads to Shipping Container

A LoJack-equipped Takeuchi Mini Excavator was

stolen from a rental company in VA and tracked to a
ship docked at a SC port.
Officials followed the signal to a shipping container and
found the mini excavator and two Bobcat skid steers, a
John Deer skid steer, two trailers and a rotary hammer.
The equipments journey began at three different rental
companies in VA and then moved to Chicago and NY
before landing at the ship in SC.
Total value of the recovery was $175,000.

Commercial Recovery Story Highlights Cont.

LoJack System Leads Chicago-Area Police to Bust $900k
Construction Theft Ring

By tracking a LoJack-equipped International truck,

Chicago-area police discovered a major chop shop
involving several stolen trucks and more than 30 pieces
of equipment valued at $900,000.
The site was declared a hazmat zone because so much
diesel fuel and other toxic substances had been dumped
on the ground without any precautions.
Police apprehended the criminals behind this organized
theft ring.

Commercial Recovery Story Highlights Cont.

Aircraft Tracks Roller to Theft Ring

A Caterpillar Asphalt Roller and trailer were stolen

from a construction site in Fresno County.
Five hours later the flight crew of the California
Highway Patrol picked up the LoJack signal, and
tracked the equipment to a residence in Raisin City.
Auto theft investigators not only found the roller and
trailer, but also a Bobcat, three John Deere Tractors, a
Yamaha ATV, an Airman Compressor and two farm
implement trailers all of which were stolen.
Total value of theft ring bust was $200,000.

Resources

National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB)

LoJack Corporation

Associated Equipment Distributors (AED)

Association of Equipment Management Professionals (AEMP)

Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA)

Stolen Heavy Construction Equipment Bulletin

Association of General Contractors (AGC)

California Crime Prevention Council

International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI)

Industry Publications

Questions & Answers