How to Protect Equipment from Thieves

Construction site theft is big business—more than $1 billion annually according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. That figure includes $3 million a day in compact equipment such as skid-steer loaders, air compressors, generators, tools and other items.

Insurance certainly eases the financial burden, but not the problems associated with theft. Small independent owner/operators who lose all their tools cannot work until the tools are replaced. Larger contractors suffer as well as they have to pay employees for not working while waiting for new tools and equipment. Plus, contractors may have to rent equipment and there is always the possibility the job will not be completed on time.

Protecting Equipment

There are precautions you can take to guard against theft. Here are some suggestions from Kryptonite, a lock manufacturer that, like Bobcat Company, is an Ingersoll-Rand business (many Bobcat dealers carry Kryptonite products):

• Protect hand tools with braided steel flexible security cables and padlocks even if they are in a van or on-site storage shed. This also guards against unauthorized use and injuries.

• Install heavy-duty hasps on all vans, trailers and storage sheds, and secure with a professional grade padlock, such as Kryptonite’s solid steel padlock.

• Lock all equipment boxes on-site and in trucks/vans with professional grade padlocks. Never leave tools or equipment in the back of a truck or trailer without securing it with security chain and padlocks (Kryptonite has a line of security chains and padlocks).

• Order new equipment with deluxe instrument panels that include a keyless start security system (available on many Bobcat loaders), or install a similar system in current machines.

• Do not have deliveries made on Friday afternoon if items will not be used until Monday.

• Consider hiring a security guard for nights and weekends.

• Secure smaller items to larger items and trailers with security chains.

• Install fencing around the jobsite perimeter and lock gates with security chains.

• Inform local authorities about work times at the jobsite and ask for patrols during off hours and weekends.

• Involve employees in the active security plan. Offer incentives for assisting in preventing theft. Help in Recovering Equipment Here are some things you can do to increase the chances of recovering stolen equipment:

• Mark all equipment with your company logo or a bright color pattern. That will make your property less desirable to thieves and easier to identify if stolen.

• Record all serial numbers. Keep the list up-to-date and store it at an off-site location.

• Register equipment with manufacturers who have a registration program. Bobcat Company publishes an internal document for its dealers listing serial numbers of equipment reported stolen. If a machine is brought to a Bobcat dealer for service and its ownership is questionable, the dealer can verify if the unit was reported stolen.

• Register all equipment and tools with a nationally recognized organization such as the National Equipment Register (www.nerusa.com). Thieves will try to steal anything that’s not secured, and sometimes will succeed. Taking the necessary steps to protect your equipment and tools can be one of your most important investments.