Equipment Theft: The Most Stolen Machines
Heavy-duty equipment theft costs U.S. businesses around $1 billion a year. That’s only for stolen equipment. It doesn’t cover the cost of materials, tools stolen, or the loss of productivity from shutdowns or delays.
For heavy equipment alone, the National Equipment Register (NER)—a service that collects theft data to share with insurers, equipment owners, and law enforcement—estimates the average loss from a single theft of one machine is $30,000. That is obviously inconvenient for a large business that’s on a deadline for a project, but it can be absolutely devastating for a small business owner that might not be able to afford to rent a back-up in time to fulfill a contract.
Since we’re in the business of helping heavy-duty equipment businesses move forward, we took a look at some of the most commonly stolen machines and brands. Here is what machine owners need to look out for when it comes to theft, plus some suggestions to better safeguard your equipment.
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Top Targets
According to the NER, the most frequently stolen types of heavy-duty equipment include:
- Skid Steer Loaders
- Backhoe Loaders
- Excavators (including mini excavators)
- Bulldozers
- Wheeled or Tracked Loaders
- Trailers and Recreational Vehicles that might be used for office space or tool storage
- Utility Vehicles such as trucks, golf carts, transportation trailers
This is in addition to towable items such as generators, light towers, woodchippers, and battery charging stations.
Theft By Brand
Statistics and rankings can differ depending on the source and the timeframe, but some of the brands (listed in no particular order) that are the most targeted in construction equipment theft reports include the following:
This does not at all imply that other makes and models are exempt from theft.
Motives
Some of the factors that contribute to the targeting of specific pieces of equipment or brands include:
- Resale Value. There is a high demand for used heavy-duty equipment and parts, making these vehicles a very profitable risk for thieves. Because of the high demand and the fact that the items stolen are generally very expensive pieces of machinery, thieves can get a significant payday from just one unit.
- Lack Of Security. Thieves look for construction sites that lack adequate security, making it easy for them to complete their task(s) without even being noticed.
- Identification. Unlike passenger vehicles that have a vehicle identification number (VIN) right off the line, many types of heavy equipment do not have any kind of standardized or tracked codes that can help law enforcement positively identify a stolen item. Because of this, the recovery rate for stolen heavy-duty equipment is only around 20–25%, which is a signal to thieves that they can receive a big payoff with a small risk of being caught or prosecuted.
Theft Prevention
For any business operator who owns heavy-duty equipment, there are several things you can do to mitigate the threat and prevent equipment theft. Yes, some of these measures will add to your overall expenses and operating costs, but the value in the long run may be well worth a little extra effort, especially if you are a small business owner and the loss of even one piece of equipment could make it extremely hard to recover. Even if insurance will cover the cost of the stolen machine, your inability to fulfill contractual work while you’re waiting for a replacement could be devastating.
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With that in mind, here are a few things you can do to protect your equipment and business:
- Site Security. Heavy-duty equipment is difficult (and can be costly) to move around, which means companies often leave their machines on the job site. A vehicle out in the open is an easier target than one that’s behind a chain-link fence if you can create an area to make that happen. In addition, if you put up lighting and add cameras to watch for activity, that alone makes your equipment less attractive as a potential target.
- Vehicle Security. First and foremost, instruct your operators to always remove the keys from the equipment at the end of the day/shift. You may even want to create a procedure where the keys are turned over to a supervisor who is responsible for locking the keys in a secure spot. Additionally, you can install hidden fuel shutoff systems or other anti-theft devices that will make it more difficult for someone to drive off with your property. Yes, they can still load it on a truck and haul it off, but unless they just plan to chop it up for parts, they won’t be able to sell a usable product.
- Registration And Tracking. It’s a good idea to register your equipment with a national database such as the NER. Installing tracking devices to help recover equipment is also a great suggestion. If nothing else, keep detailed records of any serial numbers or other tracking information that can help to identify your equipment if it is stolen and later recovered.
Barrett Baker