Dealing with suspected stolen excavation equipment
Friday September 4, 2009
Stolen excavation equipment is a major issue in the excavation industry with estimated annual costs being approximately $1 billion dollars in the US alone. This figure has reportedly been rising as much as 20 per cent per year. Stolen excavation equipment costs impact not only for the actual cost of the machine, but to rental replacement, project downtime, management and company costs and project overrun penalties.
There are measures that every company and individual in the excavation industry can take to both protect their own machinery and from purchasing stolen equipment. It is important to protect your equipment.
Lose the traditional key ignition system and switch to computer coded ignitions systems, this is becoming an industry-wide preference with Caterpillar now offering new key ignition systems. This technology will stop anyone being able to bypass the ignition.
Another industry favourite to prevent your excavation equipment being stolen is to weld a large piece of rectangular steel plate to any compressors, generators or lighting platforms. By welding metal the same size as a tire onto a wheel rim, you can place your equipment on site and "remove one wheel and rim, and install the rectangular square onto the wheel rim housing and then use a set of "locking wheel lug nuts" to bolt it on. No one can then hook on and drive away with your equipment", according to Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association.
You can also attach a "Denver Boot", which can immobilize your equipment from being hooked up and towed away.
It doesn't even have to be that complicated. Protecting your own excavation machinery can be as simple as putting your name on it. Many companies are now inscribing their company details and relevant contact details on every attachable part of the equipment, including the body. This means everything from the frame, the bucket and boom with large clear writing and insignia.
What's more, company security in addition to monitoring, protection and tracking systems are able to track equipment if it is stolen, with the sign notifying GPS tracking being a good theft deterrent anyway.
Besides protecting yourself against theft it is important to be aware of the stolen excavation equipment industry and understand the signs of stolen equipment. Whenever buying equipment, you should verify any equipment identification information with the national earth moving equipment registry. Additionally, a simple check online to see reports of stolen or missing excavation equipment may also help prove the legality of seller and their products.
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