It’s Peak Commercial Equipment Theft Season. Keep Yours Safe

6 May 2015

Equipment theft is a big problem for businesses today. Commercial equipment is an attractive target because it is often left unattended overnight on job sites. All thieves need to do is drive onto the site after hours and load the equipment on a truck and drive off. Then they make big profits by selling the equipment as used equipment, selling it for parts, or shipping it illegally to other countries.

You do not need to let this sad tale happen to your business though. There are actions you can take to reduce your attractiveness as a target and aid in the recovery of stolen commercial equipment, like those mentioned below.

Improve After-Hour Lighting on Work Sites

Thieves do not want to be easily identified. Brightly lit worksites increase the odds that they will not only be caught in the act by passersby, but also that they will be easily recognizable if there are cameras or in police lineups if there are witnesses.

Secure the Perimeter of Worksites After Hours

This can be as simple as installing a fence around the perimeter and locking the gate at nights. Most thieves are after the easy target and will pass your site by if it seems secure. If that’s not possible to do, consider having nightly patrols or someone live onsite to monitor after hour activities.

Park or Place Heavy Equipment in Visible Areas

Thieves like to work in shadows. They don’t want to operate out in the open. Make sure that there are no obstructions that hide the equipment or people who may approach the equipment.

Use GPS Equipment Tracking

This is another tool in your arsenal that is most effective in the aftermath of a theft to track and recover your equipment that has been stolen. Whether the equipment is lawn and landscaping equipment, construction equipment, or any type of commercial equipment, GPS equipment tracking makes recovery a far more likely outcome than without it. It may even help to reduce your insurance premiums.

Pay Attention to Local News

This might not help if you’re the first in line, but make note of reports regarding the theft of commercial equipment as trends or upticks can indicate that you need to pay more attention to your equipment in order to prevent thefts from taking place.

Consider Moving Your Equipment at Night

Sometimes, the best option is to remove the equipment likely to be targeted. If thieves have nothing to target on your worksites, they’ll generally move along to other, target-rich environments instead.

Keep Meticulous Records

While this doesn’t necessarily prevent thefts, it does aid in the recovery and identification of stolen vehicles. Document all important numbers concerning your equipment and store the information in a safe place away from the construction site.

The more actions you take now to make your equipment less attractive to thieves, the less likely it becomes that your business will be targeted. These steps are all great places to begin.


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