The National Equipment Register (NER) reports that less than 25% of stolen equipment is ever recovered with losses amounting to $1 billion a year.
You may think you have adequate security in place, but thieves use clever methods to steal your stuff. And you can’t assume the police will be able to track down your property with the odds of seeing it again not in your favor.
So how can you get creative and outsmart the would-be thieves? We’ve got three new security tips for you to put into action:
Tip #1: Use A GPS Decoy
Thieves are often smart enough to look for and remove GPS trackers on heavy equipment like bulldozers.
To avoid this, start by concealing your GPS device in a hard-to-reach area.
Then – fool them!
Add a decoy GPS tracker in a location they will likely find and remove. This leaves the bad actor thinking they’re in the clear from being connected to the crime.
When, in reality, your cleverly hidden GPS tracker can help lead investigators right to the stolen item. This tactic was instrumental in recovering a $95,000 skid steer that was stolen in Chicago!
Tip #2: Label Vehicle IDs in Multiple Locations
Vehicle identification numbers and serial numbers can easily be eliminated or scratched off by criminals. Etch or engrave them in multiple locations on your equipment, especially in areas where these identification numbers don’t typically appear.
But make sure it stays readable for years to come and keep a record of the ID numbers for each piece of your equipment.
When thieves don’t successfully remove this info it can be used by police to prove theft and help recover the item as they did in Newberry County, South Carolina.
Tip #3: Unplug Batteries
Most heavy equipment can be turned on using a master key. If a thief gets access to this universal access pass, your equipment is in jeopardy.
One way to combat this is by taking an extra step when packing up for the night.
Unplug the batteries inside machinery to slow criminals down. They likely won’t take the time to look under the hood and will take off empty-handed before they get caught.
While these are ways to get creative and fool thieves, the greatest strategy of them all is to layer these tactics with Remote Video Monitoring (RVM) to build the ultimate heavy equipment security solution.
With Pro-Vigil’s RVM solutions you get:
- High-definition cameras
- Artificial intelligence (AI) that can help spot suspicious activity when you’re not watching
- Proactive audiovisual deterrents like strobe lights and blaring sirens
- Highly trained human remote guards
- Best response time in the industry
- 360-degree surveillance 24/7
Find out more about securing your equipment and construction sites with a veteran video surveillance company by contacting us today.
If you want to dive deeper into the issue of heavy equipment theft and how to stop it, check out our eBook, The 411 On Heavy Equipment Theft – Pro-Vigil
