With the cost of plant theft estimated at around £400 million per year, it is clear that action must be taken to tackle the problem. Of course, theft is something which cannot be stopped as such, but here we have five ideas for you to use in order to significantly lower the chances of having your valuable equipment stolen, and increase the chances of finding it if you are the victim of crime.

1. Marking and registration

A very simply way of deterring thieves is by painting your equipment with company colours or such. Alternatively, mark as many parts of the equipment as possible with a unique number. This will make it easier to identify parts if your equipment is stripped down. You should also consider fitting a secure identifier bearing your company’s details and a 24 hour telephone number which the police can use to contact you with. Finally, record all equipment in an asset register and with a recognised database such as CESAR, the Construction Equipment Security and Registration scheme, which sets the standard for marking and registration and has played a major role in reducing plant theft in recent years.

2. Secure the site

Begin by appointing a responsible employee to manage equipment at your site. Consider using physical restraints to reduce plant theft; driven equipment with steering locks will prove difficult to steal. Site security should also be reviewed. Store equipment securely- particularly hand-held equipment- use CCTV and advertise this fact around the site to deter potential criminals.

3. Use conveyance notes

Many examples of plant theft occur during the movement of plant equipment. Issue the designated driver with a conveyance note with detailed delivery instructions and contact details. Ensure that the driver knows who the recipient is, and that he gets that person to sign the conveyance note on receipt of the equipment. Be sure to update the company plant register of any equipment movements.

4. Be wary when buying or selling

If you do not ask the seller for plant identification documents, you could be unwittingly partaking in plant theft and could end up under investigation and out of pocket. Also remember: if a deal looks to good to be true, then it probably is. When selling equipment, take normal procedures as when selling a car second-hand. Finally, if you are hiring equipment, ensure you get a detailed hire agreement

5. Consider security systems

There are a number of different systems available which can provide extra security for your equipment. SATRAK offers a number of different options which can track and immobilise your equipment if you are the victim of theft, making it easy to locate, recover, and find those responsible.

Plant theft is a huge problem for the industry, but by ensuring the security of your equipment and site by following these steps, you can reduce the chances of becoming a victim. The industry is slowly cracking down on theft and by ensuring the security of your plant equipment, you can help to deter criminals.