Most construction equipment is large, but that doesn’t stop thieves from theft at jobsites. In fact, construction equipment thieves are increasingly part of large, organized-crime rings that target high-value equipment.
Unlike VIN (vehicle identification numbers), construction equipment does not have standardization in PIN (production identification numbers). This makes the assets more difficult to track and recover by law enforcement.
This is where technology enters the equation. Announced in early November, LoJack, a subsidiary of CalAmp, announced that law-enforcement officials throughout the United States recovered more than $6.6 million in stolen construction equipment and machinery equipped with the LoJack system.
Additionally, since this study began, more than $180 million worth of stolen heavy equipment has been recovered using the system.
In 2015, the top equipment types recovered where as those most popular on the jobsite. This includes towables such as generators, air compressors, cement mixers and welders. It also includes wheeled and tracked loaders, skid loaders, excavators and utility task vehicles.
Being able to locate stolen equipment is essential—as it helps saving money, heighten efficiency and eliminate missed schedule deadlines when equipment is stolen.
