How to Find a Stolen Excavator

Heavy-equipment owners can take precautionary steps to help recover stolen property.

According to the National Equipment Register (NER), "hundreds of millions of dollars of mobile equipment is stolen from construction sites and farms throughout North America every year. Most of this equipment is never recovered." However, owners of excavators and other, similar machinery can increase the chances of recovering their stolen property by taking a few simple measures preceding and directly following a robbery.

Instructions

1. Register the excavator with a certified agency, such as the National Equipment Register. These agencies file the excavator's Product Identification Number (PIN) and other information in a database that insurance agents and law enforcement officials can use to identify a machine's proper owner in case of theft.

2. 

   GPS units can track stolen excavators.

   Make an inventory of all items in and any conspicuous marks on the excavator. This list may help speed recovery in several ways. Identifiers such as dents or chips in the paint can help used-equipment salespeople recognize a stolen excavator, while law enforcement agencies can use electronic devices such as GPS to track the location of missing equipment.

3. 

   Contact law enforcement immediately following an equipment theft.

   Contact law enforcement immediately following a theft. The shorter the lag-time between a theft and the ensuing investigation, the greater the likelihood the stolen excavator will be recovered.

4. 

   Criminals often go to used-equipment lots to unload stolen goods.

   Notify your insurer that the excavator is missing. Many insurance agencies will assist in investigations of stolen property to avoid paying to replace the stolen item.

5. Report the stolen excavator to publications and websites that run advertisements for used machinery. These organizations will often check to ensure that the stolen excavator does not appear in their listings, and will give buyers the information they need to recognize stolen equipment.

6. Report the stolen excavator to contacts in the construction or equipment-selling businesses. This kind of personal appeal will increase local awareness of the theft and may ultimately be more effective than contacting a national registry. Stolen equipment is often kept in close proximity of the scene of the crime.

Tips & Warnings

• Always contact law enforcement officials about leads on a stolen excavator. Attempting to recover stolen equipment on your own may lead to a dangerous situation.

References

• National Equipment Registry: HELPtech
• Machinery Trader: Stolen Equipment Listings
• The Register Herald: Stolen Excavator Recovered Via GPS

Resources

• National Equipment Register