National Equipment Register

June, 2009 Equipment Theft Advisory

4th of July Holiday Warning

Theft reports to NER this spring show that organized criminal elements appear to be driving theft activity nationwide. In addition to typical isolated theft incidents which increase seasonally, thefts targeting specific machines and specific areas indicate the organized criminal element is very active, and increasing their activity in light of current economic conditions. As discussed in two specific alerts on the continued threat against commercial mowers and backhoe loaders, theft prevention measures and the usual deterrents may not be enough to stop these rings.

Thefts by the Numbers:
Top Theft States May, June 2009:
Texas
Georgia
Florida
California
Alabama
Top Types of Equipment Targeted

Tractors: compact, Subcompact and Utility
Commercial Mowers
Skid Steer Loaders
Utility Vehicles/Utility Carts
Backhoe Loaders
Top Theft Locations

Dealerships
Open Job Sites
Rental Yards
Storage Areas/Equipment Yards
Agricultural Fields
IT IS NO LONGER A QUESTION OF IF A THEFT WILL OCCUR BUT WHEN IT WILL OCCUR - RECOGNIZING THEFTS IN PROGRESS MUST BE A NEW FOCUS IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM


Undoubtedly, the organized criminal element and small time thieves will take advantage of slowdowns before and during the 4th of July Holiday. Industry and Law Enforcement must educate personnel to recognize and be prepared to respond to thefts in progress that currently are not being detected, allowing thieves to operate with near impunity.
CALL 911! NER strongly encourages any afterhours activity at dealerships, rental and contractor yards and job sites to be reported to local police immediately, especially vehicles entering or exiting the facilities. Companies should provide employees with this alert to raise awareness and increase the number of eyes on the lookout for thefts.
Law Enforcement should be on the alert that any afterhours activity at these locations is most likely criminal in nature- dispatch and patrol personnel must be made aware of this dramatically increasing trend, and provided information on how to respond by making use of NER and NICB's resources through NICB's Law Enforcement hotline- 800-447-6282
Industry should post emergency phone numbers at jobsites, yards and dealerships. Also be sure your emergency contact information on file with NER and the local Construction Industry Crime Prevention Programs is up to date. Update your company phone message with emergency contact information that will reach someone over the holiday.
Law Enforcement should contact NICB for NER's ownership information on any equipment stopped or examined. Any thefts occurring over the holiday no doubt will not be active thefts on NCIC; only the owners can confirm a machine is NOT STOLEN.
Organized Theft Rings

Commercial Mowers and Backhoes Targeted, Organized Rental Frauds

Commercial Mowers thefts and the incredible rate of Backhoe thefts in Miami have both been subjects of NER advisories in the past. Owners are taking steps to prevent theft, but these trends continue to gain steam with no sign of letting up.

Miami Area Backhoe Thefts
NER now lists 19 backhoe loaders stolen in Florida since January, the majority of thefts occurring in the greater Miami metropolitan area. Consistently the machines are stolen from job sites, at times just after workers leave. NER recommends that NO Backhoe Loaders be left on job sites, whether open or fenced, over the 4th of July weekend. All machines should be removed to secure, monitored storage preferably in doors. See the full advisory here:
http://www.stopequipmenttheft.com/NER_Theft_Advisory_Backhoes_Miami_June_09.pdf

The Commercial Mower Theft Juggernaut
Over the years, more enterprising and motivated criminal organizations appear to be involved in the thefts of commercial ride on mowers, and the incidents in 2009 show an alarming brazenness and very little apparent fear of discovery by the offenders. Dealers across the country have heeded warnings from NER and the manufacturers to protect equipment and engage local Law Enforcement before thefts occur. These efforts, though, appear to only motivate the thieves to more complex and premeditated burglaries. Thieves are using stolen commercial vehicles, rented U-Haul vans, and victim's rigs to steal the machines, after they often spend hours at the facilities assembling the machines from crates. They arrive with tools, batteries, fuses, relays and diesel fuel- anything they may need to get the targeted machines into operation. In one incident in Florida, thieves brought a custom constructed bridge specifically fitted to allow machines to traverse a large drainage ditch at a dealership.

Stopping thefts in progress, and connecting Law Enforcement across the country investigating these crimes may be the only way to disrupt this trend, and ease the tremendous financial impact it is having on the industry. Law Enforcement and the industry must work hand in hand to share information, and raise awareness among the general public. See the full advisory at:
http://www.stopequipmenttheft.com/NER_Theft_Advisory_Commercial_Mowers_June_09.pdf

Organized Rental Fraud Rings
Rental fraud and conversion is not a new plague afflicting the rental industry. An increase in organized frauds targeting an increased volume of property and equipment, though, is making the impact of this problem critical for the struggling rental industry. Law Enforcement is encouraged to work proactively with the industry to recognize these offenses as the orchestrated criminal behavior they are. The rental industry is encouraged to work within its own community, the American Rental Association and NER to share information on trends in order to forewarn potential victims and to help Law Enforcement locate offenders. See recent NER and ARA advisories on these acts at:
California Thefts By Fraud (involving potentially armed subjects) http://www.stopequipmenttheft.com/Rental_Fraud_Alert_California_6.4.09.pdf
Texas Identity Theft Fraud http://www.stopequipmenttheft.com/NER_Texas_Rental_Fraud_Alert_6.8.09.pdf
Texas Fraud Artists Pawn Machine http://www.stopequipmenttheft.com/ARA_Fraud_Alert_5.28.2009.pdf

View this advisory as a PDF online at:

www.stopequipmenttheft.com/Hotlist.html

National Equipment Register

skaufman@nerusa.com
561.843.3753
www.stopequipmen
theft.com