Plant&Equipment

Review
Approximate estimates of the total value of plant
and equipment theft within the UK tend to settle
on a figure of about £100 million pounds per
annum – but this is for actual plant losses only –
and does not include the kinds of incidental costs
referred to above which could well double
this amount!
In providing practitioners and operators with
advice on how not to become a victim, the
biggest and third chapter in this guide is naturally
entitled How to Minimise The Risk of Plant and
Equipment Theft. A wealth of practical guidance
is available here in simple to understand terms
and this includes reference to:
Deterrent Systems – which can make plant
less appealing to a would-be thief – such as
by painting it a distinctive colour or by adding
identifying marks;
Preventative Systems – that can make it more
difficult to steal assets – such as by use of
physical locking mechanisms and alarms; and
Recovery Systems – which tend to locate or
track assets in transit – as a way to recover items
should they become stolen.
The guidance also covers plant personalisation,
hidden and overt marking systems, registration
schemes, various types of databases, alarm
configurations, immobilisers and numerous
recovery device options. Emphasis is given in the
discussion to latest technologies in the field, such
as the relevance of covert identifiers (including
radio frequency transmitters, DNA tagging and
chemical marking systems).
Recent developments in plant location systems
that utilise the (mobile phone) Global System for
Mobile Communications (GSM) location facility
are also explained – such progress has been
very useful in locating assets hidden in lorries,
containers and even underground car parks!
It is not overlooked that in addition to plant
security systems, site security is important
too – as is good operator practice, such
as remembering (or taking the time!) to fit
mechanical immobilisers at the end of the
working day. Finally, this chapter on
practical guidance concludes with discussion
on the installation and testing of security
systems and by offering advice on what to
do in the unfortunate event of becoming a
plant theft victim.
It would also seem an appropriate way to
conclude this article by repeating this advice.
So, if you do have an item of plant or equipment
stolen, then:
q
q
q
q
act right away, don’t ignore what has
happened;
inform all relevant parties, such as the
police and your insurer;
preserve any evidence, such as by
taking details of witnesses to the crime or
photographs of the crime scene; and
provide all relevant parties with as much
information as possible, to help them
recover your property.
With regard to the last point, it is critically
important to keep good records of your
assets – VIN numbers, database records and
photographs, for example. It is surprising just
how many plant owners do not record such
precious information!
Plant and Equipment Theft: A Practical Guide
(2nd Edition) is available to buy from the
OPERC on-line bookshop. Price £25.00
(special discounted price for OPERC
Members is just £17.50).
Order your copy right away!
February 2008
11