Comprehensive Guide for Heavy Machinery Theft Prevention and Recovery

Heavy machinery theft is a significant issue, often involving organised crime. These thefts occur in various settings, including farms, woodlands, domestic rural locations, and construction sites. The stolen machinery ranges from small items like sit-on mowers and quad bikes to large construction equipment. Here's a detailed guide on preventing theft and ensuring a swift recovery if it occurs.

Prevention Measures

  1. How to prevent machine theft?
    • Trackers: Install tracking devices on all machinery to enable real-time location monitoring.
    • Alarms: Equip machinery with alarms to deter thieves and alert you to unauthorised access.
    • Immobilisers: Use immobilisers to render machinery inoperable without the proper key or code.
    • CCTV: Set up surveillance cameras around storage areas to monitor and record any suspicious activity.
  1. Physical Barriers
    • Shackling and Chaining: Secure small items like quad bikes, sit-on mowers, and rotavators by shackling them together or chaining them to a fixed object such as a ground hitch or the structure of a building.
    • Locks and Immobilisers: Always lock and immobilise vehicles and equipment when not in use, and remove keys from unattended machinery.
  2. How do you mark tools against theft?
    • Unique Marks: Mark machinery with identifiable information such as your address number and postcode (e.g., 63 WR6 2BB). This helps police and recovery services quickly identify and return stolen items.
    • Machine Attachments: Mark attachments like drills, buckets, and ploughs with the same identifiable information.
  3. Property Log
    • Detailed Records: Keep a log of valuable items, including make, model, serial number, value, and description.
    • Photographic Evidence: Take photographs of all machinery and note any distinguishing marks and property markings.
    • Secure Storage: Store photos and records securely, either in a fire-proof safe, on a computer, or on a memory stick.

Steps to Take if Your Machinery is Stolen

  1. Immediately Report Theft
    • Call the Police: Contact the police immediately with as many details as possible. Dial 999 if the theft is in progress or report it online if it has already happened.
    • Tracking Companies: If using a tracking company, still report the theft to the police to get a crime report number. Provide this number to the tracking company to facilitate police assistance.
  2. Details to Provide to the Police
    • Machinery Information: Be ready to provide the make, model, serial number, chassis number, engine details, registration, color, and any distinguishing marks of the stolen machinery.
    • Theft Circumstances: Provide details about where the machinery was taken from, the last time it was seen, the time you noticed it missing, and whether there is CCTV footage.
    • Security Measures: Inform about any trackers fitted, the security company details, and whether the machinery is marked or protected by an immobiliser.
  3. Documentation to get from the police 
    • Crime Reference Number: Obtain and record the crime reference number for follow-ups with the police and to facilitate insurance claims.

By following these steps and maintaining robust security measures, you can significantly deter potential thieves and improve the chances of recovering your machinery if theft occurs. With tracking and security systems from Moving Intelligence we can be there to find and protect your investment. 

Back to General News