During these hard economic times the surveying community has seen an increase in equipment theft. Stolen surveying equipment costs time, money and effort not only due to the loss of equipment but in the measures to replace it. Among the most commonly stolen tools are GPS and robotic equipment as well as total stations. We here at EngineerSupply have heard of stories of attempted surveying equipment theft. Don’t wait till after your equipment is stolen to set up security precautions. Thieves have been known to steal surveying equipment from offices, vehicles, sheds, job sites and from surveyors at gun point. Stay aware of crime trends in your area and notify your employees. Also consider enacting written security guidelines for your company before a theft occurs.
There are several precautionary steps you can take. Take pictures of your equipment and keep a list of their make, models, and serial numbers. Provide a copy of this list to your insurance company. Make sure your insurance covers all your equipment in every area of use (in the main office, company truck and on the job site). Discuss different coverage options and premiums. Label equipment with your name and contact information. Engraving and branding are the most permanent solutions. Label all the accessories (tripod, data collector, etc…) and parts (cases, batteries, etc…). This will help track down your equipment if it falls into the wrong hands.
Secure your equipment. I have heard some ingenious ways surveyors have done this. Such contraptions include locks, chains and even spiral corkscrews used to secure dog chains. Make sure that items in your truck are locked and secured to the truck. If you need to stop at a store, park where you can see the truck from the window. If this is not possible consider leaving someone with the vehicle while you run inside.
Leica Geosystems, Sokkia, Topcon and Trimble have built-in theft deterrent features on some of their equipment, ranging from unique PIN numbers to preset areas of operation. Sokkia also offers a theft database and will keep an eye out for any unusual orders for parts, accessories and manuals for items reported stolen.
If your equipment is stolen it is important to act quickly! Most thieves will not keep stolen merchandise but will want to move it quickly. Call local surveying equipment dealers, pawn shops, the manufacturer, report the theft to the police and also check with your state surveying association. Many surveying associations have systems in place to help surveyors report stolen equipment. Trace.com and pobonline.com are online sites that can be used to search and report stolen or lost items.
Keep in mind that surveying equipment theft involves two parts, those stealing the equipment and those willing to buy it. If you are thinking about purchasing used equipment, please make sure it is not stolen. Be careful when the equipment is not sold with the original accessories from the manufacturer like manuals and cases. Check the serial number on online theft databases such as trace.com and pobonline.com. Also check with your state surveying association as they might have a theft database. If you do find stolen equipment please report it to the police.
Of course, we recommend that you purchase new surveying equipment from a reputable factory authorized dealer like EngineerSupply. You're buying a piece of mind, knowing that it comes with the manufacturer’s warranty and you know that it is not stolen.
References;
http://www.trace.com
http://www.pobonline.com/Classified_Ads/Stolen_Equipment
