Each year, the National EquipmentRegister (NER) and the NationalInsurance Crime Bureau (NICB)track heavy equipment theft reports and compile a list of the mostcommonly stolen pieces of machinery as well as the states in whichthefts are most likely to occur.

The report uses data from the National Crime Information Center(NCIC), the NICB, and NER to provide a comprehensive analysis ofheavy-equipment theft during the year, with the goal of helpingprovide insurance companies and others with information that can beused to help allocate investigative resources and influence theftprevention efforts.

In 2010, the NCIC received 13,374 theft reports. In descendingorder, the five states with the most incidents of heavy-equipmenttheft were:

• Texas
• Florida
• North Carolina
• Georgia, and
• South Carolina.

Together, those five states accounted for 43 percent of totalequipment theft. Rounding out the top 10 were California,Tennessee, Oklahoma, Alabama, and Ohio. The top 10 states accountedfor 61 percent of all thefts. Last year, just 19 percent of heavyequipment stolen was recovered.

Below and on the following pages are the top pieces of heavyequipment most often stolen in 2010, as compiled by the NER andNICB.

Mower, Riding, or Garden Tractor – 47percent

Readily transportable, often left unused for long periods oftime, and easily resold, this category tops the list. It is theonly category on the list considered to be a consumer item. Quicksale prices ranging from $4 to $10K make this an affordable pieceof equipment for homeowners, also leading to high supply and demandfor this category.

Source: NER, NICB

Tractor – 13percent

A broad category with a wide range in value from $10K to $50K,including compact, utility, and agricultural tractors. Thiscategory has much of the same allure as mowers. Typically, only asmall equipment trailer is needed to move tractors, while mostmowers can be lifted into a van or pickup.

Source: NER, NICB

Skid Steer – 11percent

This is the most versatile and compact style of earth-movingequipment. New skid steers tend to range from $30K to $50K and areoften resold quickly, netting a thief several thousand dollars incash. A skid steer can be moved by large pickups and smallequipment trailers and are small enough to be hidden in residentialareas.

Source: NER, NICB

Backhoe – 5percent

New backhoes often cost between $70 and $90K and generallyrequire a full-size truck and trailer to move. The theft ofbackhoes and larger items is typically carried out by professionalthieves with experience in the construction industry. Thequantity-to-cost ratio makes backhoes account for a large portionof equipment-theft value.

Source: NER, NICB

Forklift – 3percent

A useful machine for any yard or warehouse, forklifts can easilybe transported on flatbed tow trucks and equipment trailers — eventhough they are heavy and unruly for their size. Additionally,there are numerous mobile forklifts manufactured to be transportedon the back of flatbeds and trailers.

Source: NER, NICB

Excavator – 2percent

This category encompasses mini- to full-sized excavators and canrange in value from $25K to $80K. Stolen excavators are usuallysmaller, rubber-tracked units that are easier to move and hide. Theallure of larger units that can cost hundreds of thousands ofdollars is also very tempting to the professional-equipmentthief.

Source: NER, NICB

Welder, Generator, and Compressor – 2percent

This category accounts for a small percentage of overallequipment theft, reflecting the larger problem of poor recordkeeping and misreporting. These items are easily portable and oftentrailer-mounted, making them very easy to steal. But many of theseunits are reported without serial numbers or as mounted on otheritems, so it is difficult to quantify the true scope of theft.

Source: NER, NICB

Wheel Loader – 1percent

Wheel loaders vary greatly in size, from smaller machines oftenused on farms to full-sized articulated units whose tires alonegenerally cost several thousand dollars each. Generally, midsizedunits are most likely to be stolen. Larger machines createoversized loads that often draw the attention of highwaypatrols.

Source: NER, NICB

Dozer – 1 percent

Heavy and steel-tracked dozers require larger trucks andtrailers than most noncommercial parties are likely to possess.Additionally, the wide blade of a dozer will often have to beremoved to transport safely on the road. That adds to loading time,increasing thieves’ exposure to observation, and leading them tosteal smaller units. These machines are very valuable and can bepurchased on the used market for $25K to $100K. Because of thedifficulty associated with transporting these machines, they aregenerally the target of a professional theft ring rather than acrime of opportunity.

Source: NER, NICB

Trencher – 1percent

Most trenchers are built to be easily transportable, making thema ready target for thieves. Geared to the specific task oftrenching, they may be viewed by some as a time-saving tool morethan a necessity. That makes the prospect of buying a stolen unitfor a fraction of what it is worth very tempting to an enduser.

Source: NER, NICB

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