The manufacturer of a technology that will allow police to identify the origin of stolen heavy building equipment said a deal is in the works for a major insurer to offer a price break to owners that use the marking system.

Identification Technologies at the same time announced yesterday they have combined with the National Equipment Register to use the DataDotDNA marking technology and NER's database services to create an identification and registration system to deter equipment theft and aid in its recovery if stolen.

Rohan Claringbold, president of Identification Technologies in Seattle, Wash., said the arrangement being discussed with the insurer would provide full coverage for equipment and waiver of the normal $10,000 deductible.

The marker system uses a special paint manufactured by DataDot of Sydney, Australia that he said has been in use for some time in other locations and for other applications.

The system uses thousands of microscopic identification chips containing a unique number that is either painted or sprayed onto each machine.

Mr. Claringbold said the one-time cost for the paint application is $125, adding that it does not affect the mechanics or cosmetics of the machinery, and is virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Law enforcement authorities can bring up the number by using black light and marker scopes that they currently have on hand to pick out traces of bodily fluids and fingerprints at crime scenes.

He said that automaker Nissan had been having a problem with theft of its vehicles' headlights, but after using the ID system it saw such crimes reduced by 80 percent.

The program with NER will be called Heavy Equipment Loss Prevention Technology DNA (HELPtechDNA). Once applied, all HELPtechDNA numbers will be registered on the NER database that is used by police agencies through the country to identify the true owner of equipment.

Each pot of HELPtechDNA contains the microchips premixed in a specially designed durable adhesive that contains an ultraviolet trace. When a law enforcement officer shines a black light over an area where HELPtechDNA has been applied, it will fluoresce, alerting them to their existence.

The equipment registry said once located, the HELPtechDNA number can be easily read with an x30 powered magnifier and the owner located on the NER database.

Each kit contains a number of HELPtechDNA Warning Labels and signs that are placed on the machines and around the premises, sending a clear message to would-be thieves that the machine is identifiable and traceable by law enforcement.

“With equipment owners suffering from losses on a financial level and communities also being affected via additional crimes and illegal activities based on equipment theft, HELPtechDNA is putting thieves on notice,” said Mr. Claringbold.

NER President David Shillingford added that “the design of worksites and mobile equipment makes it very difficult to stop a determined thief from stealing equipment. The most powerful deterrent is therefore to increase the chance of detection, arrest and conviction–HELPtechDNA does this. The simplicity of HELPtechDNA makes it easy and cost-effective.”

Dealerships and distributors who are interested in offering HELPtechDNA can contact HELPtechDNA at 425-837-1709.

Special Reports /

New System To Counter Heavy Equipment Theft

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