Landscape Management, February 2011

continued from page 20 FULL RECOVERY 76 100 7 86 0 25 26 50 5 51 75 2 0 25 75 11 76 100 8 26 50 6 51 75 WHAT WAS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THE EQUIPMENT THAT WAS STOLEN FROM YOU DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS More than 20000 13 10000 20000 11 WHAT PERCENT OF STOLEN EQUIPMENT THAT WAS RECOVERED INCURRED DAMAGES 0 18 43 1 5000 5000 10000 15 WHAT ADDITIONAL AMOUNT HAVE YOU SPENT REPLACING STOLEN EQUIPMENT DUE TO DAMAGE OR LOSS OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS 1 5000 48 12 5000 10000 9 More than 20000 6 10000 20000 25 0 Yes 7 93 No estimate that 25 of the equipment that is stolen is reported with inaccurate serial numbers she says Planned or a lark As pointed out earlier in this piece there are two basic types of theft pre meditated and opportunity theft meaning someone sees something they can easily steal thanks to carelessness or poor security and off they go with the item Sometimes its dif cult to determine which is at play Drew Roberts CPCU ARM an Orlando FL area agent specializing in writing schedules for Florida landscape companies says about half of the major theft claims his agency has received are from owners whose trailers and equipment were snagged from storage sites The other half was the result of trailers stolen from jobsites Roberts whose BearWise Landscapers is a division of Black Bear Agency says its dif cult to assess how many smaller pieces of equipment are stolen from landscape companies because equipment loss coverage theft re hurricane etc generally carries a 500 deductible and these losses are usually eaten by the owners he says But according to Roberts major factors contributing to theft include the value of the equipment newer units are more likely to be targeted than older ones poor equipment and site security the relative ease of selling stolen goods in the used equipment market and low risk of detection and prosecution Professional jobs are not uncommon LoJack which offers vehicle and equipment tracking solutions says its helped law enforcement uncover more than 80 construction equipment theft rings and chop shops since 2000 The recovery rate for stolen larger production equipment is depressingly low just 18 in 2009 according to statistics maintained by the National Crime Information continued on page 26 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET FEBRUARY 2011 24 ON AVERAGE WHAT PERCENT OF YOUR STOLEN EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN RECOVERED DO YOU USE TRACKING DEVICES ON YOUR EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT THEFT Better security and lighting at storage facility 59 IS YOUR EQUIPMENT INSURED No 14 86 Yes PHOTOS BY ISTOCK INTERNATIONAL INC DETERRING THIEVES WHAT MEASURES HAVE YOU TAKEN TO AVOID OR DECREASE EQUIPMENT THEFT BY OUTSIDERS Better security on trucks and or investing in enclosed trailers trucks 49 Keep better records of equipment PINs serial numbers make model and year 38 More tracking devices and labeling on equipment 25 Request more visits patrols from local law enforcement agencies 17 Remove components to prevent equipment operation 14