Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/201186
reporter | by Equipment World staff Less equipment is being stolen in the U.S., but getting your stuff back is still a big problem T he National Insurance Crime Bureau released its annual report showing a 7 percent drop in heavy equipment thefts since last year and a 19 percent drop since 2008. But the real kick in the pants contained in this report – only 20 percent of this stolen equipment is ever recovered. The NICB co-produces the report with the National Equipment Register (NER), and examines heavy equipment theft data submitted by law enforcement to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). It also profiles that data according to state, city, month, equipment manufacturer, equipment style (type) and year of manufacture. A total of 10,925 pieces of heavy equipment were stolen last year, according to the report. Mowers were the most popular item, followed by skid steers and tractors. John Deere equipment was the most popular brand among thieves with Kubota, Bobcat, Caterpillar and Toro, respectively, close behind. The NICB has a few tips for deterring thieves. These include using hidden fuel cutoff systems and removable fuses, parking equipment in clusters to make it hard to extract, the use of sleeve locks that fix backhoe outriggers in the extended position and hydraulic locks that make it impossible to drive articulating equipment in anything but a tight circle. To help law enforcement with recovery efforts, you should also maintain a photo archive and a specific list of the PIN and component part serial numbers of each piece of heavy equipment in your fleet. Telematics geofencing and other manufacturer and OEM solutions are likewise good theft deterrents. Anyone with information concerning heavy equipment theft or insurance fraud can report it anonymously by calling (800) 835-6422, texting keyword "fraud" to TIP411 (847411) or by visiting the NICB web site at www.nicb.org. – Tom Jackson Vermeer names Ultimate HDD Operator F ollowing a year-long social media campaign, Vermeer named Derrick Pursley the "Ultimate Operator" of horizontal directional drilling at ICUEE 2013. Pursley submitted the winning video to Vermeer's Navigator Nation operator appreciation campaign, beating out more than 100 videos entered. "We pride ourselves that we don't leave until the job is done," said Pursley in the video. "We work with expensive, high-tech equipment. The thing I enjoy most is the sense of satisfaction you get when you complete the job." Before joining the construction industry as an HDD operator, Pursley says he was a professional golfer for three years. "Big change," he says. "In this industry each day is different," added Pursley in the release announcing his win. "I continuously learn something new. I've had jobs in the past where I didn't want to go to work, but I've never had that feeling in this business. I enjoy what I do, and I'm proud to do it." A native of Andrews, Texas, Pursley graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso with a degree in business management. He joined pipeline and utility contractor West Texas Boring Company in 2001. He now lives in Odessa, Texas. – Marcia Gruver Doyle EquipmentWorld.com | November 2013 13