AGCO Spring 2010 : Page 17▶SOURCE: Equipment crimes construction trailers. They are also versatile, which means there is a larger buyer pool for them, says Shepherd. Hallonquist was lucky when his small tractor was stolen. Although damaged, at least it was found with the help of the Texas Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA), a group commissioned by Texas and Oklahoma government agencies to investigate farm, ranch and agricultural thefts. Jimmy Belt, a special ranger with the TSCRA, says that in Texas alone, TSCRA recovers an average of $5 million worth of cattle and ranch- related property and equipment each year. He agrees with NER and NICB statistics; because Texas is a big farming and ranching state, there is a lot of equipment to be potentially stolen. And there are numerous absentee landowners—having no reported to National Crime Information Center in 2008 Stolen? What Gets Mowers,Garden Tractors 37% Loaders 26% Utility & Ag Tractors 15% Forklifts 4% Generators, Welders, Compressors 3% Excavators 3% Bulldozers 2% All Other Equipment 10% one around encourages crimes of opportunity.With no witnesses and plenty of time to pick locks, equipment can be an easy target. Hidden Costs. Most statistics track the value of stolen equipment, but as NER representatives point out, these numbers do not include other significant losses due to short-term equipment rental costs, project delays, down time and efforts to find stolen property. Even these hidden losses add up. And while prevention may be next to impossible, there are, say the experts, many steps farmers and ranchers can undertake to make their property less attractive to thieves. Yes, these deterrent efforts may themselves require time and money to implement. They are, however, much cheaper than losing a tool, tank or tractor. n ▶▶Use GPS trackers. But before you buy, make sure the technology works in your area. Some cellular-based devices might not have coverage in certain rural areas. You also need to weigh the costs. Some of these devices can cost as much as $600. if your equipment gets stolen... ▶▶Report your loss to law enforcement, as well as your insurer and a specialist service (such as NER) to increase chances of recovery. ▶▶Communicate with neighbors and others in the community, especially people with similar equipment. Let local ag retailers and grain elevator managers know. ▶ ▶Contact the equipment manufacturer about the theft. Many dealer networks maintain “hot” lists. ▶ ▶Offer a reward through NER’s Stolen Equipment Hotline at 866-637-8477. ▶▶Contact sources, such as the ACTION network in California (see page 14) and Farm Bureaus, who have e-mail alert systems to let other owners and law enforcement know about the theft. ADVANTAGE / SPRING 2010 17 Publication List |
