EXECUTIVE REPORT
Target hardening
Police Scotland suggests that adopting common sense measures and good management procedures can help hirers reduce the risk of plant theft and fraudulent hires. Alan Guthrie reports.
When Police Scotland exhibited for the first time at the Scotplant show in Edinburgh earlier this year, it found keen interest from hirers and operators who wanted to learn about the latest developments to reduce plant theft risks. “Our participation was very successful. We spoke to a lot of people and were able to convey a positive message about tackling the problem,” said PC Willie Johnstone, whose responsibilities include disseminating information about crime prevention throughout local communities, including construction sites, farms and other premises.
Police Scotland was formed in 2013 with the merger of eight regional divisions. Like other forces throughout the UK, it maintains contact with organisations such as the Plant and Agricultural Intelligence Unit (Paniu), and the Plant Theft Advisory Group. It also has contact with the Cesar (the Construction Equipment Security and Registration Scheme) initiative that was developed by Datatag ID to protect machinery with visible an invisible deterrents and markings, and to create a database of equipment. “We have to date trained more than 100 Police Scotland officers in the issue of plant theft in general, and the Cesar system in particular, and this knowledge is being rolled out throughout Scotland, which is one benefit of having a single force,” said Willie Johnstone, who was an agricultural machinery engineer before joining the Police, and is familiar with plant himself.
“We talk of ‘target hardening’ in relation to plant theft, which means introducing measures to make items more difficult to steal in the first place. This includes physical deterrents such as steering locks, immobilisers, electronic isolator switches and the Cesar system, which is being adopted by more and more manufacturers. Tracking devices and telematics systems can also be effective and can provide asset management services, showing at exactly which site a machine was last located, as well as operational information.
“Hirers can also adopt good management practices. Drivers should not deliver equipment and leave it unattended at a site, but should
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ensure someone is there to sign for it, perhaps taking a picture of them using a dashcam. In addition, you can make your equipment distinctive and individual to your business, painting it in a specific colour or livery, or welding identification numbers on to machines rather than just painting them on. There may be a cost implication for larger fleets, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution, but the more that can be done, the better.
“If a machine should be stolen, it is important to have information about it at hand to aid identification and recovery, such as chassis or serial numbers, the exact make and model, and whether a tracking device is fitted.”
Fraudulent hires and scams A tracking system from AMT Group helped recover this tandem roller.
Hirers also need to remain vigilant about fraudulent hires from people using false identities and other scams. “CCTV can photograph people hiring equipment and vehicle registration numbers,” said Willie Johnstone. “Measures can also be taken to help spot bogus companies. As well as making credit checks and researching business records, there are websites where you can verify
details such as bank sorting codes. Contact numbers and office addresses should also be checked and a landline telephone number should be obtained and verified.
“It is also worth bearing in mind that many contractors and business will have websites, and checking these can give useful indications. Click on the links to see if they work - if not, it could be a bogus site. Does the site contain only generic images rather than pictures specific to the business itself? And look for the name of the website designer at the bottom: if none is given, that could be another indication. Plant theft and fraudulent hire represent an on-going challenge, but by adopting sensible measures and working together, hirers can successfully tackle it.”
• • Hirers north of the border can hear Police Scotland talk in more detail
on this important topic at our Executive Hire Show Scotland on 13 September in Glasgow. Visit
www.executivehireshow.com/roadshows
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