July 16, 2008

Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association

OSWCA’s guide to combatting heavy equipment theft assists police

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The heavy equipment identification guide produced by the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association is considered “the bible of heavy equipment,” says one of its producers.

“I try and supply it all over North America, Europe and even Australia through our contacts,” says George Kleinsteiber, retired detective constable with the Ontario Provincial Police auto theft division, and guide consultant.

Combatting Heavy Equipment Theft, An Officers’ Guide to Proper Identification of Construction Equipment, is in its fourth edition. The guide is designed to assist law enforcement officers in the location of vehicle/product identification numbers (VIN/PIN) on construction equipment such as excavators, backhoe loaders, skid steer loaders and mini-excavators.

“There is no standard place where a VIN number can be found — it can vary from manufacturer to the type of equipment,” explains Frank Zechner, executive director of OSWCA.

Heavy equipment theft amounts to a $32 million tab across Canada annually and a majority of that theft occurs in Ontario and Quebec, says Kleinsteiber. Ontario alone accounts for $12 to $16 million of that theft.

“In Ontario that theft occurs in two main areas, the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and the Ottawa corridor,” explains Kleinsteiber. “Rental agencies are taking quite the hit because they have the newer equipment.”

The fact heavy equipment is primarily used in public work, where the machinery is left in public-right-of-ways, exposes it to a greater possibility of theft, explains Zechner.

“Most of the work with heavy equipment is multi-day work and we are in public-right-of-ways, these sites are not as secure as compared to hospital or stadium work sites,” says Zechner.

Stolen heavy equipment from Ontario has ended up in the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean. Stolen European equipment tends to show up in North America and stolen Australian equipment finds its way to Malaysia and surrounding Asian countries.

“We distribute a lot of our guides along the U.S. and Mexico border as well to help authorities,” says Kleinsteiber.

“We also assist Canadian port authorities and Canada Customs so we can stop the equipment from leaving our borders. There is a racket everywhere.”

OSWCA has also produced Crime Stoppers decals for member contractors to put on their equipment, and signs to post at project sites. For more information on the guide or the decals, visit www.oswca.org.

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