| Rental equipment companies, ranging from | | | | the equipment is documented and registered. |
| scaffolding services to party goods and outlets, | | | | Take inventory of your items often, so you will |
| can experience significant loss as a result of theft | | | | notice when a piece is missing or when something |
| and vandalism. National Equipment Register (NER) | | | | out of the ordinary happens. |
| estimates that over $1 billion a year in rental and | | | | You must take the first step to verify a |
| party goods are stolen. Unfortunately, the rate of | | | | customer's identity. Keep a copy of his or her |
| recovery for these items is usually low. | | | | driver's license, which will help you track the |
| By registering your equipment the National | | | | customer down later and also give him or her |
| Equipment Register, you increase the chances of | | | | subtle notice that rented equipment is monitored. |
| having stolen items returned to you. This | | | | Comparing the license with other forms of |
| database is also made available to law | | | | identification, like a credit card or car registration, |
| enforcement officials, so they can track and | | | | gives you further proof of identity. Some |
| retrieve your items. The Scaffold Industry | | | | companies even go as far as to ask for a thumb |
| Association (SIA) is a similar type of affiliation, | | | | print on the rental agreement. If your customer |
| which works to promote safety for rental | | | | fails to return the item he or she rented, try not |
| companies who distribute scaffolding and aerial | | | | to jump to the conclusion that it has been stolen |
| platforms. | | | | with criminal intent. You are right to take action, |
| How can you protect your rentals? Insure and | | | | but being negligent to return equipment on time |
| monitor them | | | | does not automatically mean theft. Make calls to |
| - Acquire proper insurance for your needs | | | | the customer or go to the construction or |
| - Ask the police to drive by the premises during | | | | entertainment site - the rental might still be there. |
| non-business hours. | | | | What do you do when equipment is stolen? |
| * Have the VIN number etched or stamped into | | | | *Use a prepared security plan with your staff. |
| the rental items in multiple places, especially hidden | | | | Delegate tasks for each to complete in the event |
| places. Keep thorough records that include the | | | | that rental goods are reported stolen. |
| VIN number, model number, year and | | | | *Call law enforcement officials as soon as you |
| manufacturer. | | | | notice an item has gone missing. |
| - Take photos of your items from multiple angles. | | | | *Call your insurance broker and notify him or her. |
| - Register your goods in a nationally recognized | | | | *Notify other local dealers in your industry. |
| database, like the National Equipment Register. | | | | Why is it so easy for construction, scaffolding, |
| Equipment theft on a job site can be deterred by | | | | and party equipment to get stolen? Because |
| security systems, fencing around the perimeter | | | | often, there is very little security on sites - be |
| of the property, barriers, secured gates, and | | | | they phased development sites, heavy |
| strong lighting. Having only one entrance to the | | | | construction projects, and so on, especially in the |
| rental yard will also help prevent theft. Make sure | | | | evenings. Low security means low risk, from the |
| to keep all site and building keys secured -- and | | | | perspective of a thief. Because stolen items are |
| do not use combination locks, because those | | | | rarely recovered, take precautions by purchasing |
| numbers can be given to unauthorized people. | | | | rental equipment insurance through a trusted |
| Theft can also be prevented by posting warning | | | | broker. This will save your time, your money, and |
| signs around the property notifying thieves that | | | | your sanity. |