The National Equipment Register (NER), a division of ISO Crime Analytics launched a new industry Web site intended to improve efforts to coordinate the fight against heavy equipment theft. It also offers a variety of free services to help equipment owners and their insurers combat the problem.

The new site features an interactive map that gives visitors the ability to visually analyze theft patterns throughout the United States, the opportunity to register to receive alerts about equipment stolen at a regional or national level, monthly and annual theft pattern analyses, and a quarterly equipment security newsletter.

In addition to the free services offered through the Web site, NER has developed an online portal for its IRONcheck service. For a fee, used-equipment buyers or sellers can request a search of the NER database by serial number on any used piece of heavy equipment they are considering buying or selling.

Equipment owners, insurers, and law enforcement can continue to use the Web site to report equipment thefts. Equipment details are reviewed and quality-controlled by NER’s team of analysts and theft alerts sent. The loss details are made available to law enforcement 24 hours a day through the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).

“Since 2001, NER has been collecting and analyzing thousands of thefts each year and has helped NICB and law enforcement recover millions of dollars of stolen equipment annually,” said David Shillingford, president of National Equipment Register. “The Web site allows us to share much of that valuable data with those looking to recover stolen machines and reduce the chances of falling prey to equipment thieves. It wouldn’t be possible without the help of insurers and equipment owners. We appreciate their support.”

For more information about NER, call 201/469-2030 or visit www.nerusa.com. For more information about ISO, visit www.iso.com.