Jason Rundle, marketing liaison of Ring Power, opens up the heavy equipment theft seminar by talking how Ring Power likes to partner with law enforcement agencies.

Heavy Equipment theft is a big problem in Florida. More than 1,000 pieces of commercial equipment are reported stolen each month to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

As part of an effort to combat this trend, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) teamed up with Jerry Burford, vice president, west coast sales manager of The Cat Rental Store, at Ring Power's Tampa branch to give a presentation on heavy equipment theft awareness on April 25. More than 50 people, including various Florida law enforcement officers and Ring Power personnel were on hand for the seminar.

Jason Rundle, marketing liaison of Ring Power welcomed law enforcement officials with brief presentation before turning things over to Herb Price, NICB special agent, Southeast region. Price spoke about where and how to identify the machines' model and serial numbers on heavy and compact construction equipment. He also said that heavy equipment theft means “huge profits” for thieves. Thieves enter job sites after hours, load equipment onto trailers and then either resell the machinery to unsuspecting buyers, dismantle the equipment into smaller pieces for resale as spare parts or illegally export to other countries the same as the automobile industry. According to the NICB, newer pieces of equipment are more likely to be stolen than older ones and thefts rise during peak construction months.

Owners must exercise diligence in protecting their investments. Failure to do so increases the risk of theft a

nd further adds to the annual cost of equipment theft, currently estimated to range from $300 million to $1 billion, according to the NICB. The recovery rate of equipment is less than 20 percent.

In addition to the presentation, the seminar provided the opportunity for officers to get hands-on training outside and to get an up close look at several pieces of equipment, including a multi-terrain loader, mini-hydraulic excavator, backhoe loader and towable generator. These machines were specifically chosen because they are the most stolen pieces of equipment.

Ring Power also had The Rook on display and for demo. The Rook is an armored critical incident vehicle sold to law enforcement agencies worldwide. When law enforcement officers are called to any emergency situation, they have to be prepared for the worst case scenario. Whether dealing with a hostage rescue, barricaded suspects, riot scene or natural disaster, having the tactical advantage is critical.

The Rook armored vehicle is custom designed and fabricated by Ring Power Corporation. Utilizing the powerful Cat chassis as the base, The Rook provides service advantages. Unlike traditional armored vehicles, The Rook is capable of being in tight areas both inside and outside of public buildings to transport personnel or equipment and for surveillance. It is designed with mission specific attachments that increase job safety and can easily be changed depending on situational needs.

Law enforcement agencies across the United States and around the globe utilize The Rook to confront complex threats and make tactical operations safer.

For more information, visit ringpower.com or for more information about The Rook, ringpower.com/tacticalsolutions.

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