Marking makes plant easier to trace

Unlike the measures mentioned previously, marking and registering machines does not stop thieves making off with your machine, it does make it easier for the police to identify the correct owner of a machine they believe could be stolen.

That's not to say there is not a deterrent value to such schemes - especially if it is evident to the criminal that the machine is identifiable and its details are available to the police and others. The marking system most visible to thieves is Cesar, the Construction Equipment Security and Registration scheme. This was drawn up by the police and is backed by the plant manufacturers' body, the Construction Equipment Association (CEA) and machines are identified with a distinctive triangular 'registration' sticker. Manufacturers like Doosan, JCB, Manitou and Merlo are Cesar registering their new machines as standard while others offer it as an option.

The Cesar sticker carries a unique number, similar to the registration of a car, is made from 'tamper evident' material and is extremely difficult to remove. It has anti-counterfeiting features and contains a very small transponder which is read by a special scanner used by the police, port authorities and the like.

Datatag

For all intents and purposes, Cesar registration is like registering a car. Should the police need to establish who owns the machine, the officer can call administrators at Datatag (which administers the database) with the registration number to find out the owner, their contact details, the machine's description, chassis number and so on. For those with plant not registered by the manufacturer, certain dealers are able to retrofit the make of machines they market and Pirtek can retrospectively register machinery of any make.

However, unlike the DVLA system, Cesar identification measures beyond the 'registration' sticker and includes transponders hidden in the machine itself. In addition the machine is marked with 'smart water' a transparent liquid that carries within it a unique code. This water is painted over many of the components and can only be detected with a special light source.

Even if a criminal stole a Cesar registered machine, Datatag director Kevin Howells says it would be virtually impossible to remove all the identification.

The Equipment Register

There are other marking and registration schemes (see below) ranging from a simple database of machine details and owners through window etching to the use of datadots - micro dots painted around the machine. These can be located by the police and the unique number they carry can be read using a special 'microscope' and then traced to the correct owner through a database. Costs vary and there may be a charge if a machine is recovered, so check all angle before deciding which system to adopt.

One of the longest established database systems is that of The Equipment Register (TER) into which owners can log details (make, model, colour VIN numbers etc) and even a photograph. Authorities wanting to verify a machine's owner can call on the service to run a check. The company also keeps a log of machines reported stolen.

But despite all the new systems, the biggest deterrent to the criminal is a dedicated livery - and not a few self-adhesive decals but a comprehensive paint job. The reason is simple the machine has to be repainted before it can be sold on. Pulling a few decals off a standard yellow machine is much quicker and easier.