To combat rising machinery losses across construction sites nationwide, the American Rental Association (ARA) presented theft prevention training at the 2026 International Association of Auto Theft Investigators (IAATI) Vehicle Crimes Conference on Aug. 30, arming law enforcement officers with advanced tactics to investigate, trace, and recover stolen equipment.
While auto theft discussions typically focus on passenger vehicles, ARA led a specialized training session highlighting the growing issue of rental equipment theft and detailing actionable recovery strategies for law enforcement personnel.
“We were here to help teach a class on heavy equipment rental theft and what law enforcement officers can do to help us reduce that, recover the items, and help bridge a gap between our members and the law enforcement community,” said Ryan White, director of theft prevention at ERG.
The ARA’s heavy equipment theft program focuses on the realities of fleet ownership
ERG is the ARA’s dedicated theft prevention program. ERG connects rental equipment owners with law enforcement through specialized databases, alert systems, and targeted training to prevent equipment loss and assist in asset recovery.
The presentation gave officers practical tools to address heavy equipment crime, covering key operational tactics such as identifying serial number locations on machinery like skid steers, using ERG’s personalized equipment database, and leveraging real-time text alert systems for stolen equipment recovery.
“A lot of times our members might not know who to turn to when something has happened, and in the same respect, our law enforcement partners might not know who to turn to when they recover equipment or when something is reported,” White noted. “Our tagline is ‘Keep it safe, Keep it rented,’ and that’s what we’re here to do.”
The IAATI conference represented the ARA’s first ERG training on an international scale, drawing attendees from across the continent. Regional sessions have also been held in Ocala, Florida, and Duluth, Minnesota.
“We’re talking [to people from] coast to coast, even Mexico. This is helping us cast a much wider net,” White added.
Conference attendees responded positively to the initiative, expressing interest in establishing direct industry contacts and utilizing ERG as a key resource for heavy equipment investigations.
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