Mobile plant anti-theft device

Excavators, particularly minis, are some of the most desirable targets for thieves, and with plant theft on the rise, one way of recovering stolen fleet equipment is through the use of aerial photography.

A good example of this was a theft reported by Falkirk-based A-Plant. A JCB 8014 mini-excavator – fitted with an Enigma anti-theft system – had been stolen from Greentown in South Lanarkshire. To locate the machine, aerial photographs from the security system were used to guide police to remote forestry land where the JCB 8014 was hidden.

Little wonder then that A-Plant have placed another order worth over £500,000 for increased fleet security with Enigma Vehicle Systems, specialists in security and safety systems for commercial vehicles, plant and equipment.

The Enigma system is based on a mobile GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) device that provides internet tracking by communicating with a host server via bespoke software used to decode any incoming data.

Asif Latief, market director at A-Plant, said: ‘We are delighted with the information and protection provided by the system. The aerial images produced by the system are a powerful deterrent to the theft of our equipment, significantly reducing downtime and costs for the company and our customers.

‘Access to the system is via A-Plant software on computers at our headquarters in Warrington and at over 230 locations around the country. Access is also possible through PDA or text-only requests from mobile phones.’

A-Plant personnel can also request positions, ringfence machines (for added theft protection) and monitor operating hours (per rental or accumulatively).