ERA publishes guide on theft and vandalism prevention

The European Rental Association (ERA) is pleased to announce the publication of the ERA Theft and Vandalism Prevention Guide, a strategic document designed to help the equipment rental industry and its customers mitigate the growing risks of theft, vandalism, and fraudulent hire.

The guide delivers a timely and practical response to a growing challenge that has a significant impact on both the rental and construction industries.

The guide addresses a wide spectrum of criminal activity, from opportunistic vandalism to highly coordinated theft by organised crime networks, and provides clear recommendations to improve prevention and response outcomes.

The guide is divided into two main handouts: one for customers who rent assets and another for rental companies that own or rent out equipment.

It also includes four detailed appendices covering education and training, fraudulent hires, storage measures, and available systems, devices, and asset-specific guidance.

Practical tools include GPS tracking, asset immobilisation systems, mechanical prevention devices, smart access control, and risk-adjusted storage solutions.

The recovery rate for stolen equipment remains significantly lower than that for other vehicles—particularly when equipment is moved outside national borders.

The guide therefore underscores the importance of proactive countermeasures, such as CESAR tagging, DNA and UV marking, telemetry with alert triggers, and security-conscious depot design.

In parallel, it promotes fraud screening techniques including identity verification, suspicious behavior flagging, and monitoring of rental trends across locations.

Rental companies as well as customers are strongly encouraged to incorporate the guide’s recommendations into their daily operations, training protocols, customer procedures, and depot security planning.

The document is designed to support both strategic and operational improvements, enabling businesses to reduce financial exposure, ensure business continuity, and enhance trust across the value chain.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the many ERA members who contributed their expertise, case knowledge, and feedback throughout the development process.

Your input was essential in producing a guide that is grounded in industry realities and shaped by practical experience. The ERA Theft and Vandalism Prevention Guide is now available for download here.