ERA workshop highlights next steps to fight equipment theft

One of the biggest obstacles to recovering stolen equipment is not always locating the machine. It is knowing, quickly and with confidence, that the asset has been reported stolen.

Serial numbers, police reports and ownership records may all exist, but they are often held in separate systems. The information does not necessarily reach the people who need it when a machine moves from one country to another.

This practical gap was a central theme of the theft workshop held during the European Rental Association (ERA) Convention in Maastricht, Celebrating 20 Years: Building the Next Era of Rental.

The theft workshop at the ERA Convention in June 2026. (Image: Maurice Vinken / kleurstof.eu)

Participants looked at the tools already used across Europe, including tracking systems, machine-marking schemes and national registers.

All provide value, but none offers a complete answer on its own. Costs, slow recovery processes and different national approaches continue to make the recovery of stolen equipment difficult.

One idea discussed during the workshop was the possible creation of a European register of stolen equipment. Such a tool could help authorised stakeholders verify whether equipment has been reported stolen, particularly when assets move across borders.

Participants agreed, however, that significant questions remain regarding governance, validation processes, access rights and data protection.

What is the role of OEMs?

The role of OEMs came up repeatedly during the workshop. Manufacturers are connected to extensive dealer and service networks and hold important technical information about their equipment. Participants suggested that OEMs could flag stolen assets in their own systems and share relevant information through those networks. If a stolen machine later appeared in an authorised channel, its status would be easier to identify.

The distinction between theft and fraud is another important point. Rental companies face both, but the circumstances and the measures needed for prevention and recovery are not always the same. Any shared system would need clear categories and reporting requirements so that users understand what has been recorded and on what basis.

There is also no need to start from a blank page. National associations can help identify approaches that already work, share experience from initiatives such as CESAR in the UK and bring in lessons from sectors including vehicle rental. Mapping these systems will be important so that any European solution builds on existing practice instead of duplicating it.

ERA’s work over the next 12 months will therefore focus on three areas: sharing good practice and raising awareness across the European equipment rental industry; strengthening cooperation with law enforcement, OEMs, insurers and national associations; and assessing the feasibility, governance and ownership of a European stolen equipment register.