WorldWide Drilling Resource

12 MARCH 2014 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Rise in Theft Requires Preventative Measures Adapted from an i-Guard Press Release Over the past decade, equipment theft has been on the rise in North America, costing construction, fleet, and rental equipment businesses billions in losses. Equipment thieves are often sophisticated criminals who work with larger crime networks. They can quick- ly and quietly sweep in and make off with thousands of dollars in expensive machinery which is sent overseas, in many cases never to be recovered. Keeping detailed inventory records, registering equipment, and applying distinctive decals or paint can be use- ful in identifying and locating stolen machinery. However, a better option would be to prevent equipment theft in the first place. New technology is enabling own- ers to better protect their assets. Using radio-frequency identification (RFID), STRATTEC ® Security Corporation de- veloped an electronic immobilizer for automotive and nonautomotive appli- cations which can safeguard equipment from unauthorized use. RFID electronic immobilizer tech- nology has helped reduce auto theft in the U.S. by 40% since 2001. Based on the world’s foremost automotive anti- theft innovations, STRATTEC’s proven system has been specialized for heavy equipment under the name i-Guard to keep machinery secure at jobsites. When using the i-Guard system, a unique electronic code is programmed into the engine module and a chip in the igni- tion key or fob. The code is transmitted between the two components by a smal l antenna via radio frequencies. The i-Guard works in the following way: n When a key is inserted into the ignition or fob used with a push- start button, the vehicle requests authorization. n The system module searches for the transponder. n The transponder responds with the correct code. n The system verifies the transpon- der code. n The system communicates back to the vehicle module that is author- ized. Unlike GPS technology, which can be easily hacked, STRATTEC’s i-Guard system rel ies on radio frequencies which most criminals cannot disable. As equipment theft continues to in- crease, owners and operators must be proactive about protecting costly machin- ery to curb the problem. Once machin- ery is stolen, recovery rates are low; therefore, focusing on prevention is the best solution. i-Guard fob ignition switch ! " # !