Photo: Anna Shvets

EQUIPMENT THEFT:

Prevention requires

Attention (to detail)

Posted 2.13.24

Greetings, fabulous fabricators.

If you have been part of the welding community for long enough, you have either heard the accounts of your fellow die-hards losing equipment to theft or you’ve been a victim yourself. It hurts because it’s a lifeblood; it’s how you make a living. There are plenty of bad actors out there, and not just the type you see on reality TV. This edition will focus on what you can do to protect yourself from theft while helping out your local welding community.

DON'T MAKE IT EASY FOR A THIEF

But I know my neighbors, and I never leave my gear unattended,  you might say.

Your welder is the single most important piece of equipment you own. Your spouse and your family rely on it just as heavily as you do. Be smart, and realize that thieves are active at all times, day or night. Even in your own ‘hood, this can happen:

Video courtesy of FOX26 (KRIV) viewer

ABOVE: In your typical California suburb, a brazen thief pulled up and simply hauled away this guy’s welder.

In broad daylight. 

Don't leave your welder on an unattended trailer! That's too easy for an experienced criminal. In some cases, they're using your stolen equipment to carry out retail theft in new ways.

Keeping your gear behind a locked door (i.e., inside of a shed or garage) is a solid first step.  Security cameras are becoming ubiquitous—and therefore the cost keeps getting friendlier—but do understand the experienced thief can tell if your doorbell and surveillance cameras are in use. Keep them active and powered up year-round.

PROTECT YOURSELF

If you take your business seriously, you need to be prepared for the worst. Let’s face it: if risk weren’t subjective, every insurance policy would be identical. This simply means you need to shop around when searching for a policy that fits your budget and needs. Don’t take the first quote. Go get a few more and carefully consider what is covered.

Here are a few that we’ve vetted. Again, each of these may offer slightly different coverage options at varying costs:

NEXT INSURANCE  (CK’s PICK)

INSUREON

TIVLY

AVOID PURCHASING STOLEN GEAR

Okay, this one is tough, because it’s easy to immediately assume an immaculate track record of eBay reviews is indicative of a seller on the up and up. Besides, if you're like me, the thrill of finding the deal of all deals makes it extremely difficult to remain rational.

While the folks at eBay would love to run a platform free of black market influence, it is only because it relies on buyer feedback (or trust) for a reputation of legitimacy. And if you think it's a bunch of one-offs, think again. An ex-pastor was recently caught after stealing $1.4 million worth of equipment from Home Depot and selling it on eBay as part of an organized ring. Instead of eBay taking this guy and his thugs to church, he took Home Depot to the cleaners. 

When you see an unrealistic price tag on a new piece of equipment, it should raise a flag.

Here are three simple ways you can help:

• ALWAYS get a receipt for your purchase.

This is common sense, but a receipt should include a company or seller name, along with the serial number and possibly its condition, even if it is sold as 'new.' 

• If you think you bought something that might have been stolen, alert the local authorities. 

They'll check it against recent theft reports; you can do this anonymously. Once cleared, you may even resell the piece with more peace  of mind.

•   Register your product.

Sometimes it can be so exciting to get a new tool, that we skim right past the print on the first page of the manual, reading: "REGISTER YOUR PRODUCT." This is crucial for any purchase as it can save you a headache (for return/exchange or warranty claims) as well as make it easier to document your ownership. Plus, you'll get more back at resale when the time comes.

Bottom Line:

It's About More Than Just Your Business

Protecting yourself from theft—and reporting suspicious activity—does more than just safeguard your bottom line. It helps your community bring these lawbreakers to justice, preventing future burglaries. While we may compete for local business, we're all better off when hoodlums are forced out of town. 

By taking account of your equipment and being proactive when things don't seem right, you can help your local welders avoid taking a hit to their livelihood. 

Let's all do our part.

Be safe and be smart, friends.