JCB launch two-pronged attack on plant theft
JCB have launched a two-pronged attack on plant theft by announcing proposals to fit their machines with CESAR (Construction Equipment Security and Registration scheme) and immobilizers as standard.
With one-in-three of all machines sold in the UK made by JCB, the company say the decision to install CESAR will be a major step forward in the clampdown against plant theft and means JCB will be the first major plant manufacturer to implement the system.
The move will also save customers money because JCB Insurance will offer a 15% discount on their standard Plantmaster Insurance premium for machines fitted with CESAR. The theft excess will also be waived if a JCB Plantmaster customer makes a claim for a CESAR-fitted machine that is stolen and not recovered. JCB Insurance will also pay for the retrofitting of CESAR to existing JCB machines for users who take out a Plantmaster Insurance policy.
Developed by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office Plant Theft Action Group, each machine fitted with CESAR will have microchips containing ownership details embedded into equipment. The machine will also have two tamper-resistant security plates featuring a unique code, which will be both visibly displayed and lasered on to the plate. These details will also be logged on a central database to help the police return recovered machines to their owners. The Construction Equipment Association is managing the scheme, and security specialist Datatag is providing the security material and support.
To deter would-be thieves further, a number of mini-tags featuring the same code will be secreted throughout the machine. Police suspecting the machine may be stolen will be able to quickly locate tags by running a hand-held scanner across the machine. An additional security step in CESAR will see each major machine component painted with ‘Datatag
The drive to reduce plant theft will be further boosted by the introduction of vehicle immobilization packages on JCB products.
Depending on the machine, the immobilization system will work by isolating three electrical functions, such as the starter circuit, forward/reverse and fuel supply to the engine. These functions will only become operational by one of two methods: the use of a transponder key which is unique to the machine or the use of a standard ignition key and key pad, located in the instrument panel, which requires the operator to enter a unique four- or six-digit identification code.
JCB say CESAR will be fitted as standard on all construction machines from November 2007 and immobilization will be introduced as standard in the UK, starting in November on 2CX, 3CX, 4CX and Midi CX backhoe loaders, mini-excavators and side-engined Loadall telescopic handlers manufactured at Rocester.
