Published: 17 Apr 2025
If you have ever been on the receiving end of equipment theft, you understand the negative impact it has from a resource, convenience and personal point of view. Equipment theft is a prevalent problem within the surveying profession. Survey equipment is highly specialised, technologically advanced, and as such it can be incredibly expensive.
To help address the challenges of equipment theft, The Survey Association (TSA) joined forces with DeterTech (formerly SmartWater) in 2018 to carry out detailed analysis and police follow-up on every incident reported. This is the first co-ordinated response to thieves that persistently target surveyors. As a direct result of the initiative, DeterTech operatives are sharing incident information with the police and discussing the impact of theft on survey companies with crime prevention officers.
Play your part
It is going to be a long journey to combat equipment theft, but if you play your part, it will eventually be a successful one. Regardless of whether you have been a victim of equipment theft – or even just an attempted theft – it is so important that you report it quickly and in detail – every time. It is only with each piece of the jigsaw will we be able to build a national picture that is up-to-date and accurate.
Sun-up
With the longer days, it is all too easy to think our equipment is less at risk. However, thieves are just waiting for you to relax your guard. So, stay vigilant to your surroundings, don’t leave your equipment unattended and whenever possible, lock and secure your equipment when it’s not in use. It is also advisable to forensically mark or tag your equipment and where possible, fit with a GPS tracker. In addition, any device fitted with a GPS tracker or forensically marked should be clearly labelled to show this, as this will act as a further deterrent to thieves.
Ways to report theft
To help us successfully tackle equipment theft, please report any theft as soon as it happens, by completing the Incident Form with all the details – along with any supporting information, such as photos or videos – and sending it to crime.intelligence@detertech.com. It is also advisable to report the theft to the police and the equipment manufacturer.
