Landscaping businesses are equipment-intensive. Mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws, edgers, and more add up to expensive pieces of equipment, representing a substantial investment.
Because the nature of landscaping work means equipment is brought to job sites, all of these expensive tools and equipment have to be portable—and that means it is at risk of being stolen.
The theft of pricey equipment can shut a landscaping business down. Even if a landscaping business has the cash on hand to replace all of its equipment, repurchasing all of that heavy-duty machinery can take time.
To make matters worse, while you’re waiting to replace those tools your staff can’t work—which can lead to additional problems. If they aren’t getting paid, they might look for other employment leaving you without enough of a team to fulfill existing contracts; and, of course, if you’re unable to complete jobs, you aren’t bringing in money either.
With all of this in mind, it makes sense to be proactive and take steps to protect your landscaping business from theft of your property.
Protect your business
Store your property securely
The most basic way to protect your landscaping equipment is to make sure that it is locked up when not in use.
This means more than just keeping it out of sight in an outbuilding, or secured by a single padlock. Bolt cutters can make quick work of chains and padlocks.
The objective of storing your equipment is to make stealing it as difficult and time-consuming as possible, so that thieves either decide to pick a weaker target or take so long in their attempt that the police have time to get there and catch them in the act.
Deploying wheel locks and hitch locks can also protect your equipment from being stolen, particularly if you need to leave a trailer at a worksite while a job is being completed.
Invest in technology
Tracking technology has advanced considerably, and it has become far cheaper making it a viable means of protecting your landscaping equipment. Installing GPS trackers on your larger and more expensive pieces of equipment offers an extra layer of security, and may help law enforcement locate stolen equipment.
Security cameras have also improved and gotten cheaper. You can install small, virtually undetectable cameras that record clear pictures quite easily, and at an affordable price. Remote video is also worth considering, to keep track of your equipment when it is out on a job site. While many equipment thefts happen at night, some criminals strike in broad daylight when they see an opportunity, such as while your crew is out working.
Motion detectors and alarm systems can also be quite affordable and are a good idea to install in the main storage area where you store tools. Investing in one or more of these technology-based solutions can help to protect your equipment at a lower price than you might have thought.
Engrave or brand equipment
Some criminals are looking for a quick buck and will steal your equipment with the objective of selling it quickly.
Engraving your equipment with the name of your landscaping company, or branding your equipment with a distinctive paint scheme can help reduce the chances of it being stolen. Can criminals scratch out an engraving or paint over equipment? Yes. However, this forces them to make an effort to alter the pieces before they can try and sell them, which could be all it takes to get them to reconsider targeting your business.
Perform background checks
We all want to trust the people we hire and work with on a daily basis. Unfortunately, employee theft is a real problem. Easy access to high-dollar equipment can represent just too much of a temptation for some.
Completing background checks as a standard part of your hiring process can reduce the chances that you’ll bring on an employee with questionable ethics or a prior history of stealing from an employer.
Make awareness part of your routine
Do you know where all of the keys to all of your equipment are, right now? How many copies of keys have been made over the years—and, are you certain that every former employee who was in possession of a key turned it back in when they left your employment?
Have you conducted a visual check of your equipment storage areas, inside and out? Is there any overgrown foliage outside of equipment storage areas where someone could hide, waiting to steal after hours? Are truck and equipment keys stored near vehicles, or in a separate building?
Is there a standard closing process at the end of each workday that ensures every piece of equipment is accounted for and locked up? Are windows and doors checked, and if alarm systems are installed, are they activated every night? Do you conduct periodic equipment inventory checks?
This all may sound like a lot to implement, but it contributes to situational awareness. Making these checks and processes part of your regular routine will protect your property.
Have the right insurance
As a business owner, you know you need commercial insurance coverage to protect your company against a range of different types of losses. Liability insurance can help if you’re sued if a third party gets injured on a job site, and commercial vehicle insurance is there if one of your landscaping trucks is involved in a fender-bender.
Similarly, there are policies that can protect your business from losses resulting from theft.
Commercial property insurance is designed to cover losses from theft at your place of business. So, if someone breaks into your headquarters overnight and steals property, this is the coverage that will handle those losses.
Inland marine insurance provides coverage for costly equipment that is moved from one place to another—like your heavy-duty mowing equipment.
Employee theft insurance covers exactly what its name suggests—it protects your business against losses caused by employees stealing from you.
Business interruption insurance can help cover expenses like payroll and taxes, if the worst happens and you can’t operate because of a covered loss.
There may be other coverages you need, especially if you frequently work with subcontractors, or if your landscaping business performs snow removal services in the winter months in northern parts of the country.
If you own a landscaping business and want to know more about how to protect your company from property theft, contact the experts at Rate Insurance. They’ll talk to you about what services you provide, what kind of equipment you own, and more to determine what the best policy or policies are for your landscaping business. With multiple commercial provider options, they can find the right solution to protect what you’ve built.
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All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. Rate Insurance does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error free. Some information in the publication may have been provided by third parties and has not necessarily been verified by Rate Insurance. Rate Insurance, its affiliates and subsidiaries do not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or in reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action.
