Reducing theft

Hire and rental industry sources estimate that theft costs its 700 members $60 million dollars per year. Radio Rentals, like other hire and rental companies, found many of their items just didn’t come back.

In many instances items were obtained by people using false identification who would then sell the equipment to local pawn shops for cash or backpackers who would sell the goods before leaving the country.

Two years ago Radio Rentals decided to trial the use of DataDots to help reduce theft of rental items.

“We started using the product because we wanted to focus on theft prevention and we thought this product would do this, to date it’s proving a very effective deterrent” said Dael Wharton, Credit Officer, Radio Rentals

“We simply spray all of our hire and rental equipment with DataDots and display point of sale signage to let would be thieves know that our property is marked for police identification” added Dael.

“Not only has it help prevent theft its also helped us get some of our gear back when it has shown up in the local pawn shops,” explained Dael Wharton, Credit Officer, Radio Rentals.

Following this success, Radio Rentals now routinely marks all their new stock with DataDots.

DataDots are a simple, yet high-tech, straightforward security solution for hire and rental companies. Tiny DataDots laser-etched with a company’s business name or ABN number are simply sprayed onto equipment from an aerosol container, instantly marking electrical equipment and appliances.

DataDots the size of a grain of sand, are suspended in a liquid adhesive, with one spray can marking up to 100 items. Although the dots are difficult to see with the naked eye, police can read the dots with a UV light and magnifier, helping to identify and return stolen property.

Phil Newby, CEO of the Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) describes DataDots as an easy to use and inexpensive solution to the growing problem of theft.

“We believe property identification and police warning signs can reduce theft by up to 75%. Property marking reduces the value of the item because it greatly increases the risk to the thief of being caught with stolen goods,” said Phil.

In 2006, the Hire and Rental Industry Association (HRIA) combined forces with Crime Stoppers Australia and DataDot Home and Business to implement an industry-wide crime prevention program. Members of the HRIA are being encouraged to support this initiative by applying DataDots to their plant and hire equipment.