Expensive equipment goes missing at construction sites

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When Roger Wilson, a foreman for Primer Construction, arrived at Fort Independence Park with his team of workers one morning in August, he was shocked to find that some of their construction equipment had been stolen and other pieces vandalized. 

According to Mr. Wilson, batteries were taken from the company’s Bobcat loaders and from other equipment a week before a plumber installed a new drinking fountain in the park on Aug. 28 as part of a renovation project slated to be completed this fall. 

“It’s just a shame because [thieves] take it to the scrap yard and get like $10,” he said, adding that the windows for some of the heavy equipment were also shattered. 

After the theft last month, Mr. Wilson said that he arrived last week to find the small windows of a backhoe on the site broken again. Collectively, the broken windows cost about $1,600 to replace, while the batteries cost up to $500 to replace, he said. 

Although Primer was able to provide workers with replacement batteries and windows so they could continue renovating the site that day, Mr. Wilson said that stolen construction equipment at work sites can put a small dent in the construction process. 

“When you show up on the job ready to work, of course it sets you back,” he said. “It happens all the time. There isn’t much we can do.”

Mr. Wilson added his team has already completed work on the park’s exercise area and basketball court, among other tasks, but is still completing the dog run and putting up screenings. 

Primer was not the only construction site targeted by thieves. Police said on Sept. 8 at 8:10 a.m., the superintendent of a project at the northeast corner of Bailey Avenue and Van Cortlandt Park West found a $12,000 generator was stolen. The case is under investigation. 

Frank Scafidi, director of public affairs at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), said registering all equipment is the most fundamental thing owners of heavy tools can do to deter theft.

Tanisia Morris, Stolen Equipment, Construction, Fort Independence Park
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