3 min read · Updated . Reviewed by James Rock (National Partnerships Director).
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How common is machinery theft in Australia?
There’s no current national count of stolen plant. The closest official figure is motor vehicle theft: the ABS recorded 66,625 victims in 2025, up 2% and the highest in 17 years. It doesn’t separate plant from cars.
The best plant-specific figures are old and undated, so treat them as background. CARSAFE, a consumer resource, says about $28 million of plant and equipment theft is recorded by Australian insurers each year, that 38% of stolen heavy vehicles are recovered, and that 43% of stolen plant and equipment is less than nine years old.
How can I stop my machinery being stolen?
| Step | Why it helps |
|---|---|
| Record serial numbers and take photos | Police and insurers need them. Do it the day the machine arrives. |
| Fit a GPS tracker | It’s the best chance of finding a machine quickly. Hide it, and set an alert for movement out of hours. |
| Fit an immobiliser or battery isolator | A machine that won’t start is much harder to take. |
| Change common keys | Many machines of the same make share a key, so an aftermarket lock or keypad helps. |
| Secure the trailer | Use a hitch lock. A mini excavator on a loaded trailer is the easiest target of all. |
| Lock attachments away | Buckets, hammers and augers are small, valuable and rarely marked. |
| Mark everything | Stamp or engrave attachments, and use your ABN or business name. |
| Park smart | Leave machines in the open, near lights and cameras, and block them in overnight. |
| Keep the site tidy | A fence, a locked gate and clear signs stop opportunists. |
| Act fast | Report a theft to police straight away, then tell your insurer. Have the serial number and tracker log ready. |
Do I need a GPS tracker on my excavator?
You don’t need one to get a policy through EquipCover, but it’s worth having. A tracker can also show hours and location, which helps with servicing and hire charges. Look for one with its own battery, so it keeps reporting when the machine’s battery is isolated.
What does the policy say about theft?
The multi-year policy treats a machine that’s stolen and not recovered as a total loss, settled at that year’s insured value. It also has automatic extensions for locks and keys and for recovery costs, within the limits on your schedule. Three details are worth knowing before anything goes missing:
- Left in the open. For property insured left unattended in the open air, the wording excludes theft unless there’s satisfactory evidence of violent and forcible breaking of an appropriate anti-theft device or system. So fit one.
- Taken by a hirer. Theft by a hirer is excluded unless you had a written hire agreement, and copies of their driver licence and credit card, before they took the machine. What a dry hire agreement needs.
- Unexplained losses. For property insured, the wording excludes mysterious disappearance and unexplained loss, so keep an up-to-date list of what you own.
What should I do if a machine is stolen?
Call the police first and get an event number. Pull the tracker’s location if you have one. Then tell your insurer and, if the machine is financed, your lender. Give them the serial number, photos and purchase papers. If the machine was on hire, send the agreement too.
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Frequently asked questions
How many excavators are stolen in Australia?
There’s no current national count of stolen plant. The ABS recorded 66,625 motor vehicle theft victims in 2025, but doesn’t count plant separately.
Does equipment insurance cover theft?
The multi-year policy covers theft, with conditions. Read the wording for equipment left unattended in the open and for theft by a hirer.
Do GPS trackers work on machinery?
Yes. Choose one with its own battery so it keeps working when the machine’s battery is isolated, and hide it well.
What should I record to protect a machine?
The serial number, make, model, year, photos and purchase papers, plus details of every attachment.
Are stolen attachments covered?
An attachment is covered when it’s listed on your schedule.
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Recorded Crime, Victims, 2025 (released 3 September 2026)
- CARSAFE: Heavy vehicle and earthmoving equipment theft in Australia (consumer resource; older national figures)
- Policy wording from our specialist insurance partner: Multi-Year Plant & Equipment Insurance (6 October 2025)
General information only, not personal advice. Read the policy wording before you buy.
