Are you a surveyor who's been ripped off? Have thieves stolen thousands of dollars of your gear?

If so, you are not alone.

A story published in ENR's March 19 issue details how pervasive (and violent) work zone crime is becoming. In addition to stealing millions of dollars of equipment like pickup trucks and skid-steer loaders, thieves are targeting expensive surveying equipment, such as total stations and GPS sets.

Some of these units can cost up to $60,000 each, which surpasses the value of most pickup trucks and SUVs. Tripod-mounted surveying gear is easier to snatch and grab off a jobsite than most equipment, making it doubly-delicious for pilferers.

Industry myths are a contributing factor to this rise in crime. In researching our story, some surveyors told us they thought GPS units could be tracked, um, well, because they have GPS on them.

Not true. While GPS surveying tools can track satellites orbiting the Earth, the technology isn't refined for theft recovery (yet). Vehicle trackers, such as Qualcomm, can use GPS and radio signals to locate stolen equipment, but the transmitters are too bulky to work on a small portable tool like a total station.

We've also had several readers write in asking us why we didn't talk more about LoJack in our story. Here's why: LoJack only works with vehicles using standard identification numbers.

LoJack Corp. has been in operation since 1986. But it didn't get into heavy construction equipment until 2000, after manufacturers had agreed to standardize their serial numbers. It has helped recover billions of dollars of stolen machinery.

Standardization hasn't happened yet for surveying gear and small hand tools. But it could. The key is for everyone to speak up. The more everyone shouts about it, the more suppliers will listen.

For example, Leica Geosystems decided to put electronic PIN codes on its low-end surveying gear last year, after an overwhelming number of its clients asked for help with the theft problem.

We reported in our story that surveyors were excited to see Leica do this, while other suppliers sat on their hands. The National Equipment Register also has started logging surveying gear in its crime database, which could load to greater recoveries.

If you need help, here's our advice: Shout it out.

Voice your opinion by calling your dealer, manufacturer, or writing a letter to ENR.com. Tell us about your experience with theft, and try to offer a solution. We'll consider your letter for publication on our website and in the printed pages of ENR.

And, as always, be safe out there.