ARA Insurance and National Equipment Register Announce Award Winner

MOLINE, Ill. (Dec. 11, 2012)  – The American Rental Association (ARA), ARA Insurance and the National Equipment Register (NER) has named Detective Terry Haldeman of the Snohomish County Auto Theft (SNOCAT) Task Force in Everett, Wash., as the winner of the ARA Insurance/NER Theft Award for 2012. Haldeman has won round-trip airfare to and lodging at The Rental Show 2013 in Las Vegas where he will receive the award on Sunday, Feb. 10. In addition, SNOCAT will receive a grant of $1,000 for future heavy equipment theft investigations.

In 2012, Haldeman was responsible for the recovery of about $170,000 of equipment. His recovery efforts have spanned the state and include a variety of farming and construction equipment. Through his ability to forge working relationships with other agencies such as the National Insurance Crime Bureau, NER and Washington State Patrol as well as many county and local law enforcement agencies around the state of Washington, Oregon and Idaho, Haldeman has led the state of Washington in equipment recoveries.

“Detective Haldeman is our go-to person in regards to the identification of stolen machinery,” says Sgt. Jason Longoria, SNOCAT Task Force, who nominated Haldeman for the award. In addition to recovering equipment, Haldeman has provided training to more than 400 other law enforcement officers. “Law enforcement officers on the road typically don’t stop machinery traveling on the roadways, and once they do, they have no idea what to do with it,” Longoria says. “Detective Haldeman used the NER Law Enforcement Identification Guide as part of his presentations, stressing the importance of stopping this machinery, identifying the PIN numbers and determining if the machine was stolen or not.”

The illegal exportation of heavy equipment from the Port of Everett also is of great concern to law enforcement as it affects contractors and rental companies alike. Because of his relationship with Homeland Security and Customs, Haldeman has been the driving force behind vehicle inspections prior to their exportation from the United States.

Detectives Joe Williamson and Ben Black with the Los Angeles Police Department received an honorable mention from the nominating committee for their work leading to the capture of a group of active and well-organized burglars in Southern California. By working with officers in surrounding areas as well as private business owners, Williamson and Black were able to apprehend six suspects who were convicted and subsequently deported.

“Both of these nominations offer examples of how law enforcement works to protect the equipment rental industry,” says Alysia Ryan, ARA’s director of state government affairs. “It is imperative that rental operators work with law enforcement, monitor their businesses closely and report any suspicious activity as soon as they see it.”