The National Plant and Equipment Register (TER) has warned plant hire firms and contractors that they still aren't doing enough to protect construction equipment from theft.

The warning follows a raid by Kent Police on a plant-theft gang that uncovered £300,000-worth of stolen equipment.

Speaking to CJ, TER manager Tim Purbrick was critical of the attempts of a large proportion of contractors to provide site security, commenting that "most sites have the security of a wet paper bag".

He said that he hoped the successful raid would encourage both hire firms and contractors to take steps to protect their vehicles. "There is a whole range of security solutions that people should be using, but for the most part, they don't."

The TER boss also recommended that all plant-hire firms should register, immobilise and track their construction equipment and renewed his call for manufacturers to fit new machinery with unique, rather than universal, keys.

Kent Police were only alerted to the thefts when Francis Harrison of Surrey-based Harrison Hire realised that he had become the gang's latest victim and activated the vehicle tracking system fitted to his machine. The system, installed on his Hitachi ZX30R excavator by vehicle tracking specialist Satrak, allowed Harrison to pinpoint his machine's exact whereabouts - a remote spot near the A2 in Kent - and hand over a map to police.

The police found a further eight machines worth an estimated £300,000 at the location, which was being used by the organised gang. All of the machines, which have now been returned to their owners, were on hire when stolen. One man has been arrested on suspicion of theft so far.

Purbrick praised Harrison Hire for its investment: "I can see that a company like that [Harrison Hire] should reap the benefits of fitting trackers to its machines. It would be nice to see some of the larger companies doing the same."