Asset tracking theft prevention and recovery

Theft, unauthorized use and misplaced equipment can create significant costs for businesses that depend on vehicles, trailers and other high-value assets. According to the FBI, estimated cargo theft losses in the U.S. and Canada reached nearly $725 million in 2025, a 60% increase from the previous year. Confirmed theft incidents also increased by 18% that year.¹

Equipment theft can also quickly turn into a five- or six-figure loss for contractors and fleet operators. According to the National Equipment Register, there were 502 equipment theft incidents that resulted in over $11 million in losses across the five most recent Memorial Day periods. Jobsites were the most targeted location, with skid steers topping the list of stolen equipment.²

Early detection is a critical part of equipment theft prevention and asset recovery. The FBI advises that reporting a stolen vehicle as quickly as possible increases the chance of recovery. In one police theft-prevention program highlighted by the FBI, the only tracked vehicle that was stolen was recovered in good condition in less than 24 hours after its owner shared location data with detectives.³

But how does a high-value asset get recovered in under 24 hours — potentially before it becomes a total-loss insurance claim? It starts with shortening the time between unauthorized movement, detection and the response from law enforcement. Implementing GPS asset tracking can support asset protection programs and assist with recovery efforts when theft happens. 

Asset tracking platforms with theft prevention features can help fleets create a rapid-response workflow by detecting unauthorized movement and providing location data to support recovery efforts.

How asset tracking software helps with equipment theft prevention

Fleet managers are responsible for keeping track of the necessary equipment for daily operations in addition to vehicles and drivers. Effective equipment theft prevention starts with knowing when an asset moves, where it goes and whether that movement is authorized.

GPS asset tracking devices can support fleets that manage a variety of trailers, equipment, vehicles and valuable assets. By using tamper-proof equipment asset trackers, fleet managers can remotely locate and manage valuable items like generators, flatbeds, dry vans, tanks, drums, storage containers and other equipment.

Asset tracking software then combines GPS location data with configurable alerts and asset monitoring tools to help fleet managers identify suspicious activity sooner — including when equipment leaves a jobsite after hours or a trailer moves unexpectedly.

Download our GPS asset tracking solutions eBrief to learn how asset tracking technology can help you better manage valuable equipment, improve utilization and support more efficient operations.

That visibility is especially important for high-value assets that may sit unattended for long periods or operate far from a fleet’s main location. Verizon Connect’s asset trackers can help businesses monitor both powered and non-powered equipment:

• Wired equipment asset trackers: Designed for powered heavy equipment such as tractors and yellow iron.
• Battery-powered equipment asset trackers: Designed for assets without a dedicated power source, including trailers, dumpsters and other equipment. This tracker offers battery life of up to 10 years, helping support long-term tracking in remote or demanding environments.
• Compact, discreet hardware: Trackers can be installed in less-visible locations, helping reduce the likelihood that they will be discovered or tampered with during a theft.
• Custom ping configurations: Fleets can configure trackers to report based on different operational needs, including movement-based reporting that can help flag unexpected asset activity.

Instead of discovering that equipment is missing hours or days later, fleet managers can identify unexpected activity sooner and begin asset recovery efforts while current location information is still available.

51% of fleets using asset tracking report improved equipment or trailer security, while 53% report improved asset utilization. 48% reported a positive ROI from asset tracking solutions in less than one year.⁴ Get the full scoop from the Verizon Connect Fleet Technology Trends Report.

How can I help ensure my assets are protected from theft or loss?

A stolen asset can be much harder to recover if no one realizes it is missing until hours or days after it leaves a jobsite. GPS asset tracking can help close that detection gap by alerting fleet managers when equipment moves unexpectedly or crosses a predefined boundary.

With Verizon Connect Reveal, fleets can create geofences — virtual perimeters around jobsites, yards and other authorized locations — and configure alerts when a vehicle or asset enters or exits those areas. For non-powered equipment, managers can also enable movement-based activity reporting, helping identify when a trailer, generator or other stationary asset begins moving unexpectedly.

Verizon Connect’s devices also offer configurable reporting options, including a “ping on movement” setting. Combined with Reveal alerts, these capabilities can support more proactive asset monitoring by helping managers identify suspicious activity without relying on a worker to physically notice that equipment is gone.

If assets or vehicles are being used outside of work hours or if equipment is taken to unauthorized locations, a customizable alert can be sent straight to a mobile device about activities like:

• Location within/outside of geofence location
• Ignition/idling
• Inactivity
• Late start
• Entrance and exit events
• Sensor activation 

That earlier warning can be critical. The sooner a fleet can determine that movement is unauthorized, the sooner it can verify the theft, contact law enforcement and begin tracking the asset.

How can I recover stolen items effectively?

Once theft is confirmed, the focus shifts from detection to asset recovery. Near-real-time location data can help fleet managers determine where stolen equipment is headed and provide law enforcement with more useful information while recovery efforts are underway.

Verizon Connect Reveal displays vehicle and asset locations in near real time on Live Map, while the Spotlight mobile app gives managers access to vehicle and asset locations from their smartphone. Fleets can view powered and non-powered assets alongside their vehicles, helping managers continue monitoring a missing asset even when they are away from a computer.

That visibility can make asset tracking software an important part of a theft-response plan. When contacting law enforcement, fleet managers can provide current location information alongside identifying details such as a VIN, license plate number or equipment description to help officers identify and locate the stolen asset. 

Together, automated movement alerts and near-real-time tracking create a more direct path from asset theft prevention to recovery: detect unexpected movement, confirm what happened, locate the asset and provide actionable information to law enforcement as quickly as possible.

How asset tracking helped one company recover $50,000 in stolen equipment

For J&M Contracting, GPS asset tracking turned an equipment theft into a recoverable event. The Texas construction company manages equipment across remote jobsites, where heavy machinery is often left unattended after hours. After previously losing stolen equipment that was never recovered, J&M implemented Verizon Connect asset tracking software to monitor its trucks and nearly 40 pieces of heavy equipment.

When equipment moves or is used outside established operating hours, the software sends an alert to safety and fleet manager Garland Spivey, providing location information he can share with law enforcement. 

In one theft, J&M used Reveal to track a stolen backhoe valued at approximately $50,000 after it was driven more than 17 miles from the jobsite. The company says its ability to recover stolen equipment has helped it avoid replacement costs and insurance claims while keeping critical assets available for work.

"Someone drove the backhoe 17.23 miles down the street, over a lonely service road, and they must have seen law enforcement there because then they drove into the woods," said Spivey. "Our insurance agent is so happy that we have this telematics system because we haven't had to report a theft since we got into the Verizon program. We get the backhoe back and don't have to transfer another one to the job, and we don't have to take the time to file an insurance claim, so it's a win-win situation for us." 

The right asset tracking solution should help improve security, monitor utilization and give your team the visibility they need. Download the asset management solutions buyer’s guide to learn which features to look for, what questions to ask potential providers and how to prepare for an asset tracking demo.

Strengthen asset theft protection with better visibility

Beyond the cost of replacing stolen equipment, a missing asset can disrupt jobs, delay deliveries, reduce productivity and create unexpected rental or insurance expenses. Fleets need the ability to monitor powered and non-powered assets, detect unexpected movement quickly and access current location information when equipment goes missing.

Asset tracking platforms with theft prevention features such as GPS tracking, geofencing, movement alerts and configurable reporting can help businesses build a more proactive equipment theft prevention strategy. And when theft does occur, near-real-time location data can support faster asset recovery by giving fleet managers actionable information to share with law enforcement.

Verizon Connect brings together asset tracking software and fleet management tools in one platform, helping businesses improve visibility across vehicles, trailers and equipment while supporting security, utilization and day-to-day operations.

Schedule a demo to see how Verizon Connect can help strengthen your asset theft prevention strategy and simplify asset management.

Sources

¹ Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI Philadelphia Warns Transportation and Logistics Industry of Rising Cargo Theft Threats

² Verisk’s National Equipment Register (NER), Memorial Day Tips and Best Practices

³ Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Bulletin, Crime Prevention Spotlight: Theft Prevention and Recovery Program

⁴ Verizon Connect 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report