ARA Insurance and National Equipment Register announce award winner

Jan. 7, 2012 – The American Rental
Association, ARA Insurance and the National Equipment Register has named
Detective Terry Haldeman of the Snohomish County Auto Theft 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.”

Related Link
www.ararental.org