Easy to get heavy equipment keys, says operator after back-to-back robberies

As police in St. John's investigate back-to-back heists using heavy equipment, an operator says it's surprisingly easy for would-be thieves to get ahold of keys and drive the machines.

Sobeys on Kelsey Drive in St. John's was significantly damaged when, at around 5:30 a.m. Monday, thieves smashed through the front windows with a piece of heavy equipment, believed to be a backhoe. It was later found with the engine running on a nearby street.

On Sunday at 5:20 a.m., police were called to TD Bank on Elizabeth Avenue after a front-end loader was used to smash through one of its walls. Police did not say whether the culprits were successful in getting money.

Glen Saunders, a heavy equipment operator, says many machines use universal keys.

"You can go anywhere, if you've got the brand-name key with the heavy heavy equipment — Caterpillar, Hitachi, John Deere, Kobelco, any of the big names — if you've got a key, it'll open the door, it'll unlock the doors where the master swtiches are to, you can crawl aboard, put your key in, turn it, and start it up."

As a result, many operators will carry their own keys on site, rather than spend time looking for the key to a particular piece of equipment, he said, especially if someone misplaces or inadvertently leaves with the key.

"I'm working on a secured site where we've got security, and when I get out I just leave the key in it," he said. "But I've got my own keys that I've had for years. Different jobs I've been on, I've used my own keys and had to use my own keys."

Saunders said it would be easy for him to get a piece of equipment in St. John's.

"Without anybody even being suspicious, I could just go unlock the door, open it up and get in," he said. Some brand-new models are moving towards a push-button start system, he said, but the entry systems are still the same.

Easy to buy, easy to drive

While he said it's difficult to hotwire a piece of heavy equipment, the universality of the keys makes them easy to get.

"You can go to any of the heavy equipment dealers in town right now, walk in and just purchase these keys," he said, adding they cost about $15 to $20.

But could just anybody be able to drive the machinery?

"To do what they done, you could almost Google it," he said.

The association representing the industry is also providing tips on how to keep machines out of hands of thieves — and that includes keeping a keen eye on where the keys are.

The Heavy Civil Association of Newfoundland and Labrador said Monday it and other associated groups have reached out to their members to warn of the recent robberies.

"Not only was the heavy equipment used to break into business establishments, the theft will also be a burden for the company or individual whose equipment was stolen," the heavy civil association told its members.

"The equipment will need to be replaced and any job where that equipment was used will be delayed."

Keep keys out of the equipment

The association suggests keeping detailed and accurate records of machinery, do background and reference checks on employees, and keep a list of authorized people on the worksite.

Proper lighting, fencing and secure gates are also helpful in ensuring equipment stays put, the association said.

"Make sure all keys are removed from equipment when it's not in use and kept in a lock box or other secure location," the group said.

For larger safety measures, the association said companies could purchase GPS tracking systems for the equipment or hire a security guard to monitor the worksite.

Saunders said each piece of equipment should have its own key — like cars and trucks do.

"The way it is right now, I'm on a site here where there's about six different pieces of Caterpillar equipment, and my one key will fit all six. I can go get in any one of them."

Meanwhile, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary is encouraging anyone with informaton on the two robberies to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

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