A free, regional summit designed to help equipment owners, insurers and law enforcement better combat heavy equipment theft will be hosted by FBI-LEED and the National Equipment Register later this month in Arlington, Texas.

Hurricane Katrina and other storms have led to a 22 percent increase in thefts of heavy construction equipment from Florida to Texas, September through November, compared with the same period in 2004, according to a report by the National Equipment Register.

A general session at the Feb. 23 summit will discuss the equipment theft problem in the hurricane-ravaged areas, and the challenges to recover that costly equipment.

Break-out classes will provide law enforcement with instruction in equipment identification techniques, including hands-on training. Classes for equipment owners will discuss theft prevention and how to increase the chances of recovering stolen equipment. New equipment security technologies will be explained and demonstrated.

To register, call NER at (866) 663-7872 or email info@NERusa.com