Moline Ill. - The American Rental Association (ARA) has announced a partnership with the National Equipment Register (NER) that will provide ARA members with free access to NER’s equipment theft-prevention and recovery services. Through this partnership, ARA members can securely and confidentially register up to 400 units of mobile, off-road equipment at no charge on NER’s national database that is managed by equipment experts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this valuable service to our members at no charge,” said Christine Wehrman, ARA executive vice president and CEO. “Both ARA and ARA Insurance Services (AIS) agree that the way in which NER uses information sharing to combat equipment theft is effective and timely. It’s a smart complement to ARA’s existing member benefits.” This member service is underwritten by ARA as part of the member dues investment.

Utilizing its database, NER provides theft prevention and recovery services by assisting law enforcement who investigate and identify suspicious equipment. In some cases, equipment is returned to the true owner even before the theft has been discovered. NER’s specialists also train law enforcement in equipment identification techniques and are available 24 hours a day to provide advice on a particular investigation. ARA state and local associations will strengthen this tie to law enforcement officials by hosting them at meetings complete with rental equipment to aid their understanding.

ARA members who register will receive equipment decals that warn potential thieves the equipment is registered on NER’s national database. The chances of detection while moving, storing or selling stolen equipment are significantly increased because of this.

As much as $1 billion of equipment, both owned and rented, is stolen in North America each year, however, as little as 10 percent of that equipment is recovered annually. AIS reported a 10 percent increase in rental-equipment theft nationwide between 2002 and 2003, with a total dollar value of that equipment topping $2 million annually.

The American Rental Association, a not-for-profit trade association founded in 1955, comprises more than 7,500 owners of equipment rental businesses and 1,100 manufacturers and suppliers of rental equipment worldwide. The ARA is the industry leader in providing services to help rental businesses achieve success.Along with the American Rental Association Foundation, the ARA works to represent, educate and promote the growing rental industry. For more information, visit the ARA Web site at www.ararental.org, or call ARA at 800/334-2177.

For more information about NER, go to www.NERusa.com, or call 212/297-1805.