OF MAJOR CONCERN TO CONTRACTORS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS THE INCREASED NUMBER OF THEFTS INVOLVING HEAVY EQUIPMENT, SUCH AS COMPRESSORS, EARTH MOVERS, TRACTORS, AND CRANES AND SHOVELS. STUDIES INDICATE THAT MOST CONSTRUCTION SITE THEFTS ARE COMMITTED BY PROFESSIONAL BURGLARS FAMILIAR WITH THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND USING PROFESSIONAL BURGLAR TOOLS. IN ONE EXPLORATORY INVESTIGATION OF THE SYSTEMATIC THEFT OF EQUIPMENT, TOOLS, AND MATERIALS FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES BY THE ORGANIZED CRIME ELEMENT, AN EFFORT WAS MADE TO CONTACT CONTRACTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS WHO SPECIALIZE IN CONSTRUCTION SITE CRIME. IT WAS FOUND THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE CRIME CAN INVOLVE THE INSTITUTIONS OF RACKETEERING (FENCING), GOVERNMENT (LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES), BUSINESS (WAREHOUSE SALESMEN AND CONTRACTORS), AND LABOR WHEN BURGLARS ARE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS. THE CONCLUSION OF THE INVESTIGATION IS THAT ORGANIZED CRIME IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IS ENCOURAGED AND SUSTAINED BY CONTRACTORS, WITH PROFIT AS THE PRIMARY MOTIVE. PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS EMPHASIZING THE IDENTIFICATION OF EQUIPMENT OR THE USE OF BURGLAR ALARMS, LOCKS, AND GUARD DOGS ARE OF MINIMAL VALUE, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS TYPICALLY FOCUS ON AMATEUR AND NONPROFESSIONAL THEIVES. IN MANY CASES, IT SEEMS THAT CONTRACTORS DO NOT REALLY WANT TO DISMANTLE THE CRIMINAL STRUCTURE OF OPERATION. A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS NATIONWIDE IDENTIFICATON OF EQUIPMENT AND THE PERMANENT PLACEMENT OF EQUIPMENT INVESTIGATORS AT EVERY CONSTRUCTION JOB SITE TO MAKE DAILY CHECKS OF ALL INCOMING EQUIPMENT AND, UPON THE DISCOVERY OF AN ILLICIT OPERATION, TO FACILITATE ARREST AND PROSECUTION OF THE BURGLAR. THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION, HOWEVER, IS BASED ON THE HONESTY AND MORALS OF INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS AND THIS SOLUTION IS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE LAW. (DEP)