Construction equipment theft is a growing problem--in 1980, more than $1 billion was lost as a result of this crime. Track-type front end loaders, various dozers, wheel-mounted or track-mounted machines, hydraulic cranes, and pumps are often targeted for theft. Police should be suspicious of equipment being moved at odd hours (during weekends or evenings), drivers who avoid weighing stations, machines not tied down to a hauler, or equipment that looks out of place in an area. Officers can check the equipment's Product Identification Number or Vehicle Identification Number with the NCIC to determine whether it has been stolen. Distributors can help officers recognize different types of equipment; they publish guides to serial and identification numbers.