THE INTERVIEW WAS CONDUCTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CRIME PREVENTION COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATED GENERAL CONTRACTORS OF AMERICA (AGC). THE AGC HAS ESTIMATED THAT THEFT AND VANDALISM AT CONSTRUCTION SITES COSTS CONTRACTORS APPROXIMATELY $100 MILLION IN EQUIPMENT LOSSES EACH YEAR. IMPORTANT POINTS KELLY EMPHASIZES FOR A CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR CONTRACTORS INCLUDE: (1) COMPLIANCE WITH THE AGC'S JOB SITE SECURITY CHECKLIST; (2) ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONTRACTOR'S LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY; AND (3) RECORDING OF THE SERIAL NUMBERS OF ALL EQUIPMENT. THE FBI'S NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (NCIC) COMPUTER SYSTEM IS A VALUABLE TOOL IN COMBATTING EQUIPMENT THEFT. THE NCIC SYSTEM ENCOMPASSES ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, CANADA, AND PUERTO RICO; MORE THAN 6,000 AGENCIES HAVE ACCESS TO NCIC FILES. STOLEN PROPERTY RECORDS ARE ENTERED INTO THE SYSTEM BY THE AGENCY TO WHICH THE THEFT IS REPORTED. ANY OTHER AGENCY ENCOUNTERING THE ITEM AND SUSPECTING THAT IT IS STOLEN CAN MAKE AN INQUIRY OF THE SYSTEM. THE COMPUTER MAKES A SEARCH TO DETERMINE IF THE ARTICLE HAS BEEN ENTERED AS STOLEN. A REPLY CAN BE SENT IN SECONDS. THE FILES ARE DIVIDED INTO SUCH CATEGORIES AS WANTED PERSONS, STOLEN VEHICLES, GUNS, AND STOLEN ARTICLES. SYSTEM PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE TRAINING IN THE PROPER USE OF THE SYSTEM AND IN THE USE OF THESE CLASSIFICATIONS. CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT COULD FALL INTO THE CATEGORIES OF STOLEN VEHICLES OR STOLEN ARTICLES. INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM THROUGH THEIR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE THE POLICE WITH AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE ABOUT THE ITEM, PARTICULARLY ITS SERIAL NUMBER. CONTRACTORS CAN HELP INCREASE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE NCIC SYSTEM BY KEEPING COMPLETE AND ACCURATE RECORDS OF THEIR EQUIPMENT. THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ALERT FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO SELL CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT AT TOO GOOD A PRICE ON THE CONDITION THAT NO QUESTIONS ARE ASKED. THESE CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD BE REPORTED TO POLICE. (VDA)