Construction equipment theft often attracts press coverage in Mexico but no, not forklifts. This is due to the fact that construction equipment is costlier than forklifts.

Around 10 forklifts get stolen in Mexico each year but not a single one was ever reported in Mexican newspapers.

Hence, when on Sunday, May 29, Mexico's highest circulating, national daily Reforma published a condensed report on its front page and a full page article in the main section that mentioned forklifts being stolen, it was a rare incident indeed. According to the article, headlined "Heavy Machinery Theft", more than USD60 million of equipment are stolen every year and insurance companies reported 930 items of equipment, including forklifts being stolen in 2004.

The forklift and construction dealer association (Asociación Mexicana de Distribuidores de Maquinaria) is toying with the idea of equipping machines with a chip that would locate a stolen unit but it is very costly. As long as there are are forklift buyers there will be forklift thieves. The situation is particularly difficult in Mexico due to police and judicial corruption. Maybe prayer is the answer.