Stolen trailers?

[kb0zke]

There have been several threads about Airstreams being stolen from various places. It seems, though, that all were unoccupied at the time of the theft. Has anyone ever had a theft or attempted theft of a coach that was occupied? What I'm wondering about is a full-timer who has parked the Airstream at a campsite and then gone elsewhere for the day. We tend to be gone much of the day, returning to the coach for the evening. We also like staying at State parks, so the length of our stay is easily visible to anyone driving through.

[cwf]

If in an RV park, get to know neighbors.

[AWCHIEF]

Last year at one of our local state parks I woke to the sounds of half dozen squad cars right out side my trailer. They were raiding the campsite next to me. Seems my neighbors (3 occupants) for the past several days were robbing campsites and trailers when no one was home. One of the state troppers told me they had hit over a dozen trailers. Their pickup with camper shell contained TVs, grills, gas bottles, three bicycles and several guns. Inside they found more TVs, guns, cash and drugs. There was also everything needed to cook up meth. Thankfully they did not have a working lab set up. They had come over from Louisiana. The officer told me that they suspected that they had been doing this for some time.

[ColoradoLady]

Locks! Wheel lock, (alligator type, fits through wheel openings, clamps down, requires key to unlock). Put a strong padlock through hitch release to prevent easy access. Wind chains around tongue and secure with 2 strong padlocks. Hitch key lock. Ball Hitchlock prevents anyone from pulling up and easy hitchup.

Objective is to make it a real consuming chore to get it. Thieves usually look for the easy mark, so make yours very hard and time consuming to access. Don't leave valuable items outside when away...I.e., expensive grills, lawn chairs, etc. Close Curtains, so they can't see what you have inside. Leave 2-3 strong LED lanterns on inside, a portable radio on, so they don't know if someone is home or not. Leave a sign visible in window...."come back later, I'm taking a nap!"


I treat my BAMBI like an extension of my home....security! As heavy as possible.

[rasjad]

Last year I posted an anti-theft device which I installed on my trailer. The device texts my phone if the trailer is moved. Here's the post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ch-118021.html

I will say it takes some computer/electronic know how to get it to work.

[polarlyse]

Has anyone seen or heard of a device from a company called Dewalt Mobile Lock ??? From what I can see it's like a LoJack with a GPS. Magnetic box with a battery powered transmitter with a motion sensor. I just took a quick look at their website and it seems to do what we would want it to do in the case of a stolen trailer. Not cheap but May be worth the time to look it over. Been around awhile from what I can see but this is my first time seeing it.

[Drathaar]

We use an older version of the Mega Hitch coupler vault. Ours has the key on the backside, rather than exposed on the front. My suspicion is there is nothing that will deter a determined thief, but something along these lines will make most look for an easier target.

[ghaynes755]

Not that I want anyone's trailer to be taken but the odds are infintesmially low, at least for an Airstream. Not saying that it doesn't happen but if you have coverage on the trailer for theft and you take standard precautions I just wouldn't worry. A tongue lock or wheel lock if you feel better. The Dewalt's work well but can be expensive depending on the the coverage you choose. Absolutely would have one if I had a construction/utility trailer with my livelihood inside. But should the thieves every steel my Classic I'm not sure that I want it back. No telling what damage has been done as they stole it and indelicately drove it on the getaway.

[kb0zke]

Gary, that's kind of what I was thinking, but I thought I'd ask. A travel trailer is at more of a risk simply because it can be towed by nearly any pickup. A 5'er requires a less common hitch.

[Cochese]

I've been thinking about putting a kill switch for the electric jack, hard to hook up if you can't lower the trailer!


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[kb0zke]

Interesting idea. You would have to figure out some way to hide the switch, though. I had thought about something similar but realized that if someone couldn't operate the key switch they could simply bypass it.

Just thought of a scene from The Sound of Music in which the nuns stole ignition parts from the Nazi's cars, thus disabling the cars. I wonder if doing something similar would work.

[Cochese]

Hide the switch inside the trailer?! Or.... A weatherproof switch in the a frame! Maybe this is too simple?!


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

[cwf]

My wife just saw a notice on Facebook that an AS was stolen from someone in McComb, Misssippi.

I can't tell from the picture on small screen.. The size, perhaps a 27'?

Anyhow, heads up!

[ArtisanAir]

Originally Posted by RKL1954

Last year I posted an anti-theft device which I installed on my trailer. The device texts my phone if the trailer is moved. Here's the post:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f44/...ch-118021.html

I will say it takes some computer/electronic know how to get it to work.

I didn't view this link before posting my previous post but this link is exactly the technology I was explaining,. Nice job!

[featherbedder]

Originally Posted by Cochese

I've been thinking about putting a kill switch for the electric jack, hard to hook up if you can't lower the trailer!


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

Simply remove fuse for jack as it is a glass buss type fuse [auto style] then put holder back together no one would guess it was removed, plus less $ out lay for swt. and where to hide it.

[Jammer]

Originally Posted by kb0zke

There have been several threads about Airstreams being stolen from various places. It seems, though, that all were unoccupied at the time of the theft. Has anyone ever had a theft or attempted theft of a coach that was occupied?

I've never heard of that happening. Mobilizing a trailer that is parked for camping is, as we all know, a time consuming activity, and campgrounds are full of people with eyes who see that sort of stuff.

What I'm wondering about is a full-timer who has parked the Airstream at a campsite and then gone elsewhere for the day. We tend to be gone much of the day, returning to the coach for the evening. We also like staying at State parks, so the length of our stay is easily visible to anyone driving through.

The risk to consider in that situation is theft of contents and theft of other valuable items left in the campsite outside the trailer. Most fulltimers have all kinds of outdoor kit.

[BoldAdventure]

From all the threads about stolen campers, it almost always seems to be from commercial property. IE Storage yard and service lots. I just recalled one from a lady who had restored her Grandfathers, took it to get new counter tops, left it in the shops parking lot and it got stolen.

Rarely do people steal them out of campgrounds. And while stealing them from boondocking sites, you have to worry that the owner might show up any moment. Also, who wants to drive way out into nowhere looking for something to steal?

But, a shiny trailer in a parking lot of some shop with no one around. No one is probably going to be around since the business is closed. So lots of time to steal it with no one looking.

Lock it properly.

[Janet H]

Periodically the forum is contacted by folks with stolen trailers and we do our best to get the word out to be on the look out. They are almost always small and vintage and I think it's likely they end up in shipping containers at ports.

[badkat]

From what I read my Hensley Hitch kinda makes my trailer immobile. Even some repair shops can't move it.

[gandttimes]

Originally Posted by badkat

From what I read my Hensley Hitch kinda makes my trailer immobile. Even some repair shops can't move it.

But an expensive anti theft device no? LOL


George