Stolen Airstream, 22ft Sport - Las Vegas

[OTRA15]

Thanks SSM.

Originally Posted by AtomicNo13

As you can imagine they are devastated!
. . .

Yes, that is easy to imagine . . . so sorry . . .

Without revealing any personal info etc., could you help us learn more from this event?

How did the trailer come to be parked at a casino without being hitched up, or the owners nearby? From what I have read about casinos permitting trailers-in-tow to park overnight, I would have guessed that they don't usually provide parking for just the trailer on its own.

Was the trailer's hitch just left unprotected without a hitch lock, and no club/boot on a tire [or whatever the parking police use before towing]?

Any tips or lessons to learn here, for the rest of us?

Thanks,

Peter

PS -- Any progress on the casino's video? If force was involved in the theft, any chance of their insurance kicking in here? Do they have their own on-site security force?

[AtomicNo13]

The filing of a police report has ben absurd. Owners told the police dept is very busy with more serious crimes! A detective would get there when he gets there. I suggested they head to the Nevada state patrol, which they did first this morning.... state police doesnt do that... take reports that is!

Friends traveled from their home in San Antonio to Vegas for a fight. They were paying guests at the casino rv park.

Trailer was hooked up to services and hitch locked.
Your guess is as good as mine as to how it was stolen. A 2" ball can pop up into the hitch to get away with it despite being locked. It can be towed away and the lock removed later.

Hotel video will have to be subpoenaed....
Trailer vin is now reported to NCIC, so if it is found or stopped, it will report as stolen.

Without knowing my friends financial picture, we talked about they are going to do.
Theyre hunkered down until Oct 1, hoping for speedy recovery. Then decide on a new trailer.

I havent mentioned how the crooks will enter the stolen trailer. My first guess would be a crowbar to the door, thats super ugly!

I also mentioned a firearm.... was there one there? Thats a big issue, now a stolen gun could be in the mess as well.

We have been on the phone all day stratigizing.... and crying together.

Did you ever know a person or people that were like the perfect cup of coffee and a warm chocolate chip cookie? Thats these people....
They are mexican immigrants who ran a good business. Lovers of family and strangers as well. Our family adopted them several years ago at the Balloon Fiesta. They call us out of the blue as they travel to see if we are close enough to intersect.... these are the Airstreamers you camp with and choke you up when its time to go.... just good humans!

Everything will work out, but still the situation sucks. Imagine having your toothbrush, and your favorite tshirt stolen. Just plain evil!

We joked that it was probably a mexican guy who stole it and they will recover it with 12" low profile tires and fringe around the top! A little ethnic humor went a very long way today.

[AtomicNo13]

Something to share...
I personally employ the following security.
I have a 2 5/16 ball without a threaded stud I insert into the coupler pocket, then an armored lock locks the latch. This way nothing can be inserted into the coupler to tow it away.
I wrap the safety chains tight so they cant be used to haul it either.

Wheel locks... I posess vintage wheel locks with a padlock provision, I lock those as well.

I also have disc brakes which stop with incredible authority. A covert secondary breakaway switch drives my brake actuator via a long stainless cable through a wheel. There is no way those 6 wheels will spin with the brakes on!
I have video surveillance on all 4 sides, and my crank up antenna, digitally recorded and streamed to my phone. My AS has its own internet that can send video, audio, and other crucial data.
Im the original gear queer. Thinking of creating a hot shell condition in the event of tamper, but I will forget to disable it, and zap myself on return.
There are other systems at play but dont want to publish all my secrets online...
Remember we roadschool with 4 children, anti terrorism, anti theft, anti anything bad is very important to me.

[ITSNO60]

I like the idea of that ball.

There are some cheap tracking methods out there.... problem with Lojack is I'd be afraid the police would be too busy to respond to it...there are some tracking tags but they rely on other people having the app on their phones for whichever brand of tags you have, this constructs a network and relays tracking info to the user. Another cheap option to consider is using a cheap phone connected to your trailer/vehicle that you can track with your smartphone.

http://innov8tiv.com/this-is-the-bes...ending-a-dime/

[AtomicNo13]

With cheap phones, and unlimited plans, keeping an eye on stuff has never been easier!

[uncle_bob]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

I think that is our situation -- waiting to hear from the company. Are your property coverages different, however, for "on-premises" damage/theft vs. "off-premises" when the trailer is at a campground for instance [and not hitched to the TV]?

Lots of fine print to check!

Thanks,

Peter

Hi

When we "did" the trailer, the valuation home owners policy went up by a bit more than the price of the trailer ( trailer + contents ...). Indeed if the trailer is on the move with the TV, that's covered under the auto policy. It's a bit nutty how it all connects. I'm not at all sure that getting everything right would be possible if the home owners and auto policies were from two different outfits.

Bob

[dbj216]

I detest thieves. Everyone does. Your posting on Air Forums will alert a lot of Airstreamers to be on the lookout for it. We tend to notice other Airstreams in rest stops, fuel stops, camp grounds, parking lots, etc. A 22' Sport with a Balloon Fiesta sticker and a damaged wheel well are clues to notify authorities. It might even have a damaged door or window by now.

Airstream community, spread the word. Instead of Neighborhood Watch, we'll call it Airstream Watch.

David

[waninae39]

this what we use

no one can move our AS

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the updates and suggestions.

A sad world . . .

[AtomicNo13]

Yup, sad but good to know we're in a generally good community of other Streamers....
Love you all!

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by waninae39

this what we use

no one can move our AS

If they want it bad enough they will find away.

[ITSNO60]

A rollback could get it.

[bweybright]

And the safety chains make it real easy if they really want it.
Bottom line I think is do what you feel you need, and how much effort you want to put into it.
Then protect yourself financially as you see fit. I don't lock my progressive ems, but am prepared to lose it and spend another couple of hundred bucks if I do....until then I like to think my fellow campers and like me and will leave it alone.

[kscherzi]

Originally Posted by waninae39

this what we use

no one can move our AS

A portable grinder would quickly get through the wheel lock. Wrap the chains around the truck hitch and away they go. All you can do is motivate a thief to move onto a softer target.

[bweybright]

I am truly not trying to be rude...but do you really travel with that Brahma lock and use it in campgrounds? I totally get using that when in storage (as long as you use two and alternate axles on opposite sides to they can't pull tires, etc.) understanding that as the prior post indicated the intent is to move on to the next easier target.
But to my question - do you use that in campgrounds?

[bweybright]

I owe apologies for derailing this post. We need to get back to the original intent...watching for the trailer and helping these folks out.

[waninae39]

not to be rude. but make yours harder to steal than someone else's

just like your home.

[Ray Eklund]

AtomicNo13... if it was using Goodyear Marathons it will be nearby.

[bweybright]

Not to be rude..but this was your post with a picture of your situation: "no one can move our AS"
Those of us following are simply stating that we believe you are wrong. Your trailer could be moved pretty darned easily.
I do use locks but understand I am rolling the dice until something ugly happens and I lose something. Part of using the trailer instead of keeping it in storage I guess.

[Ray Eklund]

The psychology of a trailer thief...

Take the trailer to a local storage unit.

Most likely break a smaller window and open from the inside.

Remove anything of value. Leave trailer at storage unit and never return to get it.

When rent is not being paid, the Storage company will open the unit, discover the stripped Airstream, call the local police... who never bothered to take any information to contact the owners.

They will claim monthly storage charges then possibly sell it at at auction, not being able to contact the owner(s).

I would check all of the local storage complexes. There is a very good chance this could be a way, I, would go as a professional thief, which these people would be.

We have Farmers Insurance. Get a Trailer/RV Policy and not a 'Rider on your Auto Insurance' in Nevada. Each state varies. Nancy asks lots of questions and makes the agents cry... before we write a check. ($330 for $55,000 coverage... was the number we chose and deal with it if we ever need to make a claim.)