How to deter theft - how about this idea

[windy acers]

Fence in the tractor barn as part of the cattle feild and include a bull or 2 and a warning sign attack cattle in feild. Worked for me over 10 years!!!!!

[kthompson]

Reading some of these reminded me of a person years ago who took one of the front wheels with him. If you have hyd steering (no power steering with linkage but only hyd pressure operated) turning the front wheels hard either direction will make winching onto a trailer very difficult without getting it running. I have a friend who uses the container and a battery operated alarm system in it if they get the doors open. As to $250 per year, depending on the value of the tractor that is a good deal. Also some tractor insurance covers more than theft, it will also cover if it burns or wrecked.

But rather than chains and locks go to motorcycle dealership and buy the cable & lock combos and buy the best.

[banjodunn]

G'day some really good ideas there but as to one of yours about hiding in the bush just remember that it affords good cover for a thief too, the container idea is good but go for a 40' as a 20' can be picked up with a nice little tilt tray, insurance seems like the best option maybe you will some reduction with some type of security measure. Remember you only keep the honest thief out


Jon

[Chuck_Lind]

Here's something that really works, but it's totally off the wall. Here in Pennsylvania we have a lot of gas wells, some of the wells need a pump-jack that is powered by a 12hp or so Honda engine.
They were stolen as soon as it was replaced until our shop mechanic came up with an idea:
He spray-painted the engine with all kinds of ugly colors, purple, pastel, lime green, rust color, etc. to the point it looked so ugly you couldn't look at it.
Bingo!!! None of the engines that were painted ugly were stolen!!

I know it's really going overboard, but the point here is that it did deter theft.

I couldn't imagine "ugly-painting" my TN65; but then again, it probably wouldn't be stolen.

[teg]

There was talk a while back about painting the tractor hot Pink...

[CurlyDave]

I checked into insurance and it is $250/year for a 14K machine through my insurance company which seems very high (I plan on shopping around more next week).

1. Theft of my tractor is covered by my homeowner's policy, if I park it on my own property. It is not covered off my property (there goes parking at your neighbor's). Check your homeowner's policy with your agent.

2. The ideas discussed will mostly cost a lot more than $250 and will be much less effective than an insurance policy.

3. My dealer recommended a locking fuel cap to prevent vandalism, and covering the machine with a tarp while I was gone. These will slow kids down, but won't do much against a determined adult. Park it in the deepest woods you have and cover it with a camo tarp. It won't disappear, but it won't stand out like a new tractor. The idea is to make it look like an old tractor from a distance.

My thinking is that the insurance is cheap compared to the tractor, and can not be defeated by a thief. Plus, if someone should happen to be injured stealing the tractor, any extraordinary steps you took to protect it could cause a legal liability -- insurance will not do this.

While the sea containers are a great idea, they start at $2000 around here and could be as high as $4000. Plus another $500-1000 to outfit it it the way you want. That buys a lot of insurance.

[Lt CHEG]

Originally Posted by CurlyDave

I checked into insurance and it is $250/year for a 14K machine through my insurance company which seems very high (I plan on shopping around more next week).

1. Theft of my tractor is covered by my homeowner's policy, if I park it on my own property. It is not covered off my property (there goes parking at your neighbor's). Check your homeowner's policy with your agent.

2. The ideas discussed will mostly cost a lot more than $250 and will be much less effective than an insurance policy.

3. My dealer recommended a locking fuel cap to prevent vandalism, and covering the machine with a tarp while I was gone. These will slow kids down, but won't do much against a determined adult. Park it in the deepest woods you have and cover it with a camo tarp. It won't disappear, but it won't stand out like a new tractor. The idea is to make it look like an old tractor from a distance.

My thinking is that the insurance is cheap compared to the tractor, and can not be defeated by a thief. Plus, if someone should happen to be injured stealing the tractor, any extraordinary steps you took to protect it could cause a legal liability -- insurance will not do this.

While the sea containers are a great idea, they start at $2000 around here and could be as high as $4000. Plus another $500-1000 to outfit it it the way you want. That buys a lot of insurance.

These are excellent points. When I offered my parking boot suggestion I should have added that the boot was in addition to insurance. When I was a uniformed police officer I used to tell people all the time that the best thing they could do to deter theft, vandalism, etc. was to buy a good insurance policy. There is simply no way to 100% prevent theft or vandalism, it just isn't possible. My suggestion for the boot(s) was simply a cheap addition to the insurance policy to hopefully prevent having to use the policy and be without a tractor for any length of time. No advice given thus far, or that could be given would ever replace an insurance policy.

[RadarTech]

Having read this thread and at least 3 others about theft and defending against it, add one more tick to the thought of insurance....

Later,
J

[tommu56]

Originally Posted by Chuck_Lind

Here's something that really works, but it's totally off the wall. Here in Pennsylvania we have a lot of gas wells, some of the wells need a pump-jack that is powered by a 12hp or so Honda engine.
They were stolen as soon as it was replaced until our shop mechanic came up with an idea:
He spray-painted the engine with all kinds of ugly colors, purple, pastel, lime green, rust color, etc. to the point it looked so ugly you couldn't look at it.
Bingo!!! None of the engines that were painted ugly were stolen!!

I know it's really going overboard, but the point here is that it did deter theft.

I couldn't imagine "ugly-painting" my TN65; but then again, it probably wouldn't be stolen.

I can imagine how a Partridge family tractor would be painted

No one would want it!

tom

[Josephm]

Thanks for all of the replies. I think I have come up with a solution. I am planning to build a 10x16 pole shed to keep it in (gable roof, totally enclosed) and just get insurance.

That way, a locked barn will probably keep out kids and vandals, and if a thief gets after it, that will be covered by insurance.

Thanks again.

Joseph