How to keep a tractor from getting stolen?

[TomSeller]

In my case the local thief is not a professional. He is a known meth head who rides a stolen bicycle and burglarizes places stealing tools, cars etc. to get his next fix. I doubt he owns a battery operated angle grinder. If he did, it likely would have been sold for drug money. What he is in jail for right now I understand from the Sheriff can carry a 10 year sentence, so if I am lucky he will be off the street for a few years. The Sheriff lives between where they guy hangs out and my place, but the guy still breaks into places within riding distance.

 

[williaty]

In my case the local thief is not a professional. He is a known meth head who rides a stolen bicycle and burglarizes places stealing tools, cars etc. to get his next fix. I doubt he owns a battery operated angle grinder. If he did, it likely would have been sold for drug money. What he is in jail for right now I understand from the Sheriff can carry a 10 year sentence, so if I am lucky he will be off the street for a few years. The Sheriff lives between where they guy hangs out and my place, but the guy still breaks into places within riding distance.

Yep, you're a perfect example of when you need to make something just hard enough to steal to make the idiot ride his bike down to the next driveway.

 

[MHarryE]

Something like this? Ram Locks for construction and agricultural machinery

Yes, that's the device. That or one from a similar supplier is what Cat recommends their dealers carry. More effective than say removing a wheel because once the lock is in place, it cannot be removed without a key except by destroying the steering cylinder and prevents thieves from towing by being locked with the tires turned.

Construction and AG equipment have one key fits all because people show up at a job site and can't work because somebody else has the key. I still have a dozen Caterpillar keys around because I needed to have one when checking machines at customers and often there was nobody around.

In 2001 we implemented a 17 character VIN number just like automotive. It was supposed to be industry standard long before now but Kubota still hasn't implemented it. Our latest John Deere, however, does have a 17 character VIN. We at Cat really pushed for the standard because our equipment is loved by thieves. When the team charged with developing the standard visited my group they showed pictures with customers having replaced their Cat decals with Case, Komatsu, etc., as a theft deterrent. So there is an alternative - have new decals made labeled Cheap Chinese Design Ripoff. Then paint it some ugly color , water based so it will wash off but also look like a real junker as it slowly weathers away.

 

[bill allen]

Lots of good information in this thread. I think I will insure the tractor well and hope for the best. I am in a good area and visibility is good so I probably won't have any trouble. I may can stick it in a garage until I get a barn built.

What about the county mowing crews? What kind of trouble with theft do they have? My wife and I were out riding bikes today and passed a place where the county mowing guys leave sometimes leave their tractors on the side of the road. So we stopped and I jumped up in the seat since it was a tractor I am considering buying. I saw some kind of lock on the mower to the tractor and at the front of the tractor the hood also had some kind of hasp and lock on it. They must have some kind of success with doing it this way.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

I pull the loader and backhoe subframe removal pins and disconnect backhoe hydraulic loop with booms and stabilizers extended. They will need to power everything up get it saddled up and pins in place before moving.

You could also substitute a fuel line with one that had a ball bearing crammed in it, shop teacher used that in a trouble shooting test.

David

 

[4570Man]

You just need to make your tractor harder to steal than the next guys. There have been lots of good suggestions with removing the key being the worst. How many chains can a battery powered grinder cut through? Just use a few more because the thief probably didn't bring an extra battery.

 

[pat32rf]

Sprinklerman has the best idea. Get to know the neighbours.....

 

[MHarryE]

Sprinklerman has the best idea. Get to know the neighbours.....

First, I live in a remote area but I do have neighbors. Neighbor 3/4 mile from me beat his mother breaking her shoulder and hip. She lived out her life in our nursing home. When she died her funeral was postponed 3 months so the son who beat her up could be there when he got out of prison. Neighbor 1/2 mile beyond him was captured trying to escape across the border into Canada trying to evade drug charges - this is a remote area and he was using that to his advantage to make meth. He is out now and farming because for dome reason nobody will hire him. Then 3 miles from me an 85 year old grandmother was beaten to death by her granddaughter's ex-husband because he thought she had money, right out of "In Cold Blood" but here in Minnesota instead of Kansas. Know your neighbors? I guess so because everybody is afraid to drive on our gravel road, except the County Sheriff but they travel in pairs around here.

 

[TomSeller]

First, I live in a remote area but I do have neighbors. Neighbor 3/4 mile from me beat his mother breaking her shoulder and hip. She lived out her life in our nursing home. When she died her funeral was postponed 3 months so the son who beat her up could be there when he got out of prison. Neighbor 1/2 mile beyond him was captured trying to escape across the border into Canada trying to evade drug charges - this is a remote area and he was using that to his advantage to make meth. He is out now and farming because for dome reason nobody will hire him. Then 3 miles from me an 85 year old grandmother was beaten to death by her granddaughter's ex-husband because he thought she had money, right out of "In Cold Blood" but here in Minnesota instead of Kansas. Know your neighbors? I guess so because everybody is afraid to drive on our gravel road, except the County Sheriff but they travel in pairs around here.

Sounds like your neighbors would have pictures at the Post Office if they still did that.

 

[KiwiBro]

Concealed GPS tracker/immobiliser. Really not that expensive. Various ways to set them up including have them text you their position when they are moving or going over a certain speed or moved out of a certain area, etc.

Won't stop people pilfering bits off the tractor for scrap though.