Security & Theft Security Question

[stvman]

How about this note tacked to the steering wheel.

TO ALL WOULDBE THEIVES!!! Being more than a little paranoid I have installed no less than three lojack devices on this tractor as well as four hidden cameras placed strategicly around this property. A sattelite uplink has more than likely sent my home computer some nice 8x10 glossy's of you admiring this fine piece of equiptment. I will also remind you that you are on PRIVATE! property please leave now and I will assume you are just a friendly admirer. Thanks

 

[stvman]

Another suggestion. How about on the hood you stencil...

Property of Saprono Brothers Construction /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Gary_in_Indiana]

The advice you've gotten here is pretty good. The one thing I'll try to reiterate is that if someone decides they really want to get your particular piece of equipment, it's only a matter of time before they do. I've done more than my share of repossessions over the years and there's truly very little difference between that and stealing so far as the technical aspects are concerned if it's repossession by "self help" (a legal term for going and getting it without benefit of court order).

Keeping it out of sight is probably the best idea. The toughest part of getting one is finding it. The same goes for an outright theft. No one's going to go door-to-door looking for one to steal. If you leave yours out where it's visible from the road, you've just piqued someone's attention. When you're not using it, park it behind the barn instead of out front.

As far as lighting goes, I find it a lot tougher to go somewhere which requires ME to be the one holding the light looking around than one that provides it for me. I know this seems counter intuitive, but that's my experience. I'm always appreciative of a nicely lit area in which to work, even when my work is taking someone's vehicle. I don't have to hold a light, fumble with keys or equipment or risk something as simple as tripping over something.

I did something a bit different for security on one property I had where the garage blocked all of the storage pen from view from the house. I used the typical motion detector lights with a bit of a twist. I wired them to also activate a line I wired to an old radio in the house so when the motion detector was activated so was the radio which alerted me to somone being where they didn't belong.

It worked well enough that I caught more than one potential thief or vandal INSIDE the fenced area in the years I lived there. Unfortunately, the only thing for which the police could arrest them was trespassing. At least it was something, though.

 

[tld]

Let's not forget a locking gas cap, if you can get one, to prevent kids from stuffing things in the gas tank.

 

[BWS]

pull the main fuse,turn the gas off,hood lock would work,set parking brake,engage the pto[then it wont start],hmm guesse a tuff chain or you could pull a tire??where would you unhook a saftey switch??lojack device would be nice..bws

 

[Henro]

Just to add one more worry...

If you make it too hard to steal they may just smash it up a bit and leave it for you to find badly damaged later.

Last year when I was shopping for my first tractor, there was this badly damaged tractor sitting in the back...I asked the dealer what the story was on that...he said sometried to steal it and when they couldn't they simply trashed it and left...

Sad but true... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bodie]

Guys thanks for all the suggestions. I had a great weekend working on my tractor (save for a few minor problems ie hydraulic and coolant leaks) but it made it through the weekend without being stolen. Only two more weeks until we move in and then I will have my Rottie chained to the seat, lots of insurance, and my new Browning within easy reach!