Somebody "borrowed" my tractor

[jinman]

I went out today to do some more dirt work on my dam and found that my compact tractor (NH TC45D) had been used while I was gone for 6 hours yesterday afternoon. The first thing that caught my eye was my dump trailer raised just 6" up. Next, the key was in the ignition of my tractor and I NEVER leave it there. I hide it in a pocket behind the seat. Obviously, it's not too well hidden. Next, there were two chains on the operator platform that I use on my big loader- backhoe. On closer examination, the hoses to my dump trailer were out of position. Also the safety chains were rigged in a way I never rig them and someone had put a 4x4 below the trailer jack. I think it's obvious that somebody disconnected my dump trailer, moved the chains from my larger tractor, and probably used my tractor to tow something or some vehicle. Perhaps the perp(s) saw me coming and took off before I noticed them.

I called around to three neighbors I know and asked if they had borrowed my tractor or saw anyone on it. Everyone said it wasn't them and they had not seen anybody. I think it was most likely my next door neighbor who took/used the tractor and brought it home, but we aren't on good terms. I believe he saw me leave and then came over and helped himself. Of course, this is all pretty scary because I had just fixed my hydraulics on my compact tractor. If it had not been fixed, hydraulic oil would have sprayed everywhere. From what I can tell, the tractor seems to be completely normal and unharmed.

I have to admit that I'm thinking about just chalking this up to experience and locking up my keys from now on. I considered calling the sheriff, but I'm having 2nd thoughts because it's just unauthorized use and nothing seems to have been harmed. As angry as this makes me, I think I'd be better off just to chalk it up to experience and take precautions to make it harder for someone to help themselves to my tractor.

What do you think? I'm only worried that the perp might try again and do some damage when he finds the keys are not available.

 

[Travelover]

I would definitely create a hidden defeat device in addition to the key switch. I'd also hide a game camera to determine who did it and kick their butt after I showed them the photos.

 

[greasemonkeyok]

Are there no tire tracks to follow? It is hard to cover vehicle tracks over long distances.

 

[nybirdman]

Pretty nervy;I never leave my keys in the tractor but keys are easy to come by.I leave my tractor at times on my property down the road.What I have been doing this year is leave the PTO lever engaged...hopefully the perp won't recognize this.If I knew my tractor had been used I would take further actions.

 

[bp fick]

Most likely, if there is no truck tracks, it was a neighbor who walked in?

Yup. I LOVE the game-cam idea. I'd want to know, frankly. That, to me, would be important. A secondary defeat is nice too. Doubt someone would take forever to try and figure out your "defeat" if they're up to no good.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I have afriend that has alot of older tractor around the place. Folks would just come up and take them. He had one neighbor that thought it was his right. My friend had a PTO pump on a backhoe attachem that he had removed the hose from and had propped it up facing the seat while he went to town. Came back and found oily tracks back tot he neighbrs

 

[clemsonfor]

I went out today to do some more dirt work on my dam and found that my compact tractor (NH TC45D) had been used while I was gone for 6 hours yesterday afternoon. The first thing that caught my eye was my dump trailer raised just 6" up. Next, the key was in the ignition of my tractor and I NEVER leave it there. I hide it in a pocket behind the seat. Obviously, it's not too well hidden. Next, there were two chains on the operator platform that I use on my big loader- backhoe. On closer examination, the hoses to my dump trailer were out of position. Also the safety chains were rigged in a way I never rig them and someone had put a 4x4 below the trailer jack. I think it's obvious that somebody disconnected my dump trailer, moved the chains from my larger tractor, and probably used my tractor to tow something or some vehicle. Perhaps the perp(s) saw me coming and took off before I noticed them.

I called around to three neighbors I know and asked if they had borrowed my tractor or saw anyone on it. Everyone said it wasn't them and they had not seen anybody. I think it was most likely my next door neighbor who took/used the tractor and brought it home, but we aren't on good terms. I believe he saw me leave and then came over and helped himself. Of course, this is all pretty scary because I had just fixed my hydraulics on my compact tractor. If it had not been fixed, hydraulic oil would have sprayed everywhere. From what I can tell, the tractor seems to be completely normal and unharmed.

I have to admit that I'm thinking about just chalking this up to experience and locking up my keys from now on. I considered calling the sheriff, but I'm having 2nd thoughts because it's just unauthorized use and nothing seems to have been harmed. As angry as this makes me, I think I'd be better off just to chalk it up to experience and take precautions to make it harder for someone to help themselves to my tractor.

What do you think? I'm only worried that the perp might try again and do some damage when he finds the keys are not available.

Unauthorized use = tresspassing. How did they get on your property to drive YOUR tractor without permission. Still law broken. If you dont like that neighbor and want to make a jab at them id call the law. if it was my neighbors (ones i hate) id call in a second, and then set a game cam up watchin my property.

 

[Fossil Farm]

You may want to file a report with the sheriff and take some photos just to create a paper trail in case it happens again to show a pattern of trespass and unauthorized use.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

I have afriend that has alot of older tractor around the place. Folks would just come up and take them. He had one neighbor that thought it was his right. My friend had a PTO pump on a backhoe attachem that he had removed the hose from and had propped it up facing the seat while he went to town. Came back and found oily tracks back tot he neighbrs

I have a friend with over 30 tractors and he has told me I can borrow his tractors whenever I need but I still call him before I ever take one just for the reason you posted. I never know if there is an issue with one and I don't want to just take one and damage something unknowingly.

On a similar note to Jim, one of the guys at my local chemical supplier was talking the other day and mentioned he was plowing a field a couple months ago and left his tractor at the field because he was going to come back the next day and plow a couple more acres. The next day he comes out and his tractor is gone. Calls up the neighbors and ask if they borrowed it and they all say no. So he figures maybe some kids took it for a joy ride so calls the sheriff and they tell him there was a notice for a tractor matching that description being repossessed. So he calls up the bank and finds out the guys came to repossess his neighbors tractor (different model and definitely a different serial number) but saw his tractor and it was the same color so they took it. They also tried to take another one of his tractors because it was red and they were suppose to repossess a red tractor. They left it because they couldn't get the post pounder off (mid mounted pounder). So he had one tractor taken, another messed with and had to fight with the banker and it still took a day for them to return his tractors to him. I know if it was me I would not be very happy if someone took my tractor just because it was the same color as the one they were suppose to reposses. The worst part is the tractor they took was 10 years newer and had the model number on the hood easy to read (since it was only a couple years old). What type of repo guys would just take tractors that matched by color alone without even looking at the model number let alone the serial number.

 

[ccdck20hst]

Several thought cross my mind. Do you have a locking fuel cap? I do not recall reading about locking fuel caps for tractors and since my little rig is stored in my garage I do not have a locking cap. Is the tractor insured for theft and other types of loss? I do not see a down side to reporting this to the local authorities. If it happens again, and you have reported the first incident to the police, you might get better enforcement action such as a visit once in a while - but I am not aware of your law enforcement coverage. I guess the problem is that if someone wants to vandalize or steal a tractor and is determined to do it no matter what you do they will find a way to cause a problem. Tractor on!

 

[MasseyWV]

Everyone said it wasn't them and they had not seen anybody.

Of course not, because it was probably one of them who did it.

 

[creekbend]

I have a friend with over 30 tractors and he has told me I can borrow his tractors whenever I need but I still call him before I ever take one just for the reason you posted. I never know if there is an issue with one and I don't want to just take one and damage something unknowingly.

On a similar note to Jim, one of the guys at my local chemical supplier was talking the other day and mentioned he was plowing a field a couple months ago and left his tractor at the field because he was going to come back the next day and plow a couple more acres. The next day he comes out and his tractor is gone. Calls up the neighbors and ask if they borrowed it and they all say no. So he figures maybe some kids took it for a joy ride so calls the sheriff and they tell him there was a notice for a tractor matching that description being repossessed. So he calls up the bank and finds out the guys came to repossess his neighbors tractor (different model and definitely a different serial number) but saw his tractor and it was the same color so they took it. They also tried to take another one of his tractors because it was red and they were suppose to repossess a red tractor. They left it because they couldn't get the post pounder off (mid mounted pounder). So he had one tractor taken, another messed with and had to fight with the banker and it still took a day for them to return his tractors to him. I know if it was me I would not be very happy if someone took my tractor just because it was the same color as the one they were suppose to reposses. The worst part is the tractor they took was 10 years newer and had the model number on the hood easy to read (since it was only a couple years old). What type of repo guys would just take tractors that matched by color alone without even looking at the model number let alone the serial number.

The repo company employee or employees were probably in a hurry and didn't want to be discovered. In this way, they sought to lessen the chances of an altercation with the owner. In retrospect, it would seem that a Bank or lending institution would pick, hire or select a Repo Company that offered services associated with more professionalism and more in tune with methods that most certainly would relate to legality issues.

 

[Bob77064]

Jim, I am sorry to hear this it's a shame that some people have no respect for the property of others. Or they some how feel they have a right to it.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

The repo company employee or employees were probably in a hurry and didn't want to be discovered. In this way, they sought to lessen the chances of an altercation with the owner. In retrospect, it would seem that a Bank or lending institution would pick, hire or select a Repo Company that offered services associated with more professionalism and more in tune with methods that most certainly would relate to legality issues.

I understand being in a hurry but you can tell the model number from looking at the tractor at a distance. If the model number doesn't match then why get any closer. There are other differences in the hoods between the two models the repo guys confused. The red tractor wasn't even the correct brand. It was just red so that "qualified" as being the correct tractor in the repo guys eyes.

 

[Bird]

You may want to file a report with the sheriff and take some photos just to create a paper trail in case it happens again to show a pattern of trespass and unauthorized use.

I agree.

 

[jinman]

Thanks everyone. I think I will call the sheriff tomorrow and report this. I also think I may set up a video camera for when I am away. The fact that this was in broad daylight would make an easy video if I had one. My wife said it might be time to build a fence, but I like my land without a fence. Perhaps a fence around my equipment would be good. I'm thinking a video system and a motion sensing light with video trigger would be best. I think I know who did this, but it will be nearly impossible to prove unless they do finger prints.

My tractors are parked on dry ground about 20' off my driveway. My house is on one side of the driveway and my barn and equipment sits on the opposite side away from my house and yard. There is grass now up to the driveway and the driveway goes to the county road. I'd have to find footprints because the tractor has made many trips in/out of its parking area lately.

BTW: My key for my TLB was in its ignition also. Either they could not figure out how to start it, or it was too complex for them to figure out how to drive it. My hiding place for that key is no good either.:laughing:

 

[RobertBrown]

Use your head, the perpetrator is probably closer than you think.
Do you want to catch this snake in the grass or teach him a lesson. Why not both? then don't tip your hand.
Look around and you may find some more clues. It shouldn't be hard to find out what was done and who done it.
Someone obviously cared enough to use the 4x4.

Could this have been an attempt at theft that for some reason or another was failed? Will they be back tomorrow? or next weekend? Do you know exactly when this occurred?

Make sure the machine is still in good working order.

 

[ncnurseryman]

Definatley pursue this as a tresspass and put up a camera to catch the SOB. Too many people just have no sense of respect for others peoples property and think they can do what and when they want. Today it was the tractor, what else is going to be "borrowed" tomorrow?

 

[RadarTech]

I liked the pto pump story...
Shame you can't rig it.... Or how about 12 volts to the seat when cranking?