Somebody "borrowed" my tractor

[AGGIE00]

Before you get too hasty, think about it a bit. When we were kids and working on the farm we would often find ourselves stuck in a hayfield or broke down. Tractors were everywhere and we would help ourselves to remedy the problem. Cell phones didn't exist back then so calling for permission wasn't an option. We would always put it back how we found it just a little lighter in fuel. No harm intended.

 

[beppington]

Man that would be infuriating Time for a fence/gate? (even if only across the roadside section of your property; looks from your maps like that's not too long of a distance?)

I'd definitely take the keys from now on; no need to make it easy for them ... & probably install a hidden ignition kill switch, too.

 

[DefEddie]

I would make a report and confront the neighbor.
Not accusingly,but ask if they used it.

The repo'd tractor really gets me.
I would have told the sheriff it was stolen,because it was.
Repo companies have to do their due diligence just for reasons like this.
I would have told the repo company to get the tractor back in under an hour or press charges for theft,trespassing,vandalism,attempted theft of the other tractor.
I would have the bank charged with being an accessory since they were the ones that ordered it,as well as conspiracy to commit a theft with the other tractor.

Repo companies have a job to do,I understand that-I pay cash for everything so as not to be in that situation.
But they also must walk a very fine line,because theft and property ownership is subjective to state law.

They did not do their due diligence,and have broken more than a few laws because of it. This causes a hardship on you not having your equipment.
They,as well as the contracting bank responsible for the actions should be bending over backwards right now for you.
The repo co. Could lose their license pretty sure and all parties are more than likely susceptible to a lawsuit from you right now.
Local authorities should be within their rights to arrest them,mistake or not.

Sorry for the book,but that floored me.
Any updates on either situation?

 

[Ozykioti]

That sucks jinman, it's crap that you can't leave things out in the open anymore. Some people think it's theirs for the taking? Good luck finding them & keep that 4x4 handy so you can give em a"pat"on the back(of the head) when you catch up with them. I like the idea of another poster with 12 volts hooked up to the seat, although I'd be using an electric fence controller or two! What's next, bio-metric thumbprint recognition to keep our tractors OURS?

 

[CurlyDave]

I would drive down to the sheriff's office tell them about the incident and then ask what kind of proof they would need to arrest if it happens again. Movie, Game Camera, eyewitness, etc.

That way you know what to do to get the proof they need.

A night in jail will change a lot of folks behavior.

 

[jmurray01]

What I'd do is never leave the keys in it again and if somebody does try to take it again and uses force, you'll have more than enough justification to call the police.

 

[ronjhall]

Time to lock things up in a barn. :thumbsup:

 

[YesDeere]

Doesn't your grandson still live with you? I know I used tractors without asking when I was a kid. But it was usually for something useful so I never got in trouble.

 

[newbury]

Chain the wheel.
Set up a gamecam if your sure it won't be seen & stolen.
I do like the idea of disconnecting a hydraulic line and aiming it at the seat.

 

[Ken]

I also like the hydro hose pointed toward the seat. could use a elec.valve and connect to the power steering seperate key to shut off.
A year ago son in law lost his Finn T-90 Hydro seeder and Dodge 1-ton truck. Sherriff wasn't much use in locating. Had other things to do than look for a "sprayer"
Insurance said could rent from Home Depot for 25 bucks a day.
Hide the keys. The local Kubota dealer remembered some one came in and purchased a
key that would work. After all the replacement cost was $50,000.00
Insurance coverage says replacement value. except deduction for number of hours used age of unit and unit only. not the tools, hoses, water pump to fill the tank. water meter to record the water purchased from fire hydrant only $1000.00 not part of coverage.
So a year later they are still nit picking and deducting every item claimed.
Will be decided in legal wrangle in the future.
Hide your tractor key the dealer will sell anyone a key to it.
Spend hours to chain to stump. or remove wheels, disable the machine when not using.
Why does the owner have to go this length when some one freely going around with theft on there mind gets a free ride .
ken

 

[Looking4new]

How about a battery disconnect switch under the hood and take the keys with you anyway?
IF it was a gasser I would suggest running a stranded wire from Number 1 spark plug to the seat and weave it just under the seat covering.

 

[buckle97]

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.

Jim,

I agree that your land looks great without a fence. We built a fence around our property to keep our animals safe, but as I have mentioned before the best benefit of the fence we never thought about is it also keeps other animals/people out!

 

[charlz]

I would drive down to the sheriff's office tell them about the incident and then ask what kind of proof they would need to arrest if it happens again. Movie, Game Camera, eyewitness, etc.

+1

I would think it would be pretty hard to get them to do paperwork for 'someone moved my tractor' without some kind of additional evidence.


BTW if someone did some 'tractor work' on their place with your tractor it might be easy to see it

 

[texasjohn]

Drat....so much trouble can be caused by one event...at least tractor seems to be OK still.

Seems that troubles are creeping ever nearer to home for us all. Quite a few stories from y'all about personal or close-by experiences. In my case, house keeper just today reported that the house next door to her was broken into yesterday morning. LEO says kids are doing this in morning daylight hours when people are at work/away. Advised her to go to Home Depot and get an alarm system that will automatically call 911...interesting advice!

Ideas seem to fall into these categories:

Deterrence
take key...a bother to owner
use PTO cutout
install unique switch...cutoff
fencing / barn
etc


Discovery
use game cam
follow tracks
etc.

Guess I'll have to make the argument that crime is good for the economy because it causes people to exert effort or spend money to seek to prevent it.

Sad state of affairs....but this thread has given me additional motivation to spend effort and money to try to hold on to what is mine....more gates, game cameras, etc.

 

[jinman]

Thanks again for the additional suggestions. My TLB has a lockable disconnect switch under the steering column. For my compact, I could remove the main fuse down by the starter. From now on, both keys will be locked up too. Of course, neither of those things protects me from vandalism. However, my tractors are covered under my homeowner's policy since I don't use them as a business.

I called the sheriff's office this morning and they are sending out a deputy to investigate. I'll let everyone know what they suggest, but I'd bet it will be locks, cameras, fences, etc, just like most of you have suggested.

 

[Western]

Jim, I didnt read the whole thread, so sorry if it was brought up. Someone may have been trying to use one to steal the other or both.I have seen that before. That would be a good reason to have moved the chains around. Any "pull" marks around the TLB??

 

[jinman]

+1

I would think it would be pretty hard to get them to do paperwork for 'someone moved my tractor' without some kind of additional evidence.


BTW if someone did some 'tractor work' on their place with your tractor it might be easy to see it

They didn't do tractor "work," but used my tractor and chains to pull/tow something. All that was on the tractor was the FEL and a drawbar on the rear. The 3PH had nothing on it. What clued me to the "event" was:

1. Dump trailer raised about 6" (My wife tested it while I was checking for a hydraulic leak, and I had her lower the bed and apply pressure to lift the relief valve. She and I both remember that.) On Saturday morning, I disconnected one remote hydraulic line and tested hydraulic pressure. It was 2400 psi. The trailer was not lifted.

2. A 4x4 about 2' long was moved from the dump trailer's previous location to the new location of the trailer and was just below the tongue jack. Since I had not unhooked the dump trailer from the tractor, there is no need for that 4x4 to be there.

3. I need to modify the hydraulic box on my dump trailer to accommodate the hydraulic hoses going to the tractor. There is only a small cutout for the electrical remote control wire used for the built-in trailer's pump. The hoses had a towel wrapped around them for protection. The towel was completely out of position as if the hoses had been pulled. I'm thinking they may not have disconnected the hoses before moving the tractor and pulled them out of position.

4. Chains were taken off the operator's platform on my TLB and moved to the compact tractor. Last week, I used two chains to move culverts I was installing on my new ponds. I leave the chains on the TLB.

5. Keys were in the tractor and the TLB. I put the keys for my TLB under a can of special mineral oil brake fluid I keep handy. It's in an open top box for such things on the TLB platform. The person had to lift the brake fluid to find the key. Because I've done it many times, I'd bet they bumped the parking brake handle and got it out of position. When they started the TLB and moved the shuttle handle, the horn sounds continuously until the parking brake handle is released. It's not easy to see and the handle is stiff. On my compact, I have an aftermarket nylon seat cover with pockets on the rear. I put the key to my compact in one of those pockets. They found the key, and the compact is much simpler to operate since it is HST.

6. When I attach my dump trailer's safety chains to the tractor, I take the big hooks and drop them over the 3PH lift arms. The chains have been re-attached, but they put them on the links between the lift arms and the rockshaft arms. I NEVER would rig them like that.

Yes, I have my grandson living with me. Saturday morning, he helped me cut the lawn by driving our riding mower for half the yard. Saturday afternoon, he took a shower to get all the grime/sweat off and then watched movies and did his homework. My grandson doesn't even know how to unhook the trailer or the hydraulics. He certainly would not move chains from one tractor to another. Besides, he was with us when we were gone on Sunday.

The sheriff's deputy just left. He suggested lighting for night time and getting increased patrols in the area when we are gone. Of course, he suggested locking up the keys. Since everything seems to be returned unharmed, it is certainly low in his priorities. The call is on record in case this becomes a pattern, which I sure hope it does not.

 

[nickel plate]

Jim,
Since this happened only once (that you know of) I don't think it was a neighbor as nothing was put back in their proper order to hide the tractor's usage.
Unless it's something that you have wanted to do, spending big money on fences and gates won't help that much. A good fast triggered infrared game camera with a date and time stamp feature is the way I would go and once this all settles out you can use it around your property for it's designed animal capture usage. I have a Reconyx HC600 which has one of the fastest triggers on the market with an invisible 60' night flash. If you need a quick tutorial on game cameras, go to the unbiased forum, Chasingame.com: Scouting Camera Reviews | Performance Reviews | Trail Camera Models compared | Sample Pictures and Movies.
I do like your idea of pulling the TC's main fuse, how about pulling the two bolt seat? That metal platform underneath looks uncomfortable enough.
Good luck.

 

[jonyyuma]

If all else fails, you can use the chain and padlock thru the steering wheel, a very old deterent...I would be leary of someone messing with the fuel supply around there???Anyway, now you are on point alert?? Do you have good night lighting around the barn, storage areas?

 

[MossRoad]

They didn't do tractor "work," but used my tractor and chains to pull/tow something. All that was on the tractor was the FEL and a drawbar on the rear. The 3PH had nothing on it. What clued me to the "event" was:

1. Dump trailer raised about 6" (My wife tested it while I was checking for a hydraulic leak, and I had her lower the bed and apply pressure to lift the relief valve. She and I both remember that.) On Saturday morning, I disconnected one remote hydraulic line and tested hydraulic pressure. It was 2400 psi. The trailer was not lifted.

2. A 4x4 about 2' long was moved from the dump trailer's previous location to the new location of the trailer and was just below the tongue jack. Since I had not unhooked the dump trailer from the tractor, there is no need for that 4x4 to be there.

3. I need to modify the hydraulic box on my dump trailer to accommodate the hydraulic hoses going to the tractor. There is only a small cutout for the electrical remote control wire used for the built-in trailer's pump. The hoses had a towel wrapped around them for protection. The towel was completely out of position as if the hoses had been pulled. I'm thinking they may not have disconnected the hoses before moving the tractor and pulled them out of position.

4. Chains were taken off the operator's platform on my TLB and moved to the compact tractor. Last week, I used two chains to move culverts I was installing on my new ponds. I leave the chains on the TLB.

5. Keys were in the tractor and the TLB. I put the keys for my TLB under a can of special mineral oil brake fluid I keep handy. It's in an open top box for such things on the TLB platform. The person had to lift the brake fluid to find the key. Because I've done it many times, I'd bet they bumped the parking brake handle and got it out of position. When they started the TLB and moved the shuttle handle, the horn sounds continuously until the parking brake handle is released. It's not easy to see and the handle is stiff. On my compact, I have an aftermarket nylon seat cover with pockets on the rear. I put the key to my compact in one of those pockets. They found the key, and the compact is much simpler to operate since it is HST.

6. When I attach my dump trailer's safety chains to the tractor, I take the big hooks and drop them over the 3PH lift arms. The chains have been re-attached, but they put them on the links between the lift arms and the rockshaft arms. I NEVER would rig them like that.

Yes, I have my grandson living with me. Saturday morning, he helped me cut the lawn by driving our riding mower for half the yard. Saturday afternoon, he took a shower to get all the grime/sweat off and then watched movies and did his homework. My grandson doesn't even know how to unhook the trailer or the hydraulics. He certainly would not move chains from one tractor to another. Besides, he was with us when we were gone on Sunday.

The sheriff's deputy just left. He suggested lighting for night time and getting increased patrols in the area when we are gone. Of course, he suggested locking up the keys. Since everything seems to be returned unharmed, it is certainly low in his priorities. The call is on record in case this becomes a pattern, which I sure hope it does not.

Maybe the aliens did a mind-wipe on you and left something out. :laughing:

Just kidding. Kinda infuriating. Game camera, take the keys and good lighting. :thumbsup: