Trailer Theft -- anyone a victim?

[minstrel]

I was reading the thread started by Darrellbeck which made me think outside of my sheltered little world. I had not seriously considered that someone might steal my TD from the campsite. So now I am wondering how many of you have had a camper stolen. If so, what kind of campground were you in....KOA, State Park, etc? What part of the country were you in --- state, city? Just wondering........
Liz

[GuitarPhotog]

Mine hasn't been stolen. But in the 4 years I've been hanging about here, I've seen reports of only two teardrops stolen. I don't think either was from a campground, but I could be mistaken.

<Chas>

[rowerwet]

I've seen a few stolen trailers mentioned online, one was a really nice tear in CA, the other was a T@B up in Canada. The canadian one was tracked down and recovered.
you have to remember tears are not an easy to sell invisibly item. listing them on craigslist or ebay will allow the owner to track them down, lisitng them on any of the facebook pages, or this site would bring them up with an easy search. Titles and registration will also discourage taking them to a pawn shop or dealer.
Most stolen campers that are never recoverd end up way out in the woods, the design of a tear is much more aimed at traveling down the road, rather than living in the woods permanently.
While I can't say it will never happen, it is not very likely to happen.

[rowerwet]

my favorite was the guy who towed his tear to a distant event then got in and went to sleep, in the middle of the night his dog woke him up and he told it to be quiet. the dog let him know things weren't right. About the time he opens the door, a truck goes peeling out across the parking lot, away from his tear.
the perps had actually unhitched the chains, but hadn't gotten to the coulpler latch lock. I bet they didn't even relaize it was a camper, and someone could be inside.

[lrrowe]

I have been the victim of a trailer break-in, but not a trailer theft. There would have no way to prevent the culprit(s) from using the crowbar to pry my door open.

[tony.latham]

I think most crooks are urban critters...

[S. Heisley]

Trailer thieves are usually looking for bigger targets (more money) than our tiny trailers.
However, there are people out there who will look in the windows; and, if they see some pricey electronics, etc, they could break in and take them, just as they would if they saw something that they wanted in an automobile. Keep valuables out of sight. Then, there's the .01% of crazies....Trailer fans do a pretty good job of keeping those kinds away.
Always lock your trailer even if if you are only going to the other end of the campground. Don't depend on your neighbors to watch it for you, even if they will. It's not fair to them.

[Catherine+twins]

My next door neighbor had his cargo/camping trailer stolen from his driveway. I haven't heard of any trailers stolen from camp sites, though.

Catherine

[Kharn]

From what I've heard, many stolen trailers end up being used for meth labs, so our little ones aren't very attractive.

[MarcInBoise]

I think most crooks are urban critters...

Hey Tony, not to hijack this thread, but where is that?

[tony.latham]

I think most crooks are urban critters...

Hey Tony, not to hijack this thread, but where is that?

South west Montana. Is that close enough?




T

[rgambord]

my favorite was the guy who towed his tear to a distant event then got in and went to sleep, in the middle of the night his dog woke him up and he told it to be quiet. the dog let him know things weren't right. About the time he opens the door, a truck goes peeling out across the parking lot, away from his tear.
the perps had actually unhitched the chains, but hadn't gotten to the coulpler latch lock. I bet they didn't even relaize it was a camper, and someone could be inside.

Kidnapping is a felony. Criminals aren't too smart... wonder if they understand the implications of trying to steal a potentially occupied trailer.

[DezPrado]

I think most crooks are urban critters...

Wow, that is a pretty location for a camp!. Looks very similar to some I've seen here in NZ. Far enough away from
the urban theft rings. I guess the trout fishing is 'passable' there!

[bobhenry]

One of our Hoosier group was in traffic and crept up on a trailer "just" like his! As he got up beside it he noticed it had a safety coupler latch "just" like his. He did notice it wasn't tracking real well then he noticed it was just attached by the safety chains. He followed what he has now determined to be "HIS" trailer but lost them in traffic. It was called in to the police. He later went back into the area and cruised the back alleys and side streets and found it. He waited for the police and they allowed him to recover it. The house was vacant and no sign of the thief. A few personal items and a installed radio was all that was missing. What are the odds of pulling in behind your own stolen trailer in 4 lane traffic.

It had been parked at the apartment complex where he lives.

I never worry about the trailer or even he camping equipment when camping in a park setting. To many folks watching and a thief will not be able to determine if you and your neighbor are not closely related family or just a friendly stranger.

[MarcInBoise]

I think most crooks are urban critters...

Hey Tony, not to hijack this thread, but where is that?

South west Montana. Is that close enough?




T

Yessir, SW Montana is very doable from Boise! VERY nice. And good to see you're a fly fisherman too.
That's one of the reasons the teardrop was appealing to me, for that exact activity.