Pattern of stolen teardrops in 2015?

[Socal Tom]

Years ago, my parents worked with a lady that had an Airstream trailer. It was in the days of Macrame and she had several macrame objects hanging in the windows. They stored it at a "secure" storage lot. The went to prep it for a trip one weekend and it was gone. After a few months they gave up hope and took the insurance payout and bought a new trailer. Fast forward about 5 years. A news paper article comes out about a meth lab busted in the desert. It includes a picture of their air stream trailer, with the macrame items still hanging in the window.

I don't know about tear drops being stolen for meth labs, but a small trailer is easy to hide. Its easy to get replacement plate and change the ID#. I'm sure they could easily be sold or traded in, or used for years without anyone finding out. There are some phone apps that turn your old smart phone into a GPS tracking system.
Tom

[Shadow Catcher]

One of the reasons I wanted unique graphics is easy identification.

[lrrowe]

One of the reasons I wanted unique graphics is easy identification.

I think that can be good and bad. But I opt to embrace the good part and I have plans for something for mine.

[Cosmo]

$18 for and acid etch kit to etch the VIN on the 6 glass windows. May get me a discount on my trailer insurance.
Only takes a few min to do. Hopefully will help make the trailer more track'able {in my opinion}.
http://www.amazon.com/Vehicle-Etching-S ... ref=sr_1_1?

ie=UTF8&qid=1451258823&sr=8-1&keywords=glass+vin+etching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fos491SGVFE

[elcam84]

I haven't seen glass etched in years. Used to be pretty popular and the police depts had the handheld sand blaster types that have replaceable digits. Acid etching is way easier and It gives a better looking result.

[Vedette]

[quote ="Socal Tom"]Years ago, my parents worked with a lady that had an Airstream trailer. It was in the days of Macrame and she had several macrame objects hanging in the windows. They stored it at a "secure" storage lot. The went to prep it for a trip one weekend and it was gone. After a few months they gave up hope and took the insurance payout and bought a new trailer. Fast forward about 5 years. A news paper article comes out about a meth lab busted in the desert. It includes a picture of their air stream trailer, with the macrame items still hanging in the window.

I don't know about tear drops being stolen for meth labs, but a small trailer is easy to hide. Its easy to get replacement plate and change the ID#. I'm sure they could easily be sold or traded in, or used for years without anyone finding out. There are some phone apps that turn your old smart phone into a GPS tracking system.
Tom[/quote]
I agree with Tom!
But, I also can't believe there is so much discussion here on this subject!
The Tnttt is a at "Tool" to keep us all informed and connected! That in itself, is putting a "lot" of eyes out there ....to help the se people recover their stolen Teardrops.
Happy New Year
Brian & Sandi

[S. Heisley]

The Tnttt is a ..."Tool" to keep us all informed and connected! That in itself, is putting a "lot" of eyes out there ....to help the ... people recover their stolen Teardrops.
Happy New Year
Brian & Sandi

Yes, Brian, that's the way I see it, too. With over 21,000 members, we should eventually be able to spot one or two and send word to the local police or highway patrol, unless they are being shipped to somewhere, in the belly of a big ship.

[S. Heisley]

Not a teardrop but a small trailer, stolen in KC around Christmas time, 2015:

[Vedette]

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
See you at the Shasta Lake Gathering April 28th!
Brian & Sandi
PS
What site are you in ??????? They are filling up faster than EVER!
Good Roads
Brian & Sandi

[S. Heisley]

Yet another teardrop stolen:

...silver, like a Benroy, green small rounded fenders, tag # texas 223-39E. from Granbury, Texas.

This one was just reported to me, stolen a couple days ago. Sorry, no picture; but, the description, above, is pretty good.
However, remember that the thieves may have already switched license plates.

[S. Heisley]

Something else (The idea just came to me.) that may help protect our investments is to modify your trailer to make it identifiable, even if the decals and original license plates are removed. The more you do to make your trailer identifiable as Joe/Josie McPerson's, the better your chance of recognition and recovery may be. Also, it may make (some) thieves think twice before they take it. This may be part of why DIY trailers seem to be stolen less often. Home builds are often unique; therefore, easier to spot.

Taxi Drivers used to have a way to turn off one of their lights, to attract police, if they were in trouble. I don't know it they still do that or not.
I suppose we could make a quick disconnect on one of our trailer's tail light wires. We'd need to remember to disconnect it before leaving it somewhere and reconnect it before getting back on the road. That would probably be fairly easy and inexpensive. ....Any thoughts?

[lrrowe]

Interesting idea Sharon. Another variation is to have a motion sensor relay trigger flashing lights and siren run off the trailer's battery. Boy, I can see many ideas spun off of your thoughts.

[elcam84]

Something else (The idea just came to me.) that may help protect our investments is to modify your trailer to make it identifiable, even if the decals and original license plates are removed. The more you do to make your trailer identifiable as Joe/Josie McPerson's, the better your chance of recognition and recovery may be. Also, it may make (some) thieves think twice before they take it. This may be part of why DIY trailers seem to be stolen less often. Home builds are often unique; therefore, easier to spot.

Taxi Drivers used to have a way to turn off one of their lights, to attract police, if they were in trouble. I don't know it they still do that or not.
I suppose we could make a quick disconnect on one of our trailer's tail light wires. We'd need to remember to disconnect it before leaving it somewhere and reconnect it before getting back on the road. That would probably be fairly easy and inexpensive. ....Any thoughts?

Interesting idea however here it would stick out like a sore thumb if the trailer lights actually worked. Seems that virtually no trailers have working taillights here.


Will keep an eye out for the green one as Granbury is not far from me.

[Shadow Catcher]

Looking at GPS trackers if I get one it will be a TK103b, good reviews and can be installed easily.

[noseoil]

Installed a regular car alarm during the build (lights, sensors, siren) & a much better tongue lock, which holds the chains as well. Itraq is on order & if they ever get to actual production & distribution, I'm in for one.

Too much time & $ invested to not protect the work I've done on mine. Will also be doing an "extra" thing or two about ID work as well. Paranoid? Not this close to the border (one hour from Mexico).....