Pattern of stolen teardrops in 2015?

[Wild Bill]

Anyone who buys what may be a stolen trailer is part of the problem. Some may not even know it is stolen, the big tip off is no title. My box I built has no title, I have pictures of building it but still almost impossible to sell without a title. I use it for swap meet inventory storage and take it to 3 shows a year. While all the junk is on display, I sleep in it. Started off as a frame without a title. I like the GPS option, I hear they are all ending up south of the border. Should be able to put a stop to that if they would check trailer plates at the border crossings. Happy New Year Bill

[whitefishpoint]

It seems that there may be a pattern to what is being stolen from us. It appears that they are all manufactured teardrops and all stolen at night.

[rant on]
I don't think its just teardrop trailers. Its seems in the past few years that the number of thieves have gone through the roof. I live in a safe small town on a busy road and even here, anything and I mean ANYTHING left outside will be stolen. I replaced my water heater and put it just outside the garage. I caught a person red handed loading it into their pickup. We had a power outage a year ago and I left my generator RUNNING outside the garage door with the door closed (but chained the generator to inside the garage). My wife called and said she heard a pickup backup to our garage and she went out the front door and yelled at them and they took off. Not to mention all the trash thieves. They go through your trash looking for anything they can use - which I don't care except for the fact they dump people's trash all over the yard to find stuff. I confronted a guy doing this and he acted like he had a right to go through my trash because of some bullshit he heard on TV.

Our society has degenerated massively. No morals, no integrity, no conscience and no natural human boundaries that haven't been crossed.

[rant off]

[GPW]

Blame the disparity between those few that have it all and the many that have nothing to lose ...

[blentz]

What GPW said. I've noticed more and more that have no idea of how to make a living or feed themselves. And the rules? That stuff applys to others. Much like any other third world country.

[rmclarke]

GPW said: Blame the disparity between those few that have it all and the many that have nothing to lose ...

I'm not sure I understand the intent of this post. It sounds like you're saying that if someone steals my trailer, that I'm to blame because I had it and the thief did not??

Having integrity and being honest has nothing to do with what a person has or doesn't have.

[S. Heisley]

GPW said: Blame the disparity between those few that have it all and the many that have nothing to lose ...

I'm not sure I understand the intent of this post. It sounds like you're saying that if someone steals my trailer, that I'm to blame because I had it and the thief did not??

Having integrity and being honest has nothing to do with what a person has or doesn't have.

Well said, Richard.

Being a thief most anywhere in the world has become a fairly lucrative "occupation", one that allows a person to become fairly comfortable and possibly even rich in doing. While stealing food or clothing, etc may be done by the desperate needy who may not know better, much other stealing is done by dishonest, uncaring people, to make money, plain and simple.

[Andymanout]

I happened across this and I feel obligated to let you folks know what I know. I am a security systems installer. I have 25 years of experience in the industry. This is advice and not much more, you can take it or leave it.

First off thieves are opportunistic. They prowl for the target with the least resistance. They strike when the chance presents itself and they are indiscriminate about who, and where however, they do care about the what and how.

Professional vehicle thieves have target products on a list that they are after. If your property is on one of those lists and they see it. Short of gunfire there is little you can do to stop them. With that being said there are steps you can take make your property less visible.

A secure location outside of view is an excellent first step. However, If you Pull your TD out the night before and park it out in front of your house. You face the same issues of those who store theirs in plain site. If three men can lift your TD at gatherings then three thieves can in the dead of night. Chains can be cut, locks can be broken, doors can be opened and all of this can be done with you sleeping thirty feet away. You might be feeling a little dismayed at this point so I'll skip to solutions now.

Light is the first best step. Motion detector lights that brightly light the area your going to park your TD when anything bigger than a cat walks by will deter the rookie thieves. However pro's will just slink along in the shadows. They know your probably still asleep.

Adding a security surveillance system with night vision cameras with good lenses and Infra red lights will get crystal clear images of the pro in his hoodie and a pair of safety glasses.

Getting a young German Shepard and training yourself and the dog well enough to works as a team is one of the best strategies. However, you have to commit to this option and not everyone is willing.

Alarm sensors that will emit a ring tone or buzzer when tripped will let you know that something has just passed it in your front yard.

Then there is LoJack and this is one of the best options available. There is a cost but when you think about the 6 weeks to three years you just spent building your dream TD the cost can be managed.

So to sum up the risk is there and what you do to manage it is in your hands.

If you store your TD in a secure location out of view of the street, with motion detector lights that brightly light the area, security cameras, alarm sensors and a guard dog it is more than likely it will never be stolen. Anything less and you are taking a chance. To be honest the odds are still in your favor but you are taking that chance.

How do I feel secure with my possessions you ask?

I live on a down hill slope that obstructs the view of my property from the road. My cameras run quietly most of the time and have only caught images of thieves in my neighbors front yard, Our German Shepard's name is Sheba, The trip alarms on on the downhill slope of the driveway and won't go off until someone comes onto the property and I haven't got LoJack on anything yet. Hey, I'm not a paranoid, yet.

Andyman Out!

[GPW]

Don’t take me wrong , I’m certainly NOT defending thieves in any way ... I do everything I can to deter thieves, (especially here with a culture based on crime and hustle ) and best thing thing is Not to present an opportunity ... They are like Predators , out there watching and waiting ... You have to be smarter than they are, but remember , they have more experience being thieves than you do .. Unless of course, you are the CEO of a large corporation ...

[rowerwet]

I have a fenced-in yard, and multiple motion activated lights, the fence gives enough suggestion of a dog, and you can't walk anywhere in the yard without tripping a light.
If you don't have that, take a wheel or both off, nobody is going to carry a tear that far.

[dogscats]

It go's to cops not doing there jobs my son had a 32 foot Alum. trailer taken $26,000 . Had thieves on tape show there truck plate . The cops know who it was saying they do this all the time even told him where they WILL sell the Alum.. Thieves cut this trailer and sold the alum .One cop said that SF.Jones will not look in to car thief if there no chance of a tow .The SSD you have to pay them release then the tow. Sac Calif. He filet bad put all time is to be spent on if they can take a house / cash .If they can recover the cost of you going to jail your gone .It's be come all about the money .

[fm-usa]

Stolen Teardrops is a real tear jerker. (PUN, sorry, had to)
Anyways,...
With modern tech constantly being miniaturized, why not have hidden RF chips installed where only the owner knows where hey are. Back that up with a 'motion sensing auto turn-on' GPS locator again only where the owner knows where it is.
To thwart thieves, the locating GPS's battery could have a panel marked 'GPS Battery' but is actually a fake, while the real battery is hidden elsewhere.

Several security systems are out there but of those I've looked into are OH-SO expensive. Because of that high cost most will pass it up taking there chances.
It could be a windfall business for someone who can come up with a low cost and effective system. I can see this system tied to your Smartphone or someone with a Smartphone you know and trust where said system can be alerted. Then comes to mind a 'Community Security' system?

JUST thinking out loud where someone (or several) can Mind-Meld some ideas.
Any other thoughts or additions to these idea[s]?

[tony.latham]

With modern tech constantly being miniaturized, why not have hidden RF chips ...

Don't forget the value of a stamped-in-steel VIN number. That's what the cops are going to look for and run through the system during a stop when they start wondering if things are kosher.

Tony

[halfdome, Danny]

Don't forget the value of a stamped-in-steel VIN number. That's what the cops are going to look for and run through the system during a stop when they start wondering if things are kosher.

Tony

I weld my own personal ID caricatures in the chassis just in the event the vin number is removed.
The DOL inspector suggested I "weld in the vin number just in case some crack head steals it."
I also sign and date the teardrop body in spots only I would know where to look.
I affix inside a build plaque that includes the vin number.
Can never be too careful.
Danny

[ELM]

I had this thought go though my head, It might work or it might not, This would only work if you have electric brakes and a on board battery. My thought is if you were to wire in a switch to power the brakes that went though a mercury switch that you turn on when the teardrop is parked. So if someone was to try and move the trailer it would apply the brakes. Yes. no. maybe.

[GPW]

Bottom line is .... the more You do to protect it , the less likely it will be stolen ... Inside a locked garage with the wheels removed and hidden , in a fenced in yard with motion lights and hungry guard dogs ... That’s a start ...