Security & Theft Foreign tractors getting stolen

[woodlandfarms]

ABC did a story

Grand Theft Tractor?
Yahoo!

 

[Coolnslo]

The reporters seemed to think this was humorous and attempted to report it that way. Don't think they would be laughing if it was their tractor that they paid thousands of dollars for. Some things just aren't funny and I don't think many tractor owners would see any humor here.

 

[jimainiac]

Not that it would deter an experianced thief, but they didn't do us any favor by telling the world that most all tractor keys are the same.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I saw that report and didn't think it was funny at all as well. Especially with farms struggling as much as they are now. Then shipping the tractors as far as Australia. Probably a cheap anti-theft device is to chain the steering wheel hard over so they couldn't just drive away. Although a determined thief would cut the chain or lock.
Jim

 

[Keith01]

Or then they just cut through the steering wheel, easier than cutting the chain or lock.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Geez I hadn't thought of that. Maybe get those removable steering wheels like the race car drivers use. Stop the tractor climb off and take your steering wheel with you.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Not that it would deter an experianced thief, but they didn't do us any favor by telling the world that most all tractor keys are the same.

That's one of many things wrong with the media today. They don't know when to keep their mouths shut. What purpose did it serve to give out that info? Added more words to the story, so what, gave out information that was not needed. I could go on and on, but I won't.

 

[Heywood Jannockitov]

Install a hidden battery isolator switch. Something as big as a tractor could only be stolen if it can be driven away. Removing the steering wheel? I bet they could still steer well enough by differential braking.

 

[Mike058]

Removing the steering wheel? I bet they could still steer well enough by differential braking.

Shhhh, don't tell the reporters.

I'd think, with all the safety interlocks on tractors these days, it would be a lot easier to keep them from starting than get them to start.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am going to take an entirely different stand on this and defend the reporter. While I agree the tongue in cheek method is not all that funny, I feel that this subject should be telecast.

First, it is common knowledge that you can go on the internet and get contractor key rings. Other than a stupid teenage thinking this is a gas, most people stealing these things know what they are doing. I doubt there are many people who will act on this new found information. Anyone thinking of taking a tractor already knows the keys are common and have a plan to get such a large piece of equipment off the road.

2nd, shouldn't your anger be voiced not at the reporter, but the tractor manufactures who have not kept up with modern security systems? I mean you have a 100K tractor, and a common key to it? I can tell you a bentleys key has a computer chip, and the key costs tons when it is lost. And with tractor / heavy implement theft as high as it is, why are we not complaining to the manufacturer. Maybe, just maybe, this report is seen by the head of Deer and he says, "Darn, I did not realize how many tractors are getting stolen, lets step up our game and make these harder to take away". I understand the concept of the universal key on a construction site. I do not on a farm. and even on a construction site there are better ways of securing your gear than a universal key.

Finally, isn't one of our tenants in the US the freedom of press? The only problem with our media today is that people watch it. If you don't ask for it you won't get it.

Sorry, stepping off the soap box. Just had to defend my living for am moment.

Carl

 

[cityfarma]

This has worried me since I bought my tractor as I don't live on my property. I now have it locked in a garage. If they get the roller door open, they will then find it it chained to the harrow using 10mm HT chain and a good lock. If they happen to be carrying a pair of bolt cutters, they then will not start it unless they have a main fuse to fit. This will at least make the mongrel b...... work for their prize. This slows me down a little when I want to use it but at least I have a chance of the tractor being there when I arrive.

Cityfarma

 

[bjcsc]

This has worried me since I bought my tractor as I don't live on my property. I now have it locked in a garage. If they get the roller door open, they will then find it it chained to the harrow using 10mm HT chain and a good lock. If they happen to be carrying a pair of bolt cutters, they then will not start it unless they have a main fuse to fit. This will at least make the mongrel b...... work for their prize. This slows me down a little when I want to use it but at least I have a chance of the tractor being there when I arrive.

Cityfarma

The fuse idea is a good one. The chain is irrelevant. These guys are pros. All the pros carry rechargeable side grinders. They'll cut your 10mm HT chain faster than you can drink a glass of milk...but I like the fuse idea...

 

[GilaSlim]

Cityfarma has the right idea. Remember, locks are only to keep honest people honest. They won't slow down a determined professional thief by very much. Your only recourse is to make it so difficult to steal that the casual or semi-pro thief will give up and go pick on an easier target. As the police tell us, "Locks, Lights and Lassie slow them down and make noise."

The manufacturers could do a lot to slow them down. For example, the 80's vintage GM trucks and Blazers had a "steal me now" steering column lock. An arthritic 5-year-old with a screwdriver could steal one in about 30 seconds. Two "illegal aliens" got mine just because they wanted to drive across town. I got it back 11 days later when someone reported it as abandoned in their neighborhood. I then added hidden ignition and fuel pump cutouts. A thief would have had to figure out the problem, and be carrying enough wire to bypass my cutouts, and have the knowledge to do it.

But then, if the factory adds such devices, the thieves will soon know where they are, and their utility is lost. Your best bet is to install your own and don't tell anyone.

GS

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Cityfarma has the right idea. Remember, locks are only to keep honest people honest. They won't slow down a determined professional thief by very much. Your only recourse is to make it so difficult to steal that the casual or semi-pro thief will give up and go pick on an easier target. As the police tell us, "Locks, Lights and Lassie slow them down and make noise."

The manufacturers could do a lot to slow them down. For example, the 80's vintage GM trucks and Blazers had a "steal me now" steering column lock. An arthritic 5-year-old with a screwdriver could steal one in about 30 seconds. Two "illegal aliens" got mine just because they wanted to drive across town. I got it back 11 days later when someone reported it as abandoned in their neighborhood. I then added hidden ignition and fuel pump cutouts. A thief would have had to figure out the problem, and be carrying enough wire to bypass my cutouts, and have the knowledge to do it.

But then, if the factory adds such devices, the thieves will soon know where they are, and their utility is lost. Your best bet is to install your own and don't tell anyone.

GS

It's only a secret if nobody knows about it. Safeguard it yourself and nobody will get off with it. Might vandalize it, but won't get off with it.

 

[Trainer]

For what it is worth, there are many ways to slow down a their but none to stop them. When my tractor was stolen, they winched it up on a trailer and drove away. And it had a plow attached. They took tractor and plow. Fortunately the sheriff's office located the tractor and I got it back. The brilliant thief had it for sale beside the highway in another county. But my point is, with a winch and trailer they are in business.

 

[groundcover]

Wonder if one of those motion cameras that are hidden to track game would help to track down the thief ?

Cabela's -- Search Simple Product

 

[horse7]

Or just a dummy sign that says there is video surveillance on the property.

I've been installing the underground coax for video for a while, some cameras are working but most aren't. Been thinking of putting signs on the dummy cams that say: "if you can read this, your puss is already uploaded to Ukraine!"

Some of IR emitters are attached to dummy cams, with the real cams not having IR (and not pinhole either, so those cheapie detectors won't find them) in a hidden spot that can still use the IR illumination.

Long driveway also has Dakota Alert sensors-- very long range, few kilometers to several km depending on terrain [that is, if they detect an event they can transmit the signal up to several KM. The Dakota Alert products really work well if you need the range, but they are quite expensive. If you don't need the range there are a lot of much cheaper products]-- but these are only useful if someone is around.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have a rather long post on how we caught someone stealing stuff off our property. Sherriff showed the perp the video, and he handed over the goods.

I have to say guests who know the camera is up feel a bit uncomfortable, and I hate that fact.

Carl