Security & Theft How to deter theft - how about this idea

[Josephm]

Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum. I am about to purchase a new JD 50hp machine and will be keeping it in a rural location. I have been going back and forth on how to secure it from theft.

I checked into insurance and it is $250/year for a 14K machine through my insurance company which seems very high (I plan on shopping around more next week).

So, I have been trying to figure out how to best secure it. I thought about all the usual ignition/starter/fuel disable schemes, until I talked a fellow at a dealer who basically blew all my theories.

He told me that a person from my home town had just had his tractor stolen with a bunch of disable stuff in place. I asked him how and he told me the thief fed it ether through the intake and got it to fire enough to get it on a trailer, while shorting from the battery to the starter terminal (bypassing any anti-theft circuits on the starter side or fuel system side).

So, after hearing this, I realized that there is no way to disable the fuel or ignition system (besides maybe taking the starter home with you). Not to mention the risks of someone just winching it up without starting it.

So, I have come up with some ideas to prevent theft. I was hoping folks could provide some feedback as to whether or not I would be wasting my time:

1.) Park it in the woods, out of sight from the road.
2.) Rig the back and front tires out to row crop width to keep it from easily being loaded on a standard lowboy trailer.
3.) I designed a bracket made out of 1/4" plate that will securely hold the front axle in place. The brackets will look like an upside down "L" and allow the tractor to be backed into place. The "L" will have another hinged "L" piece that will lock into place with a standard lock. The trick will be that the 2nd hinged piece will have a 1/4" plate protection box where the lock will be that only has a hole big enough to insert your fingers and key to unlock it and loop it in and out of the catches within that box (that way the lock is protected from bolt cutters, grinders etc). The whole assembly will be anchored in concrete that goes several feet deep. That way, the thief will basically have to bring a torch to the site to cut through the brackets (will have one on each side of the front axle between the wheel and engine).

Any opinions on my ideas?

Thanks,
Joseph

 

[roamerr]

If it's a NEW JD 50 hp then get insurance. Too much $$$ for the tractor to be worrying about theft. If's a used $4000 or less tractor then just disconnect the starter wire or run a heavy log chain through the wheels and steering wheel.

 

[Lt CHEG]

One of the dealers that I looked at recommended picking up a boot like is used for people who don't pay parking tickets and putting that on one or both of the front wheels. He told me about a customer who has several CUT's being used in his construction business and he uses this to help deter theft after one of his tractors was stolen. He hasn't had another one stolen since doing this. It isn't fool proof, but it should work reasonably well. Generally speaking all you can really hope to do is slow a thief down enough that they get caught in the act before they can finish or get them to give up and try an easier target.

 

[JoelD]

I've dropped this idea before and it usually goes over like a lead balloon.

Buddy had radio stolen bunch of times, taped razor blades to underside of replacement radio, found pool of blood on next attempt but radio remained.

Another option might be GPS or lojack.

If someone wants your machine bad enough, they'll get it.

NOt sure if you can find way to lock up tranny and would think if machine is large enough, trying to winch a large machine with four wheels locked up onto a trailer would be tough.
Joel

 

[JoelD]

Another thought would be if there is anyone anywhere near where it will be see if you can keep it at their place.

Finally, trailering may be option to provide some peace of mind.

Joel

 

[buck12]

I am in a similar situation in that my tractor is used at a rural property. I had intended to leave it there sometimes but to date I just trailered it even though I have insurance.

 

[aczlan]

2.) Rig the back and front tires out to row crop width to keep it from easily being loaded on a standard lowboy trailer.

According to what I found here the max tread width is ~76", that is not wide enough to be a big deal to get on a trailer (or a rollback)

3.) I designed a bracket made out of 1/4" plate that will securely hold the front axle in place. The brackets will look like an upside down "L" and allow the tractor to be backed into place. {snip} That way, the thief will basically have to bring a torch to the site to cut through the brackets (will have one on each side of the front axle between the wheel and engine).

That will slow someone down, but I think you would be better off getting it insured, 10 mins with a torch (with something behind it to keep from burning the tractor) or less with a 4.5" angle grinder running off of a genset or a large inverter and a trailer with a winch (or a rollback truck) and there goes your tractor.

Will it slow down joyriders and casual thieves? Yes, but if they cant move it they may settle for vandalism, such as dumping something in a tank which will cook your tractor when you go to start it


Aaron Z

 

[ehchvac]

I would be as worried about kids/morons dumping sand etc in the fuel or oil fill holes.
These machines are not like full size constuction equipment where all that type of stuff is lockable.
On one of the jobs I was on, kids dumped sand in an excavator engine and hydro tank, the machine ran a couple of minutes before things started to go very wrong.
The owner lost the key years ago so he never locked the fuel/oil caps.
After he had it flushed and repaired he got new locks and keys.
Another favorite up here is throwing rocks thru the glass, most all the construction machines that are left on the jobs all have removable glass shielding of some type.

 

[jimmyj]

Is there a freindly neighbor you can park it with?

 

[Mike120]

Get a cargo container and park it in there.

 

[Jeepnford]

I've dropped this idea before and it usually goes over like a lead balloon.

Buddy had radio stolen bunch of times, taped razor blades to underside of replacement radio, found pool of blood on next attempt but radio remained.
.
Joel

The biggest problem I see with that is you could get sued or arrested yourself for setting a trap,criminals sue often when they get injured in the comission of a crime. I'm thinking of hanging a silhouette target full of holes in the shop and writing on it"this could be you". The wheel boots work pretty well,we use them at work on portable generators parked in isolated locations.

 

[aczlan]

Also, there was an interesting thread on here a while back by someone in a similar situation: Securing tractor from theft you might find some good ideas from there if you want to lock it up.

Aaron Z

 

[Josephm]

Thanks for the replies. Wow, I guess I never thought about somebody dumping something into the diesel tank and vandalism in general.

My buddy at work does own the place next door and has a camphouse on it. Maybe I should just see if he will let me park it over there during the week.

Joseph

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I agree with Mike120,get a sea container. It will be some of the best $$$$ spent. That way you can park your tractor inside and leave tools and other stuff that you use and not have to haul everything back and forth. You can only do so much, if someone really wants to take or do something bad, not much you can really do about it without being there. If you have enough trees and such that stuff can be out of site from the street, that will help also. You know, out of site, out of mind. And yet the down side of that is that whom ever can do what ever out of site from the road. Check on insurance also, maybe the cost would be less if you tell them that you are going to store it in a container.

Decisions, decisions, good luck with your new tractor.

 

[CTW]

I agree with Mike120,get a sea container. It will be some of the best $$$$ spent. That way you can park your tractor inside and leave tools and other stuff that you use and not have to haul everything back and forth. You can only do so much, if someone really wants to take or do something bad, not much you can really do about it without being there. If you have enough trees and such that stuff can be out of site from the street, that will help also. You know, out of site, out of mind. And yet the down side of that is that whom ever can do what ever out of site from the road. Check on insurance also, maybe the cost would be less if you tell them that you are going to store it in a container.

Decisions, decisions, good luck with your new tractor.

Just remember, if you use a sea container, be sure to lock the left side as well. For those of you not familiar with a sea container, they have two door handles on each door with locking holes over the handles. The right door has a large metal tab that closes over the left door, keeping it in place. This tab can easily be bent back which would allow the left door to open. By locking the left side, this would deter this practice. Also, the metal flap that slides over the door handle must be secured from the inside so the nut can't be backed off from the outside. For more locking ideas for that sea container you might try here:

LOCKING BARS FOR TRAILERS AND CONTAINERS - Rig Secure, Inc

This will give you some good ideas that you can build yourself. Best of luck.

 

[flusher]

Hello everyone,
I am new to this forum. I am about to purchase a new JD 50hp machine and will be keeping it in a rural location. I have been going back and forth on how to secure it from theft.

I checked into insurance and it is $250/year for a 14K machine through my insurance company which seems very high (I plan on shopping around more next week).

So, I have been trying to figure out how to best secure it. I thought about all the usual ignition/starter/fuel disable schemes, until I talked a fellow at a dealer who basically blew all my theories.

He told me that a person from my home town had just had his tractor stolen with a bunch of disable stuff in place. I asked him how and he told me the thief fed it ether through the intake and got it to fire enough to get it on a trailer, while shorting from the battery to the starter terminal (bypassing any anti-theft circuits on the starter side or fuel system side).

So, after hearing this, I realized that there is no way to disable the fuel or ignition system (besides maybe taking the starter home with you). Not to mention the risks of someone just winching it up without starting it.

So, I have come up with some ideas to prevent theft. I was hoping folks could provide some feedback as to whether or not I would be wasting my time:

1.) Park it in the woods, out of sight from the road.
2.) Rig the back and front tires out to row crop width to keep it from easily being loaded on a standard lowboy trailer.
3.) I designed a bracket made out of 1/4" plate that will securely hold the front axle in place. The brackets will look like an upside down "L" and allow the tractor to be backed into place. The "L" will have another hinged "L" piece that will lock into place with a standard lock. The trick will be that the 2nd hinged piece will have a 1/4" plate protection box where the lock will be that only has a hole big enough to insert your fingers and key to unlock it and loop it in and out of the catches within that box (that way the lock is protected from bolt cutters, grinders etc). The whole assembly will be anchored in concrete that goes several feet deep. That way, the thief will basically have to bring a torch to the site to cut through the brackets (will have one on each side of the front axle between the wheel and engine).

Any opinions on my ideas?

Thanks,
Joseph

Don't think that your protection box idea will work. A 4-1/2" angle grinder with a metal cutting blade will get through that pretty quickly.

I'd just put a heavy chain between one of the rear wheels and the main tractor structure and take a digicam photo of this setup. Get insurance. Then when it's stolen, you have proof that you took reasonable precautions to prevent the theft.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Don't think that your protection box idea will work. A 4-1/2" angle grinder with a metal cutting blade will get through that pretty quickly.

I'd just put a heavy chain between one of the rear wheels and the main tractor structure and take a digicam photo of this setup. Get insurance. Then when it's stolen, you have proof that you took reasonable precautions to prevent the theft.

I don't think that there is any structure there at this time, so I guess he could chain it to a tree. But if someone really wants it, it won't matter what you do, it will be stolen or vandalized. The sea container helps keep honest people honest. If he is that worried about it, then he needs to get insurance on it.

Just saying what I would do in his situation as I understand the circumstances.

 

[sandman2234]

I had a Sea-land Container on a piece of property that I moved away from. Later when renters burnt the mobile home down, I kept the container and due to the city requiring current tags on every vehicle in town, decided to keep a Corvette in it till I decided to afford to put it back on the road. The container was located within direct view of two houses, and earshot of several more. Locks kept the doors intact but the handles took a beating. The sides got penetrated with what appeared to be a sharp axe and vandals entered the container. Appears that they were more interested in playing in and around the car (using candles as light) due to the amount of wax residue left. In the end, I put the car back on the road and moved the container to my current residence. Nothing stops a thief if you give them enough time. These appeared to be neighborhood kids with too much free time on their hands.
Don't know how long it would take a dedicated thief to access a container, but not long...
David from jax

Container is still better than parking it out where they can see it!

 

[slan]

Only if you have a fel.
Park it in front of a tree so they cant drag it backward, dig a hole on an angle, drive in and leave the bucket full of material againt the wall. That way they cant winch it on the truck and will be too much work to bother with.
Put a wildlife camera nearby to review them scoping it out.

Or put a real powerful electric fencer under the hood

As others have said, if they really want it, they will take it.

90 pound german shepard called "Fluffy"

 

[medicshawn]

I would definitely invest in one of those game cameras. That would let you know who was on your property.