Security & Theft Securing tractor from theft

[gemini5362]

OK, I am going to be serious for a minute. I will try to give a serious reply to the question this thread asks.

I live in the boonies. It has been my experience although my neighbors and I go a long time without actually visiting each other and talking we do watch out for each others stuff. If I see someone at my neighbors house that I dont know I have been known to ask who they were and why they were there. I assume my neighbors do the same. If you have neighbors that live close enough rig some kind of alarm system with a siren that locks on when the alarm system goes off. Hopefully it will make enough noise to alert the neighbors and wake them up before the thieves disable it. Talk to your neighbors and ask them to watch over your stuff while you are not there and tell them it is rigged to a siren. That is about your best approach to keeping it there. Of course have the stuff insured. If your neighbors wont watch out for your stuff for you then maybe you need to move to arkansas my neighbors all watch out for me and my stuff.

 

[patrick_g]

If you have neighbors that live close enough rig some kind of alarm system with a siren that locks on when the alarm system goes off.

I posted a schematic and pix of a simple circuit I built for a friend. It is in "Projects" and the name of the thread is
"Simple cheap alarm design."

If this circuit was housed in a strong box (concrete or steel) and connected to the tractor by a wire or RF link the siren would be relatively well protected from the bad guys and should alert your neighbors.

The driveway alarms that use RF to ring a bell at the house when someone drives by can be used as an alarm. (Details on request.)

Pat

 

[ragkar]

Well I do something a bit different. I live in a house well back in the woods so the house and tractor aren't visible from the road. When I'm not using it, the tractor is parked behind the garage where it is not visible to delivery men unless they prowl the grounds.
At the beginning of my driveway I have a annunciator that rings a loud outside bell and also an alarm inside my house. As I'm mostly home days and always nights, that is some measure of security.

 

[gemini5362]

Ragkar I agree with what you said. The problem for the original poster is that he does not live where his tractor is stored.


Pat that is something like what I was thinking about. I might want to put a siren with a latching relay in the top of a tree or something like that. So that they have to either climb the tree or chop it down to shut the alarm off. The problem with the tree becomes one if it goes off and your neighbors cant get to it to shut it off. The concrete or steel box idea is not bad.

 

[Soundguy]

Well, while not impossible, I seriously doubt that a thief is carrying a plasma cutter and generator with him. I suppose that a few ounces of C4 would accomplish the same thing and a lot sooner.

For a guy that makes his living stealing stuff.. it doesn't seem out of line. Look at 'scrapepr' trucks.. the guys that drive around and buy / steal / haul scrap.. many of them have dump bed trailers.. big winches, oxy-propane, and cutting equipment on their truck. I've seen scrappers drive up, and cut up burned heavy equipment and start loading it while we watched.. like litterally in minutes between a winch and small boom, and a couple guys with 40' of hose and a set torches and abrasive saws and bolt cutters walking around
the machine poping off pins and what not. I say a jd 444 articulating loader cut in half at the articulation in about 5 minutes, and then each piece was loaded .. the entire operation took less than 30 minutes.. 3 guys, and an f250 with bed full of salvage gear and a dump trailer...

People that do this.. know how to do this.

Yeah.. the average guy riding buy on his bike is gonna be kept honest with 90% of the deterrent items listed here. It's the guys that drive around during the day and case a place, and then come back with truck/trailer and pit crew, and make off with a 'secured' machine before you can finish a soda pop and a cigarette.

soundguy

 

[orezok]

For a guy that makes his living stealing stuff.. it doesn't seem out of line. Look at 'scrapepr' trucks.. the guys that drive around and buy / steal / haul scrap.. many of them have dump bed trailers.. big winches, oxy-propane, and cutting equipment on their truck. I've seen scrappers drive up, and cut up burned heavy equipment and start loading it while we watched.. like litterally in minutes between a winch and small boom, and a couple guys with 40' of hose and a set torches and abrasive saws and bolt cutters walking around
the machine poping off pins and what not. I say a jd 444 articulating loader cut in half at the articulation in about 5 minutes, and then each piece was loaded .. the entire operation took less than 30 minutes.. 3 guys, and an f250 with bed full of salvage gear and a dump trailer...

People that do this.. know how to do this.

Yeah.. the average guy riding buy on his bike is gonna be kept honest with 90% of the deterrent items listed here. It's the guys that drive around during the day and case a place, and then come back with truck/trailer and pit crew, and make off with a 'secured' machine before you can finish a soda pop and a cigarette.

soundguy

It's obvious that the answer to the question is that there is no way to secure a tractor from theft.

 

[CurlyDave]

I will say it again. My insurance policy was ridiculously inexpensive. Maybe $200/year for a $40k machine.

It didn't matter that I was storing the tractor where I didn't live. They added it onto my homeowner's policy and that was that.

Now that I live on the land, the $200 has been further reduced and is just part of my homeowner's policy.

A lot of these Ideas I have seen thrown around are going to cost a lot more than that, and some are just dangerous.

 

[gemini5362]

Well, while not impossible, I seriously doubt that a thief is carrying a plasma cutter and generator with him. I suppose that a few ounces of C4 would accomplish the same thing and a lot sooner.

Well a few ounces of c4 makes a bit of a noise that is really hard to hide. I would be the first to agree that your suggestion would hold off the casual thief but so would a lot of the suggestions made on here. A plasma cutter and generator is literally no money for someone that is going to be stealing farm equipment and selling for pretty much pure profit even if they are selling it for a lot less than it is worth. Generators are very cheap and very portable. A plasma cutter is not that much more. The speed in which it would make cuts to remove locking equipment would more than pay for the investment to buy one. Of course we are talking about thieves who can just go steal one if they find where there is one at. Curly dave is right insurance is cheap and a lot cheaper than most of the suggestions on here.

 

[JoeinTX]

For me, and I park my tractor 10 yards from my house, I: remove the distributor wire......chain it to a an oak tree with a hardened 30' link......and keep it constantly attached to a 3-point shredder. So far, so good.


Other points are clear. Remove a tire/rim.....make it even more immobile. Park it up against other obstacles that make an easy grab more difficult.


No fire, no fuel, hitched-up to an implement, parked in the right way......it becomes more trouble than it's worth to the common criminal. Since they work fast and hopefully without notice I put as many obstacles in their way.....it won't start....it won't winch easy........it is incomplete and won't run right....and it is subject to some basic mechanics.


Someone posting a tractor for sale without any history or background, with no explanation, and with no keys for the padlocked chain wrapped around its
various parts is an issue.

 

[Noland]

My inland marine policy is ~$70 per year for zero deductible coverage on tractor and all serial numbered implements .
As an added measure, I normally pull the key from the ignition and put it under the seat.

 

[Mr. Green Jeans]

My dad and granddad both left their tractors in sheds completely unsecured since 1970, and they have never been bothered. Gemini mentioned the reason why: you only have an occasional car pass by. Neighbors notice things that are out of the ordinary.

I went to a downtown school (Georgia Tech) where car theft was a constant threat. The solution was easy for the typical car. All you did was add any small measure of deterrent. Most of the thieves were not professionals, so they would simply move on to the next car. I drove one of the most-stolen cars at the time: Chevy C1500. I parked under lights, used the Club, and moved my truck often. I never had a problem.

One point from earlier that I disagree with... a rollback can't handle a container full of a tractor, implements, and misc tools/etc. Especially if you have done anything like bolting it down to a foundation or building a vehicle fence in front. Double-especially if it is a 40' container.

I read through this entire thread, but nobody mentioned an actual problem with theft. So, have you guys had problems with theft? Anybody hit with a super pro with rollbacks, plasma cutters, diamond grinders, etc?

 

[Gravdigr]

My problem wasn't so much with theft but vandalism. Kids nowadays have no respect. I remember one morning going out to find one of my 4 wheelers with the ignition cylinder cut out. Though I did get a chuckle when I found 1 of my rear tractor tires 'slashed'. These are 4' tires with tubes filled with anti-freeze for added weight. The tires were shot and getting replaced anyway. But apparently these chuckleheads must've hacked at the side of the tire with an axe (below the rim). I hope they got a good shower when all that nasty 15 year old anti-freeze and water came gushing out.

I have resigned myself to the fact that if someone wants your stuff bad enough they will get it. I just make sure the effort to get my stuff is not worth the reward.

I used to have a sweet '71 chevelle with a built 350 sbc, my wife was afraid of someone stealing it after I showed her how easy it was to slim jim it and pop the ignition (long story involving a boat and a set of keys without a float). Anyway what I wound up doing was installing a toggle switch for my headlight high beams. Then I wired the relay from my electric fuel pump to the foot high beam button. If someone tried to steal my car it would start and run fine for maybe 100' then shut off and not start until the fuel pump was turned on. Never had to test it though.

 

[Kendrick]

there are a fiew things i can think of. the contest was for in the middle of a field.

a small howler aprox hockey puck sized strong container that would be dropped uner the bucket before final lowering 180 db + will solve most thieves. add a trimble device inside the cab with a cell (if available) and another howler. any trucking would trip the howler not much else would be movin it. you could put the devices behind pannels of the tractor so you have to know where it is to turn it off. you could make the on off switch easy enough to get to but usless once tripped. somthing that loud would attract attension quickly any idiout near by would be deff. there are some gi frequencys that you could also use instead. teargas dye foam sprayed in all 4 directions would also be a good value added deterant. the puck could be disabled by a pin inserted in to the lock if you knew it was there and the other would not be likely to be noticed. ie if you smoke attach the switch to the ash tray. when it is poped out it is off.

you can add a raideo locator like are used on wild animals those would not be blocked by cell jammers and easy enough to track down. you can also have a detector on your property but not near by and once the trembler is activated the cell unit picks up on it and dials whom you choose. if you keep the howlers out the theef might not know they were noticed till the cops pull them over. the batterys in the animal collers can last up to a year depending on model.

 

[droy]

In a one of my gun magazines, some company is selling a burglary deterrent for gun shops. When tripped, it floods the room with pepper spray, then resets it self after a certain amount of time. Can you imagine sitting on the seat of the "soon to be stolen" tractor, turning the key that some one thoughtlessly left in the ignition, and instead of hearing the motor come to life, you are doused with the gel type pepper spray (that also has the bright red dye in it).
I know that this is designed for a room, but with a little imagination....

 

[Kendrick]

Droy we might be talking about the same or competing stuff.... I saw the jell/foam stuff in the edge catalog many years back... it sprayed like a liquid and then foamed up on contact had a lovely witch green dye that would permantly mark the target (3+days before enough skin could be rubbed off...) may have been pepper spray included or tear gass cant remember... know i could get some tear gass paint balls from the same area of the catalog though

 

[patrick_g]

Can you imagine the hassle of ruining all the hunting vests, hats, cammies and on and on when the pepper spray floods the gunstore.

If a pro wants your stuff he will get your stuff. Luckily most pros are not into stealing little tractors. The caliber of thief that is into tractors can be deterred such that he will go elsewhere.

It is the same with the majority of residential burglaries. You don't have to have an impenetrable and impregnable fortress, you just have to harden your residence against burglary significantly better than the majority of your neighbors.

There are plenty of people just parking their tractor where it can be easily loaded up to keep the thieves supplied such that they don't need to be Mission Impossible super experts. You just need to make it hard enough so they would rather take someone else's tractor.

My theft experience in 7 years has been one utility trailer (less than a month old.) It was parked where it could not be seen from the highway. The thieves took it at night cutting the plug off of it to wire the lights so they would not get stopped at night for no lights. It cost me $50 to replace it and I knew better how I wanted it built than the first one so I came out smelling like a rose, it was worth $50 to get a "do over." Of course on the other hand I would have shot the SOB's had I noticed them at work taking it. I park the replacement next to my house over 1/4 mile from the highway.

The only other theft of which I am aware is a stainless steel utility sink which was sitting 100 yds from the highway for well over a year waiting for me too install it in my shop. I bought it used for $40 but it was worth about $1500 or more in the stainless. That theft really ticked me off. I would have loved to "discuss" matters with the individual(s) responsible. Such discussion could very well result in my being attacked by the would be thief forcing me to resort to deadly force to protect myself.

Pat

 

[sunnyside360]

I store tractors and equipment in an old barn about 1.5 mi from my house. The insurance policy gives me piece of mind.

 

[Cyberroc]

Back to the original question, for being out in the middle of the field
I think you have options

You can get a Trailer, or plant some trees to hide it from view and disable as previously stated by others, or build a containment area

STEP 1: 10 tall chain link fence with barbwire outward facing top attachment. Cost should be minimal, as you would only need to build it big enough to surround the tractor. Make sure to also weld some steel between the bars so the fence is not scrap if the links are cut out. This does not need to be so much that someone can稚 get though, just so that the tractor won稚 fit though it. Make sure you get a lock that will make them spend some time on it.

STEP 2: Location Location Location! Build the containment area at the furthest part from the Road or at least far enough that they could not drive or extend a cable out to it if possible. Depending on what your doing with the property, if your field is dug up enough it might not be possible for a flatbed to easily drive out to it.

STEP 3: Disable it to the best of your ability and go as far as heavy chain locking it to two or more sections of the fence. I would have a cart or wheelbarrow that you use to hull the battery and other parts you remove back to your truck. You could easily leave the cart or whatever in the containment area when you are working with the tractor.

In the end, its just going to depend on how far you want to go with it.
Good Luck.

 

[orangebluegreen]

I pay $5/month for the cell phone backup on my alarm system. If an alarm was installed on the tractor (with cell module) It can call the cops or you or both in case the tractor is tilted ( a virtual mandatory requirement to load it) Of course you need cell coverage in your area. A call to the cops or you is much better than a video of ski masked thieves driving away with your tractor.

An experienced thief knows how long they have before police response. Couple weeks ago my neighbor stops by as I'm out mowing and asks if I've seen anything unusual in the area as there are some homes in foreclosure and one of them had the door wide open and no one there. We were talking about recent home burglaries in our area that no one ever used to lock doors even when away on vacation. A nice looking new SUV drove up the road and I mentioned look at that, it's a vehicle I've never seen before but the boarding stables up the road have vehicles that come and go so you never know. Not long after the vehicle leaves and my neighbor waves to him in a friendly gesture. He then mentions the person was a minority, not to sound racist but it just isn't normal where I live and stands out. The windows were dark tinted and we didn't notice this before. Minutes later a sheriff pulls up and asks if we have seen this vehicle and informs us he is breaking into houses. The crook broke in right under our noses as we were sitting there talking about thefts and the home had an alarm that did send a signal to the cell phone of the home owner who happens to be related to the sheriff who also lives on the road and she had his direct cell number to call, and he was still too late to catch him. He managed to rip a gun safe with guns and cash right out through a window and make off with it and drive back down out our dead end private road in no hurry and wave hello as he did so. They sent every available unit and a helicopter crawling the area but no luck finding him. I know one thing, everyone in this area is well armed and if anyone is ever caught in the act around here there won't be a need for the sheriff, a trial, or a burial plot, one will be chosen for them.

 

[Gravdigr]

I know one thing, everyone in this area is well armed and if anyone is ever caught in the act around here there won't be a need for the sheriff, a trial, or a burial plot, one will be chosen for them.

That gives me an idea for a new tv show "To bury a theif", I'll volunteer some digging since it's going to a worthy cause hehe.