Security & Theft Securing tractor from theft

[patrick_g]

I smell a niche for a buisness here.

You sell a gps tracking unit that fits on the tractor somewhere out of sight. Then you sell monitoring service. If the tractor moves more than a predetermined distance from the area it normally is stored then the monitoring service calls the owner to see if he has it on a trailer. If the owner is not the one monitoring it then the monitoring service calls the police and vectors them to the area where the tractor is. You could make a specially designed taillight with the gps tracking unit in it or something of that nature.

Pat you want to help me design it and put up some investment capital.

we could give a 15 per cent discount to TBNers

Note the cell phone jammer. Jamming GPS is even easier than jamming cell phones. The monitor may know the tractor's GPS is "LOST" but will have no clue where it is as the system you describe requires the device to tell the monitor where it is. That is why when I designed the anti-theft device for heavy equipment I had the units periodically send an I'm OK message. Disabling the unit prevents it from sending the I'm OK message and results in scrambling the security troops.

The GPS system would essentially be reduced to the same approach by GPS jamming. All yo know is that there is a problem. IF the tractor is loaded and moving out you have no clue in what direction.

Take for example the JSOW (Joint Stand Off Weapon) it uses GPS but can be jammed. Hence the inertial backup. I think LOJACK would be more cost effective than supplying an anti theft device with inertial navigation telemetry to notify you of the ground track of the purloined equipment.

LOJACK seems like a reasonable approach.

A small shaped charge under the seat wired to the ignition switch (where you leave your keys in the ignition to make it more likely the thief will be in the seat when the switch is turned)
would probably stop the average thief.

OK so you are too timid for that approach. How about a small squib in a dye pack ala the bank's booby trap?

Pat

 

[Max2310]

How about that:

 

[orezok]

I'm seeing a lot of "outrigger" locks on our construction sites. Basically, the tractor is raised up on the outriggers to it's highest elevation and a steel "sleeve" is placed around the exposed cylinder rod. The ones I have seen are made of 3/8" plate and the locks are fully recessed and shielded making it virtually impossible to cut. Yes, if you wanted to spend an hour with a cut off wheel or torch you could remove it. It would also work on the FEL cylinders after you raised the front end off the ground. I'm told that the locks use a side pin mechanism that defeats just drilling out the cylinder.

 

[patrick_g]

How about that:

And how do you protect it against thieves in heavy lift helicopters?

Pat

 

[tallyho8]

Pat
I see you have updated your signature line and I suspect that a certain person has thought of that already and therefore is fearful of choosing that running mate.

Sure hope this wasn't a political statement!

And now, back to tractor theft...........

 

[aczlan]

I'm seeing a lot of "outrigger" locks on our construction sites. Basically, the tractor is raised up on the outriggers to it's highest elevation and a steel "sleeve" is placed around the exposed cylinder rod.

sounds good if one has a backhoe

It would also work on the FEL cylinders after you raised the front end off the ground. I'm told that the locks use a side pin mechanism that defeats just drilling out the cylinder.

not really, you could use it on the curl cyls but it could be defeated by raising the arm cyls.

Aaron Z

 

[RollTideRam]

If this is a cab tractor, put a copperhead in the cab, tie a pit bull to the front and a skunk to the rear. Then put a tent 20' to the side. JC

 

[gemini5362]

Note the cell phone jammer. Jamming GPS is even easier than jamming cell phones. The monitor may know the tractor's GPS is "LOST" but will have no clue where it is as the system you describe requires the device to tell the monitor where it is. That is why when I designed the anti-theft device for heavy equipment I had the units periodically send an I'm OK message. Disabling the unit prevents it from sending the I'm OK message and results in scrambling the security troops.

The GPS system would essentially be reduced to the same approach by GPS jamming. All yo know is that there is a problem. IF the tractor is loaded and moving out you have no clue in what direction.

Take for example the JSOW (Joint Stand Off Weapon) it uses GPS but can be jammed. Hence the inertial backup. I think LOJACK would be more cost effective than supplying an anti theft device with inertial navigation telemetry to notify you of the ground track of the purloined equipment.

LOJACK seems like a reasonable approach.

A small shaped charge under the seat wired to the ignition switch (where you leave your keys in the ignition to make it more likely the thief will be in the seat when the switch is turned)
would probably stop the average thief.

OK so you are too timid for that approach. How about a small squib in a dye pack ala the bank's booby trap?

Pat

Pat you are giving thieves way too much credit. Look at onstar on GM products they find a lot of stolen cars through onstar yet it is common knowledge that they are there. My inlaws in tulsa had a neighbor that one morning about 2am the police called and asked if he owned a blue cadillac license # whataever it was. He said yes. They asked if he knew where it was and he said it is in the garage. When they asked him to go look he found it gone.The police told him where to go pick it up. Somebody had stolen it and was playing with the buttons and pushed the on star button. When the representative came on line and asked for the password they did not know it and so onstar called the police. I was thinking for a tractor that you would make the GPS fit into a taillight assembly. Use a rechargeable battery and power it off the tractor. It would be right out in the open (usually the best place to hide anything) All you would need is software to monitor it being moved and there you go. If the thieves realized that it was there it would not be effective but they would have to realize you had something in the taillight. My impression of most thieves is that they want to just grab it and take off with it and worry about other stuff later. But if you dont want to go in on this project with me that is ok. When I am driving up to your house in a porsche dont feel bad.

 

[gemini5362]

I'm seeing a lot of "outrigger" locks on our construction sites. Basically, the tractor is raised up on the outriggers to it's highest elevation and a steel "sleeve" is placed around the exposed cylinder rod. The ones I have seen are made of 3/8" plate and the locks are fully recessed and shielded making it virtually impossible to cut. Yes, if you wanted to spend an hour with a cut off wheel or torch you could remove it. It would also work on the FEL cylinders after you raised the front end off the ground. I'm told that the locks use a side pin mechanism that defeats just drilling out the cylinder.

How long would it take someone with a portable generator and a plasma cutter to remove that ?
Last time I looked a plasma cutter that would sever 3/8 inch plate was less than 2000.00 and the generator to run it about 1000.00. Not much investment for someone to make especially if he steals them too.

 

[orezok]

How long would it take someone with a portable generator and a plasma cutter to remove that ?
Last time I looked a plasma cutter that would sever 3/8 inch plate was less than 2000.00 and the generator to run it about 1000.00. Not much investment for someone to make especially if he steals them too.

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.