Security & Theft Securing tractor from theft

[gemini5362]

Ok I am going to admit it. After reading all of this thread again I actually decided to do something to protect my tractor when I spent two weeks outside of the continental US on vacation. I actually broke down and took the keys out of my tractor and actually locked the cab. I hated to do it but I decided being that out of touch and gone for two weeks I had to do something.

 

[Egon]

Many years ago in my home town a combine went missing from a dealers lot. Some years later a local farmer was retiring and had an auction sale for his equipment. The serial number showed up on the Police list as stolen and the fellow was charged with theft.

 

[Brent.Roberts]

To keep the joy riders from having fun, you can get a 12 or 24 volt manual circuit breaker from a marine supply store. Cut your battery cable somewhere and mount one of these. They are high current devices of coarse. I put one in my boat. I can reach under the seat and disable / enable the system in about 4 seconds. Beside that it offers some pretty good protection against a major battery short problem.

Simple, relatively cheap and added safety. Not foolproof though.

 

[jas67]

If it works for a bicycle, it will at least make it less convenient to steal.....

click here for closeup of the above picture.

click here for closeup of the above picture.

click here for closeup of the above picture.

Since I'm selling my older B7100, I have it parked in front of my property, but don't feel good about leaving it there when I'm not there, so I put a cable lock around the wheels steering wheel. Hopefully, it will at least slow someone down enough for the neighbors (of which I have a few nosely/concerned ones) will notice.

It is also parked where it wouldn't be convenient to drag up onto a rollback.

You'll never prevent someone who is determined enough from stealing anything, you just have to make it less convenient than the next one.

Remember, when you are part of a group of people running from a bear (lion, or any other large creature with big teeth and claws), you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than at least one of the other people!

 

[Soundguy]

To keep the joy riders from having fun, you can get a 12 or 24 volt manual circuit breaker from a marine supply store. Cut your battery cable somewhere and mount one of these. They are high current devices of coarse. I put one in my boat. I can reach under the seat and disable / enable the system in about 4 seconds. Beside that it offers some pretty good protection against a major battery short problem.

Simple, relatively cheap and added safety. Not foolproof though.

A battery disconnect? Please.... a test lamp, razor blade and 30 seconds is all i need to steal your tractor.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

Less convienient? Depends on what your tractor thief considers convienient. A good set of steel cable shears ( looks like a set of bolt cutters, but is specifically made to shear steel cable ) which can be had at any contractor or industrial supply store will make short work of a bicycle cable lock... If your crook is smooth.. the neighbors likely won't notice anything out of the ordinary.. a couple quick 'lops' and the cable is in a few pieces. A helper and a landscape trailer and a couple jumper wires and that tractor can be on the highway in about a minute.. maybee less ..

soundguy

If it works for a bicycle, it will at least make it less convenient to steal.....

click here for closeup of the above picture.

click here for closeup of the above picture.

click here for closeup of the above picture.

Since I'm selling my older B7100, I have it parked in front of my property, but don't feel good about leaving it there when I'm not there, so I put a cable lock around the wheels steering wheel. Hopefully, it will at least slow someone down enough for the neighbors (of which I have a few nosely/concerned ones) will notice.

It is also parked where it wouldn't be convenient to drag up onto a rollback.

You'll never prevent someone who is determined enough from stealing anything, you just have to make it less convenient than the next one.

Remember, when you are part of a group of people running from a bear (lion, or any other large creature with big teeth and claws), you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than at least one of the other people!

 

[patrick_g]

Less convienient? Depends on what your tractor thief considers convienient. A good set of steel cable shears ( looks like a set of bolt cutters, but is specifically made to shear steel cable ) which can be had at any contractor or industrial supply store will make short work of a bicycle cable lock... If your crook is smooth.. the neighbors likely won't notice anything out of the ordinary.. a couple quick 'lops' and the cable is in a few pieces. A helper and a landscape trailer and a couple jumper wires and that tractor can be on the highway in about a minute.. maybee less ..

soundguy

There you go again liberally splashing truth around, stirring up gusts of reality and in general making folks uncomfortable. What you got against the attitude, incense, and wishful thinking system of loss prevention?

Pat

 

[Champy]

#1 - No System is foolproof (see Soundguy's comments)
#2 - If they REALLY want it someone will figure out a way (see Ocean's 11,12,...)

So that said...........most of our attempts at security are probably focused or effective around protecting ourselves from novices; vandals; and joy-riding teenagers; etc....so some of these ideas are good to discuss from that perspective.

For all the pros out there - I simply have insurance!

 

[Brent.Roberts]

Gimme a break on this Soundguy, I prefaced the comment with keeping joy riders off.

As has been pointed out many times, there ain't nothing going to stop a serious theif, short of a guard with a shotgun.

 

[Soundguy]

Gimme a break on this Soundguy, I prefaced the comment with keeping joy riders off.

As has been pointed out many times, there ain't nothing going to stop a serious theif, short of a guard with a shotgun.

I re-read yor message and didn't see anything claiming that this was a joy-ride prevention system.. I see where you said it would make it less convienient to steal / slow them down.

40$ of special tools+ regular homeowner items completely mitigates both of those issues.

soundguy

 

[Soundguy]

I know.. I know.... Most people employ the 'H.O.P.E.' theft prevention system. IE.. I HOPE they don't steal my tractor.. etc.

soundguy

There you go again liberally splashing truth around, stirring up gusts of reality and in general making folks uncomfortable. What you got against the attitude, incense, and wishful thinking system of loss prevention?

Pat

 

[Brent.Roberts]

Soundguy ... see the 4th and 5th words in my original post or the quote you copied.

 

[RobJ]

Easy tool for cutting though just about anything.(battery not included ) ..I need to get me one!

 

[Egon]

What methods does your employer use to prevent theft Soudguy?

 

[hench861]

What methods does your employer use to prevent theft Soudguy?

hungry cubans

 

[Farmwithjunk]

If someone is determined to steal a piece of equipment, and they have an ounce of common sense, it's probably already loaded up and on it's way to another state.

Locks can be picked or cut. Cables and chains are easier than cutting locks in most cases. GOOD equipment thieves USUALLY carry standard keys for the various brands. Fuel shut-off soleniods, hidden switches, ect, CAN slow down a thief, OR, they can infuriate a thief and turn him into a full blown vandal, at which point you're almost better off letting them STEAL it.

Short list of theft inhibitors;

Big honkin' snarlin' droolin' hungry dawg on a Loooong chain,

Itchy trigger finger

Nosey neighbors w/911 as #1 on their speed dial.

Combination of the three....

General contractor I work for has had 3 relatively new back hoes stolen in the last 10 years. (#3 being 2 weeks ago) They were taken from high profile areas, in broad daylight, and with several people noticing them being loaded onto a truck/trailer. No one thinks a thing about it unless it's YOUR tractor. It looked perfectly normal.

 

[orangebluegreen]

Short list of theft inhibitors;

Big honkin' snarlin' droolin' hungry dawg on a Loooong chain,

Itchy trigger finger

I forgot to mention in my original post in this thread...the perps (I watch CSI!) in one of the break-ins near me hung the residents dog. More reason for the itchy trigger finger.

 

[johnk]

Put up some Infra red game cams. Let them know they are on candid camera if they can find it. If you don't own one just put up a sign that your area is protected by them and most would be robbers would take note. Just a thought.....

 

[Soundguy]

Soundguy ... see the 4th and 5th words in my original post or the quote you copied.

I didn't literally mean that I did not see the words 'joy rider.'.. I said I did not see this as a viable joy ride prevention system.. IE.. a battery cutout can be defeated with a razor blade and a coat hanger!

IE.. Using a wrapper on a piece of chewing gum as a 'prevention tool' to protect against the gum being chewed. It's simply so easy to pull the wrapper off before you chew the gum that it is not a viable 'prevention' method.

soundguy

 

[patrick_g]

IE.. Using a wrapper on a piece of chewing gum as a 'prevention tool' to protect against the gum being chewed. It's simply so easy to pull the wrapper off before you chew the gum that it is not a viable 'prevention' method.

soundguy

Hey!! That isn't my navel. Oh, OK, no problem that isn't my thumb!

Hey, this won't take long did it?

I would have thought, given the cost of commercial grade backhoes, that at least after the second one (if not after the first) LOJAK (LoJack Car Security System for Stolen Vehicle Recovery) or similar would have been considered a good idea.

If the owner isn't involved in an insurance scam then he is a very slow learner.

Pat