Security & Theft Tractor Security

[GuidoSarducci]

Any ideas to keep ne’er do wells away from machinery and vehicles in an offsite location?

I have an older pickup and a newer tractor that I don’t want folks stealing or taking parts off. It’s in a covered shed but easily accessible from the road.

I was thinking of parking the tractor in a way that would make it impossible to get the truck out but then someone could just boost the tractor and I’m back to square one.

In the not so distant future this isn’t really an issue but right now the neighbors are seeing the town riff raff skulking around.

Low tech is preferable but if I have to go get one of those fancy wireless cameras then so be it.

Thanks in advance!

 

[4570Man]

Out of sight, out of mind.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Low tech will stop or at least slow the opportunity thief or midnight parts entrepreneur to a point. Vandals are in and out, hard to stop by any means short of a vault type enclosure. The dedicated professional thief will get what they want even to disabling alarms and cameras before they start. Flashing lights and loud sirens will stop most actions by drawing the neighbor in and they will skedaddle. Thieves like areas screened and dark so they can work unobserved and take their time. I had two thefts in a year. The sheriff deputy told me to get stuff under bright lights in the open and post signs warning of cameras. Thieves like the low hanging fruit and will pass for the safer from detection target. Traps can get you in jail instead of them. With today's high tech stuff you can get an alarm and video on your smart phone. Out of site out of mind is good philosophy but everybody knows what's in a garage or shed. I have a bag of battery powered tolls that will get me into any thing in less than a minute. Carry good insurance.

Ron

 

[Tractorable]

Conceal a tracking device in the tractor wired to 12V. The one below has a motion detector and will send you a message to your phone the moment it detects motion. You can also track it using an app on your phone. Good insurance and if it is stolen just call the cops and give them the coordinate of your stolen tractor.

Spot Trace, Orange, Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GQ8WW4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P8v7BbHWTY3C4

 

[WranglerX]

Hidden battery disconnect switch will slow causal thieves from starting and driving off.....Not going to stop them from removing stuff though....

Buyers Products Locking Battery Disconnect Switch at Tractor Supply Co.

Less expensive...

Pollak 51-92 51-32 Battery Master Disconnect Kill Switch 18 Amps ON OFF a | eBay

IF off site is permanent location maybe shipping container with shielded lock that can only be accessed by having key and have to reach up into a steel sleeve that protects lock... Containers are pretty much like a VAULT for storage....

Not going to stop dedicated thief, but you can make them work really hard on taking stuff maybe to a point they will give up...

Dale

 

[Diggin It]

Low tech is preferable

On some older machines, low tech is easy if you can find something easy to remove and re-install, like a coil wire. I used to do kill switches long before they were common. When electric fuel pumps were easy to get to, you could simply cut the wire and put in a hidden switch. We'd do it so the switch didn't look like a switch ... maybe a 1/4" headphone jack and plug. Insert the plug to complete the connection, remove it and take it with you to disable the vehicle.

 

[Fallon]

Depending on the machine, engage the PTO lever. It's not obvious unless you know that it engages a safety switch. I've gotten myself with that pretty bad a few times & I know better. Wont help against vandalism though.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ For that matter, one could wire a switch to the seat switch (if the machine has one) to keep the machine from seeing it activated.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Conceal a tracking device in the tractor wired to 12V. The one below has a motion detector and will send you a message to your phone the moment it detects motion. You can also track it using an app on your phone. Good insurance and if it is stolen just call the cops and give them the coordinate of your stolen tractor.

Spot Trace, Orange, Small https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GQ8WW4M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_P8v7BbHWTY3C4

That is one of he things I mentioned in my post. Probably one of the best things to do for the stolen "horse". Just don't lave the barn door open to make it easier.

Ron

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I put a valve in the fuel line that is way back under, very hard to detect. Turn off and run down the fuel in lines, they are going nowhere under power. Kubota switches are all the same and anyone can buy one, they are no help.

Ron

 

[WranglerX]

IF gas engine put extra switch that grounds negative (-) side of coil.... No points action it will not run...

Dale

 

[oosik]

Most thieves will know little of the operation of your tractor. Discourage them from a hot wire and drive off theft - engage the PTO lever. The tractor WILL NOT start with this lever engaged. Otherwise - out of sight/out of mind & have good insurance coverage.

 

[Diggin It]

Rest assured that rural dirtbags know how to run farm equipment.

 

[newbury]

Any ideas to keep neå¼¾r do wells away from machinery and vehicles in an offsite location?

I have an older pickup and a newer tractor that I don稚 want folks stealing or taking parts off. It痴 in a covered shed but easily accessible from the road.

I was thinking of parking the tractor in a way that would make it impossible to get the truck out but then someone could just boost the tractor and I知 back to square one.

In the not so distant future this isn稚 really an issue but right now the neighbors are seeing the town riff raff skulking around.

Low tech is preferable but if I have to go get one of those fancy wireless cameras then so be it.

Thanks in advance!

If the pickup is a an old gasser then park that to block the tractor and remove the rotor from the truck.

Put up some fake security cams monitored by real security cams. This may help determine extent of "skulking". (I put up a game camera and caught 1 cat (and myself) over the course of many months.)

Try and find a neighbor you can really trust and PAY them a few hours labor to maintain the property (mow the lawn or clear the driveway of leaves).

But most important is to keep valuables out of sight.

 

[fried1765]

If the pickup is a an old gasser then park that to block the tractor and remove the rotor from the truck.

Put up some fake security cams monitored by real security cams. This may help determine extent of "skulking". (I put up a game camera and caught 1 cat (and myself) over the course of many months.)

Try and find a neighbor you can really trust and PAY them a few hours labor to maintain the property (mow the lawn or clear the driveway of leaves).

But most important is to keep valuables out of sight.

"But most important is to keep valuables out of sight"

I have a Morton building, and a wood frame storage barn.
I have no windows in either.
Can't see my stuff.

 

[bigtiller]

If the pickup is a an old gasser then park that to block the tractor and remove the rotor from the truck.

That might not work.
I bought my first car when I was 15. A '53 Chevy. My dad didn't like me driving it by myself so he snuck outside and removed the rotor when I wasn't looking. It took me about a minute to figure that out. I rode my bicycle to town, bought a rotor, and now we both had a rotor in our pocket.

 

[GuidoSarducci]

I went the high tech route and parked them under our security camera. Yes they are out in the weather but only for a couple weeks. Now I can literally check on them whenever I want and my phone vibrates when motion is detected.

I hope nobody tries anything but if they do it's pretty hard to not get noticed as there is only one way in or out to the property.