Blood pressure up this morning

[f6john]

Dog woke me up this morning and she was upset. Usually means someone is at the door. Sure enough, when I went out the basement door I see a woman walking toward her vehicle at the end of my driveway. Second thing I notice is my new trailer is missing from where I parked it the day before. As I walk toward the lady I am able to see my trailer across the road with the tongue buried in the dirt bank! She assured me she wasn’t responsible but was worried someone would come along and hit the part sticking out in the road. Naturally I was thankful for the heads up. Had to get the truck and a recovery strap and pull the trailer back across the road and into the driveway.

When I get the trailer back across the road I see where the thieves messed up. Their hitch ball was still attached to my coupler. They had somehow forgot to put the pin back in their hitch, their pin was laying on the back of my trailer floor! They were brazen, striking between midnight and daylight, the trailer was right out in front of my garage with a very bright led security light just behind the garage. Wish I could have caught them in the act, but it would have not turned out well for them or me I imagine.

Another lesson learned and to ad insult to injury, I tore up the tongue jack in the recovery process so I’m still out $50.00 and most of the morning. Very happy to still have my trailer, now to figure out how to secure it.

[0leman]

John, they make several different devices to secure your Tongue to it is harder for thieves to still ones trailer.  depending on what type your "lip" is that secures the tongue to the ball, some lock it in place.  The more expensive ones have a ball attached and locks it in place. 

[Wizzard]

I would be setting up a security cam. They are cheap now days.

[Skinhead]

They also make a boot device that locks on the wheel, if used infrequently you can always remove a wheel(s).  PITA, but discourages thieves.  +1 on the security camera.

[f6john]

I’m definitely going to invest in something. It’s not a trailer I use every week. Until this week it had sat behind my garage since January. I just wonder if the coupler locks really slow down and discourage thieves enough to depend on them or if I need some log chains too.

I’m sure some thieves are cruising the parking lots looking for a hitch to steal since I have theirs.   It’s a nice one too with 3 different size balls, you have to be prepared you know. It won’t do me a lot of good though as I do almost all my pulling with a 4x4 Titan and have to have a 6 inch drop to keep the trailers close to level.

[northernvalk]

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-7014700-Store-Lock/dp/B001IH8PXI
Got it and use it all the time. Boat trailer, sled (snowmobile) trailer, utility trailer, all get locked up.  Cheap insurance and it locks the receiver on the truck side also

[Jess from VA]

Sorry for your thieves.  

I once had a van broken into and the old vent window knocked out.  They took my stereo and tapes (early 70's).  I planned to fix the vent, but didn't have time with school, so I jammed it in unattached.  It looked right, but it wasn't right.  Five days later, they stole the van, and it was never recovered.  

Moral of the story:   Some assholes come back.

I'd move it back out of sight.  If you can't fully secure it, make it too much work to steal.  Get a loud motion (mercury switch) alarm padlock or some such (hide it underneath).  

Prepare for when you forget and set it off yourself.

https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Anti-Theft-Vibration-Motorcycle-Waterproof/dp/B0734QN8KR

https://www.dewaltmobilelock.com/product/portable-alarm-features

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRHt0V64vYQ

I like multiple layers of security.  Print this and tape it in plain sight on the trailer.  They'll look at it, and not for an alarm.


If the police have to be called, take it off first. (especially if there is a body present)

[da prez]

  I use a lock that can be seen. I also use one that is hard to see. It is a thin cable hooked to a pole. It may not stop them , but it makes a lot of noise. The next noise is a 9mm S/W.

                                               da prtez

[f6john]

Definitely going back behind the garage! I have a 16’ enclosed trailer back there too. Maybe chain them together with a hd security lock along with coupler locks might work.

[old2soon]

If you have spoke wheels put a good quality bicycle cable lock thru the spokes. Or chain a hungry pit bull with aids to yer trailer.  Or take of the tire/wheel(s) assembly on one side and lock them in the house. RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

I’m definitely going to invest in something. It’s not a trailer I use every week. Until this week it had sat behind my garage since January. I just wonder if the coupler locks really slow down and discourage thieves enough to depend on them or if I need some log chains too.

I’m sure some thieves are cruising the parking lots looking for a hitch to steal since I have theirs.   It’s a nice one too with 3 different size balls, you have to be prepared you know. It won’t do me a lot of good though as I do almost all my pulling with a 4x4 Titan and have to have a 6 inch drop to keep the trailers close to level.

Interesting, I had the receiver hitch on my Ram 3500 stolen recently.     Hmmmmmm

Rams

[Pappy!]

I second the cable through the spoked wheels. Around a fender or frame as well if you can.

[Psychotic Bovine]

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-7014700-Store-Lock/dp/B001IH8PXI
Got it and use it all the time. Boat trailer, sled (snowmobile) trailer, utility trailer, all get locked up.  Cheap insurance and it locks the receiver on the truck side also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0iop_LDanE

Totally not a good lock.  
Watch how he rakes it open.  I can open a wafer core lock with a small pocket knife.

[Locomotive]

Cables do less than you'd think to immobilize a trailer. I discovered that at one point 4-5 years ago when I'd taken my trailer to an event in a neighboring state and also had to leave the trailer, separate from my truck, in an unsupervised and somewhat remote location overnight. I put a very beefy cable through the wheel spokes and around the axle. Next day's departure ended up being during one of the most intense summer thunderstorms I've ever experienced, and in hitching up the trailer in the downpour, my mind somehow completely omitted remembering that I had put the cable on. No detectable issues in driving away. When I got home I saw shreds of cable in a few locations but the only visible damage to anything is that part of the cable had wrapped in by the hub in the process of disintegrating, and chewed up the hub's seal. The experience gave me the realization that the immobilization offered by a cable is more suggestive than actual.

[f6john]

Wonder if a 3/8” log chain would work?

[cookiedough]

never know if true or not, but some locks give a set amount of payback if the thieves are actually successful at stealing whatever is locked.  I bet it is hard to collect though?

Anything is better than nothing unless you want it stolen quickly.  Security cameras are your best bet if ever thinking someone will steal your stuff and now that it has happened to you once, is time FOR SURE to get them installed.  I would if someone once tried to steal anything of mine.  Then again, if they steal it,  they best be lucky they do not get caught for a bullet will do some damage...

[northernvalk]

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-Towpower-7014700-Store-Lock/dp/B001IH8PXI
Got it and use it all the time. Boat trailer, sled (snowmobile) trailer, utility trailer, all get locked up.  Cheap insurance and it locks the receiver on the truck side also

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0iop_LDanE

Totally not a good lock.  
Watch how he rakes it open.  I can open a wafer core lock with a small pocket knife.

Power tools can get any lock, when used PROPERLY, in conjunction with the pad lock that keeps the lock arm down, it's a good system that take a while to get "through".....Don't use it if you don't like it, it does exactly what it is supposed to do.

[Hooter]

I just take a wheel off my trailer.

[f6john]

never know if true or not, but some locks give a set amount of payback if the thieves are actually successful at stealing whatever is locked.  I bet it is hard to collect though?

Anything is better than nothing unless you want it stolen quickly.  Security cameras are your best bet if ever thinking someone will steal your stuff and now that it has happened to you once, is time FOR SURE to get them installed.  I would if someone once tried to steal anything of mine.  Then again, if they steal it,  they best be lucky they do not get caught for a bullet will do some damage...

Sadly this is not the first time  2 years ago my 16’utility trailer was stolen while I was out of town,haven’t seen it since. My brother in law has offered to let me store my trailer at his place which offers more security being further off the road and having to drive past his house to get access and drive back out along with several large outside dogs.