Generators stolen --- UPDATE pg 4

[amandasgramma]

Well, it finally happened. We're in Quartzsite, boondocking on BLM land and our two Honda generators were taken between 10 pm and 8 00am this morning. We had heavy duty vinyl covered cables, but that didn't stop them. Dangit!!! And no, we didn't have our names etched in them and the papers are in storage in Oregon. What a way to start the day!!! Waiting to contact ins.....sure hope they cover them!

So, what do YOU do to stop yours from being stolen???

[2012Coleman]

johndeerefarmer wrote:

navegator wrote:
Steel cables are no match for a good size bolt cutter, either lock the units out of sight or bolt them to the frame the more bolts the better, the low life's are looking for a quick and easy grab and run, a generator bolted down with four bolts is a deterrent, six bolts is even better all they are looking for is drug money.

navegator

Have you ever even tried to cut a steel cable with bolt cutters? A cable is 10x harder to cut than a chain. The best way to cut a cable is with a battery powered Milwaukee grinder with a cutoff wheel

Why yes - yes I have. Actually this past weekend, I was installing tie downs on a new shed. I used 1/4 in. aircraft cable with a breaking strength of 7,000 lbs. Used Gorilla tape to mark the place for the cut and cut in the center of the tape with bolt cutters. Cut like butter. So yes, you can cut cable with bolt cutters - if the diameter is such that it can fit in the jaws of the bolt cutter.

[mlts22]

One recommendation I have -- when engraving, engrave one obvious place, and one non-obvious place (pop the case off, perhaps.) This way, if the thief takes a hot wire or soldering iron to the existing serial number, there will be a second one.

Of course, that database with serial numbers will go very far in helping the police and ins cos out. Just having that info gives a good chance that insurance will allow the claim.

Another suggestion: Check your policy. You want -replacement- value.

[AmericalVette]

wa8yxm wrote:
One thing that I have not seen mentioned (Might have just missed it) is this.

How can you tell YOUR Honda EU-2000i from Joe's or Pete's or Sam's or Charlie's or ____ anyone else's___?

Two ways One is better.

First: WRITE DOWN the Serial number of any thing you own of value.. Make model serial number and date of purshase.. Keep it in both a paper file and a compter file, keep one of them secure (paper is easier).\

Second.. Engrave the device.. Your 2 letter state code followed by a SLASH and your Driver's licese number Example (not a vald DL #)

MI/D 123 456 789 000

You can even preceed with OLN: Like this: OLN:MI/D123 456 789 000

Or however your state formats OLN's

Yes. I'm telling a real story in which I personally was the dispatcher.

Good advice. I will add that a photo of the valued item is also good to have on hand, an overall shot as well as any identifying marks or numbers. In this digital age, photos can be easily stored on a computer, thumb drive etc. While at it, go ahead and photograph jewelry and other items that have no ID/SN since they are not entered into NCIC. Very good for insurance purposes.

[OFDPOS]

JohnG3 wrote:
Here's a thought. When you notice something suspicious, take a picture. Nearly everyone has a cell phone with a camera or a cheap digital camera. If it turns out nothing happened that would need Law Enforcement contact you can delete the photo when you leave the campground.

The fact that you noticed the ratty old rv would be enough to warrant at least a photo of the rig from your camper. Or one of the license plate if the feeling is real strong.

Never ignore that little voice that says "somethin's not quite right here".

Yep we (I) do that a lot now when we park our vehicles I've been known to take a picture of both vehicles parked on each side of us ,the license plate # and all.
So sick and tired of coming out and there's a nice door ding :M
Depending on the CG while setting up I'll be noticing whose more interested in us then their own ..

More than once have caught somebody appearing to lift a chair ,firewood etc only to say sorry didn't realize I was cutting through your site so close,,, Coarse I'll follow them to their site or out the CG to a waiting vehicle as I snapped a picture of them and the vehicle..

Its just seems to be getting worse unfortunately.

Sorry for your lose ...

[CavemanCharlie]

amandasgramma wrote:

johndeerefarmer wrote:

navegator wrote:
Steel cables are no match for a good size bolt cutter, either lock the units out of sight or bolt them to the frame the more bolts the better, the low life's are looking for a quick and easy grab and run, a generator bolted down with four bolts is a deterrent, six bolts is even better all they are looking for is drug money.

navegator

Have you ever even tried to cut a steel cable with bolt cutters? A cable is 10x harder to cut than a chain. The best way to cut a cable is with a battery powered Milwaukee grinder with a cutoff wheel

Sure...go ahead and give the low lives an idea. Bolt cutters were used....new gens stored....motion activated lights installed (solar).....gun at the ready....

Ummm, mam , I don't think there are any lowlifes on this site that are lurking here because they want to steal your generator.

I'm probably the "lowlife" on this site and I have no wish to take your generator nor do I have the foggiest idea of where you are. And, even if I did it would cost more to drive there then what the generator is worth. lol

[Me_Again]

johndeerefarmer wrote:

navegator wrote:
Steel cables are no match for a good size bolt cutter, either lock the units out of sight or bolt them to the frame the more bolts the better, the low life's are looking for a quick and easy grab and run, a generator bolted down with four bolts is a deterrent, six bolts is even better all they are looking for is drug money.

navegator

Have you ever even tried to cut a steel cable with bolt cutters? A cable is 10x harder to cut than a chain. The best way to cut a cable is with a battery powered Milwaukee grinder with a cutoff wheel

As I posted earlier, cables are easily cut with this cheap tool. Bolt cutters are the wrong tool for cables! Cheap bolt cutters have a hard time with case hardened chain. Of course a battery power Dremel tool with the little cut off wheels will cut case hardened locks and chain.

http://www.harborfreight.com/28-inch-cable-cutters-6649.html

Chris

[amandasgramma]

johndeerefarmer wrote:

navegator wrote:
Steel cables are no match for a good size bolt cutter, either lock the units out of sight or bolt them to the frame the more bolts the better, the low life's are looking for a quick and easy grab and run, a generator bolted down with four bolts is a deterrent, six bolts is even better all they are looking for is drug money.

navegator

Have you ever even tried to cut a steel cable with bolt cutters? A cable is 10x harder to cut than a chain. The best way to cut a cable is with a battery powered Milwaukee grinder with a cutoff wheel

Sure...go ahead and give the low lives an idea. Bolt cutters were used....new gens stored....motion activated lights installed (solar).....gun at the ready....

[johndeerefarmer]

navegator wrote:
Steel cables are no match for a good size bolt cutter, either lock the units out of sight or bolt them to the frame the more bolts the better, the low life's are looking for a quick and easy grab and run, a generator bolted down with four bolts is a deterrent, six bolts is even better all they are looking for is drug money.

navegator

Have you ever even tried to cut a steel cable with bolt cutters? A cable is 10x harder to cut than a chain. The best way to cut a cable is with a battery powered Milwaukee grinder with a cutoff wheel

[amandasgramma]

frankdamp wrote:
4asong:

They are "OUT OF SITE", assuming the thieves have taken them away. Maybe you meant "OUT OF SIGHT"?

🙂 🙂

[frankdamp]

4asong:

They are "OUT OF SITE", assuming the thieves have taken them away. Maybe you meant "OUT OF SIGHT"?

[amandasgramma]

Wa8fun...that's a REALLY good idea...thank you!

[CavemanCharlie]

wa8yxm wrote:
One thing that I have not seen mentioned (Might have just missed it) is this.

How can you tell YOUR Honda EU-2000i from Joe's or Pete's or Sam's or Charlie's or ____ anyone else's___?

Two ways One is better.

First: WRITE DOWN the Serial number of any thing you own of value.. Make model serial number and date of purshase.. Keep it in both a paper file and a compter file, keep one of them secure (paper is easier).\

Second.. Engrave the device.. Your 2 letter state code followed by a SLASH and your Driver's licese number Example (not a vald DL #)

MI/D 123 456 789 000

You can even preceed with OLN: Like this: OLN:MI/D123 456 789 000

Or however your state formats OLN's

A police officer who SUSPECTS the device may be stolen, upon seeing this engraving, will ask his dispatcher to run the driver's license number. And of course that gives the dispatcher, followed shortly by the officer, you name, and address, and selected other information.. From that I was able to find the phone number for the owner of the stolen device, and contact his wife, who called him, who verified it was stolen, and told me where he'd reported it.. The very same local PD station our troopers had taken the suspect and radio (in this case) to.. The Local PD had never entered the stolen radio in the system so had the owner not engraved his OLN (Operator's License Number, what we commonly call a Driver's LIcense Number) on the radio we would not have been able to prove it stolen and get it back to him.

Yes. I'm telling a real story in which I personally was the dispatcher.

Thank you. I usually engrave my name in things but, I've heard of cases where they just grind the name off. Since what you suggest looks like some random letters and number the thieves might not think to grind the number off. I think I will start doing this from now on.

Have a nice Day

[n7bsn]

Hemi Joel wrote:
...

Question: Why not go with a built in generator? They are way more convenient, and almost impossible to steal.

In my case I can put both my Honda EU2000's plus the cat litter, BBQ, four packs of lynx blocks and "snake" for the sewer hose. All in the space that Northwoods puts just the built-in.
Plus we have the Honda's for the house, like last week when we were 9 hrs with no power (or last winter when it was three days)

When we are on a trip, like the one where we met the OP, where we leave the generators behind, I can load that space with "other stuff".

For us it flexibility and storage.

[wa8yxm]

One thing that I have not seen mentioned (Might have just missed it) is this.

How can you tell YOUR Honda EU-2000i from Joe's or Pete's or Sam's or Charlie's or ____ anyone else's___?

Two ways One is better.

First: WRITE DOWN the Serial number of any thing you own of value.. Make model serial number and date of purshase.. Keep it in both a paper file and a compter file, keep one of them secure (paper is easier).\

Second.. Engrave the device.. Your 2 letter state code followed by a SLASH and your Driver's licese number Example (not a vald DL #)

MI/D 123 456 789 000

You can even preceed with OLN: Like this: OLN:MI/D123 456 789 000

Or however your state formats OLN's

A police officer who SUSPECTS the device may be stolen, upon seeing this engraving, will ask his dispatcher to run the driver's license number. And of course that gives the dispatcher, followed shortly by the officer, you name, and address, and selected other information.. From that I was able to find the phone number for the owner of the stolen device, and contact his wife, who called him, who verified it was stolen, and told me where he'd reported it.. The very same local PD station our troopers had taken the suspect and radio (in this case) to.. The Local PD had never entered the stolen radio in the system so had the owner not engraved his OLN (Operator's License Number, what we commonly call a Driver's LIcense Number) on the radio we would not have been able to prove it stolen and get it back to him.

Yes. I'm telling a real story in which I personally was the dispatcher.

[amandasgramma]

Hemi Joel wrote:
Sorry to hear that you got ripped off. I hate thieves, and revolving door justice that enables them to continue stealing indefinitely.

Question: Why not go with a built in generator? They are way more convenient, and almost impossible to steal.

hubbie's mind is now working....trying to figure out how to do it...liking the idea another had for ramps. I would love being able to turn them on and off from the inside....but....