Storage Compartment Theft

[Heymon]

Had our pass-thru storage compartment broken into while our trailer was in the storage yard. This is the fairly flimsy door with the CH751 key. In this case they just pulled on the bottom of the door and bent the inner lip where the cam lock tang grabs. The question is whether there is anything that can be done to beef this compartment up in terms of break-in prevention. I really don't want to have to empty it every time I put it in storage.

Thanks,
Andre

[Ron3rd]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I would unload anything of value that you can't easily replace....good insurance coverage helps also.

Majority of thieving is done in storage and repair places.

Easy targets that are NOT readily exposed.

99 cent tool bin special ----large flat blade screw driver and even those beefed up compartment doors will yield.
Or even a utility knife and hammer......score an 'X' across door then whack it with the hammer.Door skin will collapse.
Takes about 30 seconds.

Valuables..leave them at home.

I never lock mine, even at the campground. Nothing of much value in the bins. Only a few cheap tools and some repair stuff. Nothing a thief could sell for any money. Would cost more to repair the door.

[opnspaces]

The problem is that just beefing the lock does no real good and potentially invites more damage as the crook tries to get through. In order to be effective the beefed up security has to be visible to persuade the perpetrator to move 20 feet over to the next RV. So the L channel won't really deter a thief because they are not aware it is even there. And once the attempt is made the guys sense of pride might take over and he's going to get in.

So think along the lines of maybe changing the existing lock to a barrel lock. It visually shows that attention has been paid to the security.
Barrel lock

Next use a security plate externally under the barrel lock that stretches across the bottom of the door for a few inches. The link below is just to illustrate what I'm referring to. In all actuality you might have to build your own plate.

Security lock guard plate

Then use the internal L channel to beef up the door frame.

The door is still weak, but the appearance is that the door is beefed up and hard to thwart. Hopefully the crook sees the extra security when walking up and decides to just move on to the next RV.

[Heymon]

I like the electric fence, except I would forget it is on.

Again, moving is not an option, since I have a good rate and storage is hard to come by (I am in the LA area) and all storage yards experience this type of thing no matter where. I find it fascinating that there would be a suggestion to move the trailer 2 hours away to avoid this situation. That strikes me as quite unrealistic and I'd be suprised if anyone actually does that?

I plan to harden the storage in some nominal way, because my assessment is that the losers that are stealing are unmotivated (why did they not crowbar their way into the trailer itself this time?) and so they will be easily defeated by even the slightest upgrade in security. It will be they who shrug their shoulders and accept defeat, not me.

PS I will most likely end up keeping my griddle at home from now on, or in my more secure compartment. That is a better plan than driving 2 hours each way just to grab my trailer for a weekend run that itself is 2 hours away.

[HadEnough]

midnightsadie wrote:
there is no safe storage any where. if a crook wants in he,ll get in.

You have to be willing to travel. Or to pay for on-site security. The RV may not be an hour away from your house. It might be two hours. But by changing locations, you can definitely increase security. Especially if you are in an area that is high crime. Full of crackheads. That type of thing.

[TurnThePage]

I like that idea. And maybe a few well placed mouse traps.

[Lynnmor]

Maybe a fence charger would be helpful. Place it on the roof out of sight and connect to doors.

[mgirardo]

Grit dog wrote:
But whether they get in or not, at least they'll beat the sht out of your camper trying.

There is some truth here. Our HTT was broken into while in storage. I had only looked the lock, I didn't lock the deadbolt and they easily broke in. I then locked the deadbolt. Before I had a chance to find a new lock for the door, they tried to break in again. Since they could not get in, then ended up breaking the window in the door and then even tore the door just below the window trying to get in.

The deadbolt worked, but as a result of using it, they did a lot more damage trying to get in. Even breaking the window is an easy replacement, but since they tore the metal of the door, we had to replace the entire door. Just out of spite, they also cut the tether that connects the fresh water fill's cap and they cut the coupler lock.

The police thought they were probably just looking for a place to sleep. The first time they broke in, they didn't steal anything or even disturb anything.

Using an extra piece of steel to beef up the lock probably won't help much. If the thieves have a crowbar, all they have to do is bend the door opening out of the way. If it were me, I'd empty the compartment and leave it unlocked.

-Michael

[happy2rv]

You might also consider an alarm system with the loudest most obnoxious siren you can possibly locate blaring right there in the compartment. A car alarm or even most home alarm systems operate off of 12V. It wouldn't prevent damage to the RV, but it might prevent them from sticking around to rummage through whatever is in the compartment.

[DutchmenSport]

In your situation changing lock would not have made any difference. The thief broke your door. No block could have prevented actual damage to the the work. People who have CH751 keys all know that those keys will fit any outside storage on any trailer. And I think most people who have CH751 keys are campers themself and are respectful of other campers. There are exceptions but as a general rule we've never had any problems at all ever if any campground with our storage compartments. Considering yours was at a storage facility I would say think theft knows nothing about campers especially the CH751 key. If you try to reinforce the door a thief will just create more damage to get through the door. Keep it the way it is and check with your storage facility security.

[midnightsadie]

there is no safe storage any where. if a crook wants in he,ll get in.

[HadEnough]

I think it is the storage facility that needs to upgrade it’s security. I would suggest moving to a different one.

[Heymon]

Nv Guy, I fully realize the reality of "no 100% solution" as all security protocols are defeatable given enough determination and time. Unfortunately, I am also familiar with my adversary because I have been hit before and this yard has been hit before (as have most yards as you pointed out). When I first got my trailer they broke the door latch lock (and I did not know I had not locked the deadbolt) so they took my TV, a small inverter, a backpack, 2 rolled up sleeping bags (but not the unrolled ones) and one of 2 propane tanks (the full one). Now I use only the deadbolts, because I learned how easy the latch lock is to break and they break them to see if you locked the deadbolt. They also stole one of my 2 6 volt batteries, even though it was locked they were able to jimmy the bracket loose. I have upgraded all of those previously hit areas and I no longer leave the TV in the unit (and I don't roll up the sleeping bags, lol).

I bring all this up because these are apparently vagrants and looking for supplies, not so much resale value. So I believe that if I can harden the target they will be more likely to move on. If tweakers show up, well then there will be damage I guess, but homeless losers tend to be less rabid. My question here is to see if anyone has hardened these particular compartments to deter theft. The L channel solution is a front runner. I also have my own idea but implementation might be difficult. I will post my results. I'm not trying to be boorish, but telling me to give up or move are not particularly helpful. I am aware of my options in that regard.

PS The storage yard has also made efforts to upgrade their security, with a night patrol and additional lighting and cameras. So at least they aren't indifferent and realize they get a rep in the underworld of thieves that could cost them customers.

[Nv_Guy]

While you may think I am being negative or unhelpful, one cannot reasonably expect to deter a determined thief with any sort of standard RV doors/ locks. While this time it might have been "fairly easily thwarted" homeless, wait until some hardcore tweekers show up. Based my experience, (I wrote 20+ estimates at one storage location) thieves talk, and once a storage lot is found that has weak security it gets hit again.

[Grit_dog]

Same job as some of the live wire thefts and the light plant jigsaw puzzle, they broke into our job trailers. Windows and doors were barred. Got keys to one of the job trucks, hooked up one of our employees travel trailers. He had gone home for the weekend.
Towed the whole mess out of there. Through the fence btw.
Big yellow crew cab dually.
BTW, for the "trailer came off the hitch thread" folks. Truck had a 2" pintle. TT was 2&5 hitch and had at least 1 flat tire. Trailer never popped off the hitch and they had to have towed it down US 99 through downtown for some distance.

I could write a godd@m book on what, how, where crackheads have cleaned us out of tools and other things over the years. The only fun part is if ya actually catch 1 or 2 in the act! It's only happened a couple times, but it's pretty satisfying to beat the tar out of someone who really deserves it and have the cops just snicker and haul them away for you!

[Grit_dog]

Heymon, I thought AZ was being succinct and honest and if minimal efforts to keep the tweakers out make them move to the guy next doors camper, then that's great. But whether they get in or not, at least they'll beat the sht out of your camper trying.

Now if it was curious teenagers or something, you may have a chance, but tweakers pretty mcunwont stop if they need a fix. He!!, we got a $50million construction project because tweakers spent weeks gutting the old copper wiring out of a moveable bridge 80' above the water and about 250' in the air. They also steal live wiring out of concrete vaults and junction boxes with a heck of a lot better locks than a camper. Break the windows out of an old job truck that clearly has basically nothing in it and make off with a couple used pairs of gloves and a $25 magnetic strobe light.
Out of the number of thefts that I couldn't count on my fingers, yours and a couple other peoples, my personal favorite was when they dismantled a tow behind light tower. Took the engine, generator, fuel tank and 1 of the light bulbs and left the trailer/chassis behind!
Why? when 2 of them could have literally pushed the whole trailer by hand? Because they couldn't get it out of the fence, so they spent idk how many hours over a long weekend disassembling it into small enough pieces to be carried by hand.
If you haven't had these experiences, you're lucky and also naive.
Best of luck. Hopefully the area isn't known for theft and it was an isolated incident!