Storage Compartment Theft

You can never beef up an RV enuf to keep out a thief. Accept the loss and move on.

I can think of many ways to "improve" the security of most storage compartments. Unfortunately most of them will only keep the honest at bay. The simplest thing is to change the cam locks with something other than a CH751 key. While doing this you could look at reinforcing the area where the cam lock engages. I could see adding a section of steel L channel screwed to the existing thin compartment door strip where the cam lock engages and then also screwing it to the floor of the compartment. This would probably require a longer cam lock, but those are available. This would give you a slightly more secure compartment.

However, as you mention, the doors aren't that thick. If they want in, the could simply bash the door in. You could reinforce the door with plywood backing, but this would require visible bolt heads to be effective.

I would be looking long and hard at the storage yards security practices and consider whether better storage might be the answer. Yes, it could happen in a campground or parked somewhere on a trip, but most never have problems with other campers around.

The way I see it, the more money you spend hardening the doors, the more money it's going to cost you to repair the damage. A secured door may be more tempting to a determined thief (what's so valuable in there that you need the extra security?). I would look for a different storage area.

I appreciate the post so far from happy2rv, because adding that L channel and converting the twist open side to a lock as well would probably get me where I want to be.

As far as moving, it is very difficult to find suitable storage for my size rig at a reasonable price. I could move to one that costs about $130 more than what I pay now but that adds up to $1,560 per year in additional costs. The stuff that was taken was a grill, griddle, collapsible trash can, butane stove, area mat, and dog dishes. A few hundred dollars worth. I don't think that trade off is worth it yet.

This was likely the work of nearby homeless losers (there were cameras so they are reviewing footage). The vagrants are fairly easily thwarted and though they tested my trailer entrance doors the deadbolts stopped them (I don't lock the upper latch on the doors so that people like this don't break them to see if the deadbolt is secured). They didn't break the glass to get in and they could have done that, so I am thinking they are going for the low hanging fruit. If nothing better than the L channel idea comes along I am going to do that.

Andre

PS to azdryheat: What would compel you to post an unhelpful response response like that? I was asking for a way to improve my rig. I already know about the option to shrug my shoulders and give up, but I prefer not to roll over quite that easy.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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