Beware of thieves

jayc

Texas-South Chapter Leaders

• Dec 28, 2009

• #1

I just read a report in RV News from some Texas RV dealers that have suffered losses of power cords from trailers on their lots. There is a large amount of heavy copper wire in these cords, especially 50 amp cords, so they are very valuable. I know that before I retired from law enforcement, we had a huge problem with the theft of air conditioning copper and began a program to monitor the salvage yards for stolen property.

 

jmgratz

Original Owners Club Member

• Dec 28, 2009

• #2

Just another thing to watch. I don't worry about it much in this park but if we were in a state park or other park with unlimited public access to it I would worry more. If you have ever had to buy a cord they don't give them away. They charge premium prices for them. Thanks for the warning.

 

Elder1

Active Member

• Dec 28, 2009

• #3

Ok so how do you protect your power cords? I sure don't want to unplug each night and each time I leave the unit.

 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #4

Elder1 said:

Ok so how do you protect your power cords? I sure don't want to unplug each night and each time I leave the unit.

Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like you can protect it, short of disconnecting it every night and sleeping with it. Over the summer, we left ours connected whether we were in residence or not. No one bothered it. When we camped at the state park (before the BH), no one bothered our stuff. The economy being what it is, the schmucks and bottom feeders that will steal your things now are the same ones that would have done it in times of plenty. Good gun control (i.e., hitting what you aim at) would be an effective means of curbing the problem.

 

jayc

Texas-South Chapter Leaders

• Dec 29, 2009

• #5

You know, after I posted this information, I asked myself, what can we do to protect our cords, and didn't come up with anything. Until Yale or another lock maker comes up with a lock for the things, its just something else to worry about.

I agree with John about gun control. I've said for a long time that I would not shoot someone for stealing my "stuff" but I would certainly come armed to any encounter with them as they were doing their dastardly deeds, so when I screwed my pistol in their ear and politely asked them to cease and desist, perhaps they would see the seriousness of stealing and change their ways. Oh, and please don't resist me or make me fear for my life......

 

Last edited: Dec 29, 2009

wdk450

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #6

Bicycle Long Shackle Lock?

How about a bicycle wheel lock, one of those with the long shackle? You could lock the cable to a pipe or part of the trailer. Yes, I know some thieves carry bolt cutters, but all security devices are just a deterrent anyways.

BTW for any of you that want to chain down generators and the like, I saw this square-linked, high strength steel, security chain at WalMart that should be bolt cutter resistant.

 

L

lwmcguir

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #7

Transport rated chain is the best bet if you want something that will take at least a 36 inch bolt cutter to break. Even then it has to be a good one. To bad we have to as concerned about this as we need to be. We had some hasp cut off as they couldn't cut the lock. Had to install a Ranger type lock protector to keep the cutters away from the hasp on the trailer door.

 

SmokeyBare

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #8

A thief wouldn't care if it had a lock on the cord... they would just cut the cord below the lock... they are not stealing the cord for resale, they don't care if it ever works again... they only want the copper inside the plastic covered cord !!!

These same bandits break into empty homes & businesses... taking their time stripping the copper plumbing from the basement... they will strip wire right out of a homes walls... doing thousands of dollar damage... all for a few hundred dollars of copper. Best if we all pay attention to our neighborhood... We can get lucky sometimes by seeing a crime in progress... and calling the Police to report what's happening.

Marv

 

2010augusta

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #9

Seems to me that it would be a idea/deterrent to lock the breaker box closed, so the breakers can not be turned off. It would be a bit of a shock to cut into a live 50 AMP cord.

 

L

lwmcguir

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #10

We locked our breaker/meter box at our vacation home. Takes two locks. Reason to lock it was one of the neighbors had their's shut off at the pole while they were gone. Came home to a mess. Nothing stolen just someone causing someone else unnecessary pain.

 

SmokeyBare

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #11

Alan, one would think that would be a deterrent...but a simple google search...

( An alleged thief was electrocuted in the commission of a crime early Wednesday and died later at a hospital )

Link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/10/29/news/local/doc4ae92c2da5321928170050.txt

( Would-be copper thief electrocuted )

Link: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/news/story.html?id=23300fcd-ae18-48dc-bef1-43935f702213&k=99395

From Snopes ( Copper Thief Electrocuted)

Link: http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=97;t=000486;p=0

( Suspected Colorado Copper Thief Electrocuted )

Link: http://www.officer.com/web/online/T...ed-Colorado-Copper-Thief-Electrocuted/1$31551

As they say... one is born every minute !

 

RoadJunkie

Well-known member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #12

Com'n, folks, let's get real. Do you really think this is something to worry about?

 

jmgratz

Original Owners Club Member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #13

I am not going to lose any sleep over it.

 

JohnDar

Prolifically Gabby Member

• Dec 29, 2009

• #14

RoadJunkie said:

Com'n, folks, let's get real. Do you really think this is something to worry about?

Click to expand...

Nope, I'm not obsessing over it.

 

wdk450

Well-known member

• Dec 30, 2009

• #15

Burn Unit Admissions

SmokeyBare said:

Alan, one would think that would be a deterrent...but a simple google search...

( An alleged thief was electrocuted in the commission of a crime early Wednesday and died later at a hospital )

Link: http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/10/29/news/local/doc4ae92c2da5321928170050.txt

( Would-be copper thief electrocuted )

Link: http://www.canada.com/globaltv/bc/news/story.html?id=23300fcd-ae18-48dc-bef1-43935f702213&k=99395

From Snopes ( Copper Thief Electrocuted)

Link: http://msgboard.snopes.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=97;t=000486;p=0

( Suspected Colorado Copper Thief Electrocuted )

Link: http://www.officer.com/web/online/T...ed-Colorado-Copper-Thief-Electrocuted/1$31551

As they say... one is born every minute !

Click to expand...

Many years ago the hospital where I worked had many burn unit admissions of young men who tried pouring raw gasoline down carberators. Fuel injected cars reduced that greatly. As gasoline prices went up we started admitting the guys who used a sparking electric drill to make a hole in a locking gas cap for stealing gas. Nowdays it is the copper thieves getting connected to live high voltage circuits. I blame the scourge of meth addiction for a lot of the copper theft events.

California enacted some photo ID, license plate, and record keeping laws at metals recycling centers and you don't hear about the copper thefts as much any more.

 

bighorn3370

Well-known member

• Dec 31, 2009

• #16

I have locked the breaker box before. I figure that if my box is locked and the next site over is not, the thief will take the easy way out. Alan, you are right about the shock of cutting the 50 amp cord. I have seen news stories about them cutting live power lines here in Detroit. I always say there is no such thing as a smart thief.