RV Security Discussion

Plendo · Guru

RV Security Discussion

hako · Guru

Son of mine works for a company that leaves heavy roadworking equipment in isolated locations overnight - they installed trackers which must be positioned so they can see the sky. Found that before their equipment was flogged, thieves did a quick scan of all external surfaces of equipment looking for a tracker - removed same easily. They still fit trackers but only because it is an insurance requirement.
On a van I'd imagine you'd locate it on the roof - any smart thief would easily check for the device I'd imagine. They wouldn't do it before stealing but after they got round the corner so as not to alert suspicion.
If the device could be located under the van or inside a cupboard it may be a good idea, but the ones I've seen must be able to 'see' the satellite the same as any GPS unit.
Putting caravan theft into perspective, I'd guess that 1000 cars get stolen for every caravan stolen. But I could be wrong.

Good Luck

Big Gorilla · Guru

I like it !! Cost seems reasonable. I think Hako's comments regarding professional thieves taking heavy equipment is probably right, but on a car or caravan or MH, I'm inclined to think the cunning of these thieves wouldn't extend to looking for a tracker. I intend to look further into this.

Ontos45 · Guru

Hmmmmmm, I like it too, so how far above $50 it goes.

Plendo · Guru

I have ordered one to test for $54.95, I ordered it from an Australian supplier so I expect it will be sitting at work when I go back on the 6th of Jan. It is possible to buy the same unit for $48 from China, but I am impatient.

I have good contacts with a couple of mobile phone providers, so i will ask them what type of plan they would recommend for the SIM. Current favourite is the one I included the link to above, where it could cost as little as $5 every 90 days. Just not sure about refreshing, and keeping it active.

Hako you mentioned that thieves would look on the roof to make sure there was not a tracker installed. Yes I suspect you are right, professional thieves would look on the roof, and know what they were looking for, and if a professional thief wants to take your van, and or your tug, then I hope you have good insurance because not much is going to stop them. But I suspect most of the thefts would be opportunistic, and would be rank amateurs, I expect they could be stopped by wheel clamps and hitch locks, but it would be nice to know the tracker was there if you had to activate it.

Regarding where the unit needs to be, I believe it could be installed in a cupboard with its power supply wired in to 12V, but these are all the things that we will find out once the test unit arrives.

oldbobsbus · Guru

Check out Savvytel they have a never runs out plan that you can put as little as $10 on.

https://www.savvytel.com.au/prepaid/ccne_readMore

The only downside of Savvytel is they use the Optus network..

blaze · Guru

Unlike most of the views here, I firmly believe that most vans are stolen to order by pro thieves. But whatever security measures people use, its for peace of mind of the owner.
cheers
blaze

Santa · Guru

blaze wrote:
Unlike most of the views here, I firmly believe that most vans are stolen to order by pro thieves. But whatever security measures people use, its for peace of mind of the owner.
cheers
blaze

I tend to agree Blaze, I suspect most are wrecked and the parts sold as spares.

deverall11 · Guru

Santa wrote:
blaze wrote:
Unlike most of the views here, I firmly believe that most vans are stolen to order by pro thieves. But whatever security measures people use, its for peace of mind of the owner.
cheers
blaze
I tend to agree Blaze, I suspect most are wrecked and the parts sold as spares.

Gentlemen, this is a simple way to theft proof your vehicle, however, it may be illegal:

Line the driver's seat with aluminium foil. Connect the positive wire from the coil to said aluminium foil. When thief gets in the vehicle and starts it up, most of the xxKvolts will be directed to said thief's backside. If he or she gets away your vehicle is safe. If he or she happens to die from electric shock, you may have some explaining to do the the constabulary.

Larry

D and D · Guru

@Larry, you have a vehicle with a coil? and what about caravans?

Legendts · Senior Member

I like your thinking for the tug Larry

Ontos45 · Guru

Could always use a South African "anti-riot" device......flame thrower nozzles under van connected to a pressurised fuel tank.....alarm triggered....fried tootsies!

hako · Guru

A quite simple caravan theft deterrent is to fit an alarm operated by the handbrake.
First you have a hidden switch...could be anywhere outside the van. This switch is connected to the house battery, and a wire connects to a micro switch bolted to a chassis member that lies directly above the handbrake cable. This micro switch is turned on when handbrake is off, and on when handbrake is applied and cable is tight. The power then goes to a siren/horn hidden up under the watertank or somewhere hard to get to.
How it works:
Arrive at spot, select spot and park, handbrake is applied and hidden switch turned ON. Unhitch, level van etc. Anyone who wants to steal your van MUST release the handbrake which will release handbrake cable tension and activate the siren/horn.
When you are ready to leave you simply flick the switch OFF. If you forget it will only take a second to remember...maybe a bit more to change your underpants. That's all....quite simple and no keys/codes to remember and made from basically junk. Hide the wiring as best you can.
Attached pics are from when I started this instal - will give an idea of the micro switch etc.
Good Luck.

Whoops....I forgot to mention it also needs a switching relay which is simply a normal relay wired so that when the siren is sounded it cannot be cancelled by applying the handbrake....the hidden switch must be turned OFF to kill the sound..

-- Edited by hako on Wednesday 25th of December 2013 01:21:39 PM

SnowT · Guru

deverall11 wrote:
Santa wrote:
blaze wrote:
Unlike most of the views here, I firmly believe that most vans are stolen to order by pro thieves. But whatever security measures people use, its for peace of mind of the owner.
cheers
blaze
I tend to agree Blaze, I suspect most are wrecked and the parts sold as spares.
Gentlemen, this is a simple way to theft proof your vehicle, however, it may be illegal:
Line the driver's seat with aluminium foil. Connect the positive wire from the coil to said aluminium foil. When thief gets in the vehicle and starts it up, most of the xxKvolts will be directed to said thief's backside. If he or she gets away your vehicle is safe. If he or she happens to die from electric shock, you may have some explaining to do the the constabulary.
Larry

Larry there are material's that have wire's embedded in them I think they might be what your Looking for....

As Long as the Amp's get no higher than about 5-10mA it should cause no major damage.. The volt's for the tingle the Amp's to Barbeque..

And No I'm not condoning the use of this method for an anti thief Device..

I much prefer the Sleep gas method myself.. with the automated Call to the 000 " This Vehicle is in the process of being Stolen.. Co-ordinates are XXXXX YYYYY "

Big Wooping SS cable for the rest..

Juergen

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Checking for coil in my G.M diesel ?? Lol
I know what I'd do with the tin foil if I caught these oxygen thieves!!
A pet snake, dog ? [mother inlaw?]
Do Iphones have a tracking device or app ??
The sat nav may have built in tracker ??
For $50 I guess you cant go wrong..

-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Saturday 28th of December 2013 05:27:24 PM

Plendo · Guru

I expect to have the GPS tracker in the next couple of days, so decided to order the SIM, thought I would try Savvy Tel, but unfortunately they appear to have gone out of business in August.

I will look for another vendor.

hako · Guru

I wonder also if you van does get stolen, and you get a location, what do you do with this info?
The police will only search premises if they have a search warrant - will a magistrate issue a search warrant based on info from a Ebay tracker? The existing mobile tracking services will have already set up arrangements with the police who are satisfied with the accuracy of the supplied info.
If you decided to bypass the police and tracked your van to a yard in say, Liverpool, you would not even be able to legally enter the yard despite visually sighting your van in the yard.
It could all be a legal minefield.

Plendo · Guru

Hako, you raise an interesting point. I suppose the alternative would be to sit back and say "O dear someone has stolen my van, I accept I will never see it again", no way buddy, I am investing too much of myself in this van to let that happen.

dorian · Guru

Ontos45 wrote:
Could always use a South African "anti-riot" device......flame thrower nozzles under van connected to a pressurised fuel tank.....alarm triggered....fried tootsies!

I heard that mantraps were legal in South Africa. I wish they were here, too.

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

good idea but the eBay site seller only has a rating of 96.3%, my policy is never to purchase from anybody with a rating below 98%, you did say you purchased somewhere else, where did you end up making your purchase.

I like the idea about the handbrake method.

Plendo · Guru

OK, I have clarified the situation with Vic Police, their verbal advice is that it is worth putting a GPS dot on any vehicle of value.

If the vehicle is stolen and it is on the move, then it will help them locate and recover the vehicle.

If the vehicle is concealed in private property then the GPS location dot is not enough for them to obtain a warrant to search the property. But that is the point you hand the information over to your insurance company and let their investigators deal with it.

I have checked with CIL, and they will not give a discount for having a GPS tracker.

-- Edited by Plendo on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 03:57:58 PM

hako · Guru

Plendo wrote:
OK, I have clarified the situation with Vic Police, their verbal advice is that it is worth putting a GPS dot on any vehicle of value.
If the vehicle is stolen and it is on the move, then it will help them locate and recover the vehicle.
If the vehicle is concealed in private property then the GPS location dot is not enough for them to obtain a warrant to search the property. But that is the point you hand the information over to your insurance company and let their investigators deal with it.
I have checked with CIL, and they will not give a discount for having a GPS tracker.

Thanks for clearing that up Plendo.
Regards
-- Edited by Plendo on Thursday 2nd of January 2014 03:57:58 PM

Plendo · Guru

I now have the GSM/GPS tracker, and I have put a SIM from Amaysim in it.

Once I put the SIM in it needed a bit of set up, as in telling it to start and recognise the SIM, then you need to change the password, and teach it to recognise your mobile. All straight forward enough.

Once set up it works beautifully, just as advertised UNTIL the battery runs flat, the second time I tried to charge it the charger went phut.

I have now built a small power supply to keep it working, but have yet to test it in a vehicle with the new power supply.