Comments on: RV Burglaries on the Rise

By: Karl Smith

Karl Smith — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 22:21:29 +0000

There’s a new product called SolarTrac that consists of a roof mounted GPS tracking unit, solar panel, and back-up batteries, plus a wireless interior alarm sensor. When a coach is broken into, the system sends up to 3 text messages and up to 3 emails to alert the owner or other responsible parties. Some dealers have spoken of installing these as a lot management tool (GPS tells you where the unit is parked) and then selling it with the unit as a security system. Rental units can tracked live on the iinternet as well. There’s more info about SolarTrac at http://www.ltm1.com/solartrac

By: Jim Rist

Jim Rist — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 23:57:57 +0000

Thirty six years in business and never had a break-in until last summer and currently. We have ten security cameras scattered around the property,but the thieves must be casing the dealership in the daytime and they know where there are cameras and where they are not. A local boat dealership has been hit numerous times and his cameras found the thieves wearing ski masks. With six foot tall fences with four strand wire on top they decide to cut threw the fences and help themselves. I decided to install laser perimeter security and the crime has seemed to stop. It is visible from the outside of the fence,along with the cameras,loud sirens,strobe lighting and signs. I think they have moved on to an easier target. It is expensive,but not as expensive as the replacement prices for new electronics if it happens very often! The first thing that the police officer said when he was called the first time was, “Looks like an inside job to me.” Thinking about finger printing all employees. Maybe just mentioning it will cause guilty ones to quit which would essentially point the finger at them.

By: V Jones

V Jones — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:10:16 +0000

Last Saturday night windows were broken and electronics removed from three of our rental coaches. That same evening, the dealer down the street had several shore-power cords cut and removed and several propane tanks were stolen. After talking to the police and several other local dealers, we discovered that most of the thefts occur late Saturday night or early Sunday morning (before daylight). We are now “camping out” on the weekends at our store. It isn’t the best solution, but it is the only one that fits our budget.

By: Jim Hicks

Jim Hicks — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:50:24 +0000

Eight units this past week in one night. Four of them customers units for service which they also ramsacked for anything of value. They knew just which motorhomes had LCD flatscreens in them. (left all the older stuff alone) Tore out 2 dash radio/cd’s with crowbars and cut the wires with cutters. Just rip and tear out! It is happening to us and at least 3 of our competitors we are aware of in the last few months. The bad guys have certainly found a new cash cow for the pawn shops!

By: Mark Primeaux

Mark Primeaux — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:52:25 +0000

To my surprise, this is the topic this week and I just filled out my first police report of 2008 this morning for missing flatscreens and radios valued at approx. $5000. This past summer I lost TVs, CD players, DVD players, and radios to the tune of $24K and I my first court date is Feb 13th for the juveniles of the bunch that were caught and arrested. No restitution is likely from the juveniles without suing the parents in civil court. I am pursuing the adults of the bunch that was arrested.
My facility is 10.5 acres and fully fenced with 275 units in stock. I am currently installing state-of-the-art cameras that pan, tilt, and record with a digital recorder. Just found out I can bore under my asphault lot to run wiring for cameras as far as 300 feet for $4 a foot.
In addition to the cameras, I have solicited 3 bids on a perimeter alarm system that triggers my alarm according to different zones on my perimeter if the fence is cut or climbed. The photocells that can monitor fences are much more prone to false alarms.

By: Billy Thibodeaux

Billy Thibodeaux — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:01:01 +0000

Dana,
We too are a “repair only” facility. We are installing a fence and putting dogs behind it. Our RV is on the property and we stay in it at various times. If we are around and someone is up to “no-good” I do not hesitate to “terminate” them. It is well known around here the “price” of otherwise free merchandise.
Billy T

By: scott

scott — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 18:20:21 +0000

This might be of some help to the rv dealers that have made comments. (safe T alert) makes a battery operated alarm for RV use it is operated off a 9V battery and is portable. It can be placed any whare in the RV. It detects movement then sounds a 105 decibel alarm. safe T alert products are avaible through your RV distributors. the part # is Model SA-5300. you can check them out at
http://www.safetalert.com/re3.htm

By: Terry Sinkler

Terry Sinkler — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:50:07 +0000

We’ve added wireless remote motion sensors to our security system and placed them into the units with the electronics in them. If someone enters the unit when the main alarm system is set the alarm sounds outside the building, strobe lights flash and police are immediatly dispatched. Along with security cameras and signs warnimg of the alarm system and cameras, our break in issues have gone away.

By: Rvdixie

Rvdixie — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:28:23 +0000

Leaving the equipment out is counter productive from a sales standpoint. Half of the reason people buy these units is because they get caught up in the moment and the bling sure helps. I operated a dealership in NC for a period of time and we had an electric fence and posted signs declaring we did. The fence was also hooked up to a service which was called if the fence was violated. In the four years I operated the dealership we never had a break in and we were in a very tough neighborhood. We did however have several false alarms caused by something being blown into the fence such as a branch etc.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 01:08:30 +0000

Being in Elkhart. this has been a huge problem. 2 years ago we had a total of $150,000 worth of brakein damage. the cops show up and say. yea your stuff is gone. We installed state of the art security, lasers, video, new fence, and remove all the good stuff. Knock on wood it seems to have worked, or at least moved them to easer pickings. I know of 2 plants and 3 other dealers that have gotten hit in the last two weeks.
It was not to bad years ago when they got a $50 radio, and ,$75 micro, but now with $3000 GPS’s and $5000 plasma tv’s it really hurts.
I am all for not having this stuff in the units anymore.
Dave