RV Burglaries on the Rise
By Dana Nelsen
Several days ago we posted a link to a news story from a South Bend, Indiana, TV station’s website. The story told of RVs being broken into on dealer’s lots after hours. It seems some nefarious characters have discovered that RVs are an excellent source for free electronics- namely flat-screen TVs. The news story mentioned how this type of crime is not that uncommon at RV dealerships.
Several bloggers on the website began to discuss solutions to prevent this type of theft. Everything from armed security guards who shoot on sight, to ferocious dogs, to just removing all electronics from the RVs until they are actually sold were mentioned.
I wonder how many dealers have actually had problems with this type of thing and what measures dealers are taking to protect their inventory. Any bloggers have some helpful tips or thoughts on this out there?
It seems to me that removing the electronics prior to sale is a great idea, but it doesn’t resolve the bigger problem of a whole bunch of damaged RVs because the thieves didn’t know or didn’t believe the TVs were not inside.
Most conversations I’ve ever had regarding security guards usually involved a joke on how ineffective they can be. Something to the effect of a security guard saying “Stop thief or I’ll …… say ‘stop’ again!” Not to mention the scope of problems that might tumble out a security guard actually shooting someone on the dealer’s property.
Ferocious dogs? Sure that would work, but you have worry about the poor employee who has to open the dealership each morning getting mauled to death. Plus there are all the little surprises dogs might leave for people to step in the next day.
The best solution in my mind seems to be having some kind of fence or wall surrounding the dealership. I’ve seen this done where it looked quite classy. I wonder if all of the various dealers who are building new facilities (the list is lengthy) take into account and have planned for the security of the RVs themselves. Sure they may have a security system on the showroom, sales office and service buildings, but the easy mark is the RV itself. Do any dealers as a standard practice install aftermarket security system on every RV on the lot? Is that even necessary? Do any dealers install them and then market the practice as a standard feature/benefit of purchasing at the dealership? How serious of a problem is this nationally and what do you think is the best way to prevent this kind of theft?
February 12th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
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
February 11th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
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.
January 27th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
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.
January 25th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
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!
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:52 pm
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.
January 23rd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
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
January 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 pm
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
January 23rd, 2008 at 10:50 am
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.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:28 am
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.
January 22nd, 2008 at 8:08 pm
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
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:34 pm
OK folks, don’t laugh now, but I have a thought . . . Living in the middle of nowhere in North Central Wisconsin, and having lots of dairy farms all around, got me to thinking. I’m wondering if having an electric fence might help? They use them up here to keep cows, etc. from escaping, so I’m thinking a low voltage — not enough to REALLY hurt, but enough to make one think twice prior to trying to climb over or cut through — would be effective? I’m betting that farm supply stores would be a LOT less expensive than what a security company or other company may charge . . .
January 22nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Be careful with dogs. If they attack and hurt someone you are liable in California. Been hit five times in 18 month period. once after the drive-by patrol was added. We got very little help from the local police. They recommend the lights and cameras etc. All of which has very little hlep. As a repair only shop it is hard to remove the TV’s and all in a timely manner. And then it becomes (you scratched this or that I want a new one).
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:42 pm
One would think the electronic’s is the main target but our thieves find cutting shore cords to strip down for copper wire more profitable. We keep all cords out of sight and lock all compartments, keep the 50 amp cords inside building, dead bolt all motorhomes, take keys out of the delership at night-as a fence nor ditches do much if the thief can drive! We have cameras and sirens but find theives work quick and make more damage with alarms sounding and are gone before police can arrive. Our worst break-ins were when the lot was well lit-they didn’t need to use flash lights and draw attention. We keep one coach looking “lived in” and that seems to have worked best to date.
January 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm
About six months ago it appeared that a ring of professional crooks were hitting dealers on the East Coast. At that point we contacted on local law enforcement to inform them of the possibly that this might be coming our way and it did, several dealers around us have been hit not only once, but several times. We have been in contract with our local police and they have increased their presence around our store and we have not had any units broken into. We have a six foot fence with razor wire, at several locations on the fence, we have signs that indicated the dealership is under 24 hour survalance, and security lighting that is on dusk to dawn. We have also removed all the hi-tech equipment, bubble wrapped, identified w/vin & stock number and stored inside the dealership in a locked room. We also had highly visable labels printed and attached to the coach indicating that all the equipment has been removed. We keep in touch with our local police and they have provided that extra security we have needed, or maybe we have just been lucky. Good Luck..
January 22nd, 2008 at 4:31 pm
We’ve actually caught a ‘nefarious character’ pretty much in the act, which assisted us in knowing how they operate. During the day they will find the coaches they want to hit, they make sure a window is open for access to the coach and in some cases start the process of pulling the electronics out which makes for a quicker get-a-way when they return at night. So while locking up our sales staff goes through the coaches and checks all windows and electronics. All though we have cameras and security, we’ve found that checking the coaches before the end of the business day has helped tremendously!
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:36 pm
We and all the locale storage facilities get hit often. Generally we leave the doors unlocked so the theives don’t have to tear up the units while their working. In many cases they have keys from working for us or other dealers. We have a solid steel sharp pointed fence (they bring ladders) we have lights on most the night(it helps them find their way around)We have so called security camaras that you can not identify a face. Dogs, they will shoot the dogs in the eyes with fire extingishures so the next morning you have to put the dogs down from them digging out their eyes. We have a nightly security guard but with 15 acres its easy for them to hide. The police have caught exactly two theives in 37 years so their awaist to even call.The theives in Calif. know there’s no jail space so what if their caught. Unfortunatly we have begun to look at the loses as part of the cost to do buisness in Calif.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Just a suggestion…. From what I read regarding security systems, nothing foils potential thieves like a blarring horn or siren that is set off by an intrusion alarm. There are many different types of intrusion alarms available and the cost is very reasonable.
It may work.
Gene
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
We have been broken into 3 times in the last 3 months. Same thing, they cut our fence and go in all units on the lot taking TV’s and Stereo equipment. Our alarm company installed some wireless motion detectors inside a couple of units. When someone enters a unit it trips the motion detector and sends a silent alarm to the police and to us. The company that makes the motion detectors said they would work up to 1000 ft. but they barely work at 100 ft. Great idea with great hope but no luck yet cathching the thieves yet.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
We had a diesel pusher broken into over the Holidays while on a trip to Dallas. They stole the front LCD tv, the color backup monitor from the dash, and destroyed the bedroom flat panel tv trying to get it out. They also stole the DVD players and the subwoofers from the surround sound systems. A customer of ours from Midland called the week before last and said his unit had been broken into at a public storage facility where over 100 other units were hit in one evening. Our industry is definitely being targeted right now.
January 22nd, 2008 at 3:01 pm
Dr Ross, that’s a good suggestion, but the problem is that crime reports are a matter of public record, and there’s always a reporter assigned to the crime beat. You can ask them directly to keep it quiet, but chances are the editor won’t approve that.
I’d bet K9 security is among the most effective, and I completely agree with Brad Campkin about keeping the TVs inside the dealership.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I have a question for Jayne, please. Did your insurance approve your fence?
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
My university journalism professor would turn over in his grave at my suggestion, but he probably is anyway with what and how things are published.(1) Share your break-ins only w/ people in the industry (trade journal, suppliers,competitors, business neighborhood etc.) (2) Do you best to keep it amongst you and the cops. (3) press release each and every instance as well as the perps and their maximum sentencing whenever you get an arrest only. Re; the act: Publish the risk and never the reward! Don’t let the media “invite more to the party!” Public disclosure may dictate that you can expect the media to “work” it but you are spending your money on their media, and might convince them that it is their interest not to publish a non-event for their own sake. Who knows how strong you are until you try. Good luck!!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
We have been broken into twice in the past to steal TV’s, we now take them out and store them inside. The main problem is the damage they do to the door frame or window, adding to the replacement cost. One of the thefts they must have used a ‘pass key’ so it was probably someone from the industry who knew what they were doing. We now deadbolt all units. Our lot is very open, no fence, but has ditches and landscaping to stop RV theft. No we have this to worry about!
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:09 pm
We have not had a problem since installing 10′ steel fence with slats 4 inches apart and spiked overhang. Also added razor wire on side fences. Until this was done, we had unit broken into on a regular basis with more damage than equipment loss. We have a perimeter security system but it does not come on until dark and Holidays were a problem.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Good Afternnon! I have had this problem several times. They not only steal the electronics but ruin the cabinetry or destroy the wiring or both. We have tried everything. Some electronics can only be replaced thru the manufacturer of the coach and the cost are doubled. Not all electronics can be easily removed prior to delivery and then storage and serial numbers etc become a problem if someone grabs the wrong TV for a coach.. My suggestion is to leave them out all together.
Once one manufacturer started putting them in everyone follows. Perhaps if the manufacturers heard from more dealers, they would see that is a costly deal for most of us. With deductibles on insurance as they are, I know that my insurance company has yet to “help” me pay for this “headache”. Anyone else for leaving flat screen
TV’s and portable dvd players out? The customer surely doesn’t appreciate the cost.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:03 pm
We’ve been fortunate in that we have not had this issue for a number of years. When we did, we simply hired off duty K9 officers to spend the night inside the dealership lot. Once they had caught a couple of the offenders, and let the dog “work his magic,” the word got around and the thefts stopped. Our lot then, and now, is surrounded by 6′ chainlink fence topped with barbed wire. We also have lighting that stays on until around 2am.
Recently, we were lucky enough to be visited by the Indiana State Police. They have a command post about 2 miles from our lot, and they explained they patrolled our area heavily due to potential thefts of back up cameras and empty LP tanks. It seems the meth makers in our area like the cameras so they can see who is sneaking up on them, and the propane tanks for transporting anhydrous ammonia. We’ve been lucky in that we have local law enforcement looking out for us and our thefts have been to a minimum.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Dana - we installed 12 security camera’s about five years ago when we had over 60 units in our “fenced in lot” broken into. It has been quiet until now. A group had cut our fence in two places on Thanksgiving morning and broke into 8 units stealing the LCD TV’s out of 2. They even broke into a unit parked in front by the main road. One of the cuts was just beneath two camera’s. The other was by our min building. We did have video on three different camera’s showing those who broke in but were unable to distinguish any facial features. These have been turned into the authorities. I do not know what the answer is, it seems that no matter what you seem to do if someone is desperate enough they will get in.
January 22nd, 2008 at 2:01 pm
We have this problem there is a strong meth problem in our city and they like to try to break into our RVs. We do have an night security and since he started two years ago we have only had two attempts of which one he foiled them in their tracks. So the security guard thing worked for us our problems have diminshed tremendously.