theft warning

[nielsenwa]

Every outdoorsmans worst fear happened to me. My Honda eu2000 generator which was locked to a post on my porch was stolen and 4 halibut rods reels. two of the reels were avet 402 ex pro lined with spectra and two penn reels one lined with spectra. a seeker rod and a daiwa rod. and two shakespeare sturdy stiks. were stolen out of my boat in my driveway.
I'll for sure be more careful in the future to get the rods/reels locked away and out of sight.
My homeowners insurance settlement was a joke... I get 1300 for all items listed above.
Just a warning for everyone, there are thieves out there! It's a good idea to engrave name/number on items like expensive reels and such as the insurance company will ask that question. I unfortunately had to say none of my stuff was marked.

William

 

[Water_Gremlin]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. I too have had rods, reels, tackle, and other personal belongings stolen, and it sucks to say the least. Engraving your personals might give you a small sense of hope but I doubt it will be effective at all. Honestly, how often do are rods, reels, and generators show up on a hot list for law enforcement to keep an eye out for? I bet the crooks will turn those items around in days, even with engravings.

 

[Michael Strahan]

Cataraft Swivel Seat Thefts!

Cataraft Swivel Seat Thefts!

William,

Thanks for the heads-up. There are folks out there who will steal you blind if you let your guard down.

Not too long ago I heard that lots of folks were having their Tempress Fish-On Seats stolen right off of their trailered catarafts and other boats, while the owner was in the grocery store buying drinks and ice. There's a way to bolt the seats to the quick-disconnect bases. Check with Tracey Harmon at Alaska Raft and Kayak for details.

Sorry to hear about your loss, and I hope they find the scoundrels.

-Mike

 

[nielsenwa]

Thanks

Thanks

Thanks H20gremlin and Michael. I do have a cataraft and one of the seats is a tempress swivel I'll have to do the bolt down thing. The other two seats are already bolted on non-swivel kind.

William

 

[AKmud]

SSN

SSN

I recommend to people that they engrave expensive items (that are not serial numbered) with the last four digits of their social security number. This number will, more than likely, be unique to you in a theft situation and is hard for the thief to explain. Some times we get pawn shops calling regarding someone trying to pawn items with numbers engraved that can't be explained. These numbers are documented and can be tracked. Also, if you happen to come across one of your stolen items (while perusing a pawn shop) it is easily identified by your SSN which makes getting it back to the rightful owner much easier.

Serial numbers are the most important though. Pawn shops are required (at least in the Anchorage area) to call APD with the serial numbers to check if they have been reported stolen. So, record serial numbers for anything you value and engrave your SSN or some other recognizable number on items without serial numbers.

Sorry to hear about your loss. Thieves are the most cowardly of the criminals IMO.

 

[Water_Gremlin]

I stand corrected by someone with far more knowledge than I.

 

[AkHunter45]

I'll go one step further, write down all the serial numbers and take pictures of anything that you value and put it all on a disc and put it in a safe. It's a shame that it has come down to this, the days of leaving your door unlocked and gear in your boats are just about gone.

 

[Longbow]

Sometimes I leave expensive items on the dash or the bed of the truck without thinking ... sometimes on purpose - generally speaking, the local ne'er-do-wells don't know if I am forgetful or "baiting".

 

[Truenorthed]

tail gate

tail gate

I almost hate to leave my truck parked at the side of the road when I go bear baiting. I'm afraid someone will steal my trailer or ramps (then I can't get my 4 wheeler home). Even worse than that, I've been taking my dog with me and leaving him in the bed of the truck. I've actually been locking the cap on the truck because I don't want someone to steal my "best friend". It's really stressful to sit in your tree stand and imagine someone busting your winshield and stealing whatever they can get their hands on. Not much you can do about it from the stand ...

 

[AKmud]

Ramps

Ramps

as far as ramps go, I have gotten into the habit of laying them on the ground and parking one of the truck tires on them. I have pretty sturdy ramps and I don't know if aluminum would hold up to this. It would make it pretty hard for someone to take them without having to do some work. My advise to people parking at popular trailheads is to "keep it out of view". Anything of potential value should be hidden away and out of sight. Most thieves won't go to the trouble of breaking windows out of trucks to rifle through the unknown. If there is no item of value they specifically want, most of the time they will pass and go to a vehicle that they can see something shiny/pretty/expensive/etc.. that they want. Of course this practice isn't effective when the little punks come along just to vandalize vehicles. I hate those little rock throwing bastards!

 

[Water_Gremlin]

I usually chain my ramps to the bed of my truck. Also I have seen some aluminum ramps get severly twisted when they are parked on. I am sure steel ramps would deal with the pressure just fine.

I would go into detail why I dont like to park on the ramps but I dont want to give out any bright ideas. You never know who's reading this board. :-/

 

[AkHunter45]

Just run some chains through them and lock them to your truck. I've got ramps that store under the bed of my trailer and i put a lock on it so they can't be stolen, but you know if they want them bad enough they will figure out a way to get them.

 

[fullkurl]

thievin'

thievin'

John you have special reason for gripe after your trailer theft fiasco last year...Did you ever get that saw back?

We live in the Chena Hills of Fairbanks which is considered a nicer place by some. Even here the thieves find their ill-gotten booty. Two local house broken into and ripped off recently.
North Pole is a vitual crime scene with theft, and Palmer/Wasilla, well, lots of good folks there, but man a lot of thieves and idiots. No offence to the good guys.

I like lot of things about P/W but I'd never live there.
Two years in a row now that one of my family have been almost run over in a gas station by idiots who have to use speed and dual exhaust/tire size to make up for lack of manhood size.

I'm weary of the thieves and losers.

 

[RayfromAK]

Sorry to hear that you lost those items. The little Honda generators are quite a hot item. Hopefully you kept track of the serial number just in case it's taken to a pawn shop.

 

[Boss Gobbler]

Theft

Theft

Its really such a shame that we have to always be on guard and watchful. The few people without honor really ruin a lot of our good times and what should be relaxing good times.

 

[Adventures]

I used to work at home depot in MN

I used to work at home depot in MN

and there was a dougnut vendor with a little trailer who bought a nice 7000 watt generac generator from me at home depot and we let him well his goods at the other end of the parking lot from us. Well, one day he had his generator going and he's making doughnuts and all of a sudden the power goes out and he looks out the door only to see a white van with the back doors opened driving off with his still running generator. They loaded it up and THEN pulled the plugs as they were driving off.
Justin

 

[nielsenwa]

wow thats bold

wow thats bold

Now that was a bad day for the donut man! I had mine locked with a cable lock with the 4 number combination, and was wondering if it would be better with a chain and padlock next time or are they just as easy to cut?

 

[Adventures]

I've tested a few cables and chains..

I've tested a few cables and chains..

and found that they are pretty tough to cut and if you get a padlock with a recessed top those things are uncuttable with a bolt cutter.
Justin

 

[Adventure]

I can't stand thieves and liars.

I can't stand thieves and liars.

It is a shame that this has to be a topic here. No matter how theft proof I make my stuff someone finds a way to steal it.

I had a guy chase me 20 miles to give me a down rigger that fell off my boat while trailering, and then I've been stolen from while in the grociery store. You just can't figure it can you?

Definitely mark stuff with your name or unique numbers. I've watched someone take my rods out of my boat at the launch and couldn't get the harbor master to see it my way. The thieves out numbered me and it was my word against theirs. The last thing the thief said before he went off fishing with my rods was requesting that the harbor master " keep that loonitick away from my truck."

Now that was a real pissah!

Good luck

 

[Hubb]

No-Way

No-Way

Now that would have sent me over the edge AD!