Attempted break in

[Ranger Rick]

My 2009 Winnebago Tour was damaged recently due to an attempted break in. Entry door and trim damaged to the tune of nearly $4000.00, bad guys,however, were not able to jar open the door. I would like to know if anyone has come up with a deterrant that might prevent this from happening again short of tethering a really nasty pit bull to the grab handle? Our storage lot is fairly secure although obviously not inpenetrable, any suggestions that make sense would be greatly appreciated.

Ranger Rick
2009 Winnebago Tour WD
2010 Chevy Equinox

[edj]

Short of putting a steel bar across all access points, the best protection is a GOOD insurance policy....

[DBeauchamp]

Does this storage facility include surveillance cams? They are a good deterrent but better yet may help catch these bad guys...

[Hipshot]

Very sorry to here about your damage. I had the same thing happen to my Bounder last March. They did $5,800 damage to steal a $40 dvd player, there was nothing in the coach at the time. The Bounder is now on a slab in my backyard.
As stated before have good insurance.
I also suggest:
1. If you have to store in a lot leave nothing of value in the RV
2. Leave the RV unlocked, as you know the cost of the damage they do exceeds the value of items stolen.
3. There are alarm systems that sound a local siren and call your cell, I have one.
4. If you have shore power at your lot leave a light on and a radio playing
5. Flood lights with motion detect, if you have shore power.

I have ordered a dash cam that has motion detect. When the Bounder is parked I plan to turn it around to record the inside of the MH.

Bottom line nothing is going to stop a determined thief, except a baseball bat, big mean dog, 45, 12 ga etc.

[Superslif]

Where we store ours, it has barbed wire fencing, cameras at and around the entrance building and was told there was a resident worker/ watchman who lives on the 2nd floor of the repair shop building. But the surrounding area is wooded along with some open fields that if a person wanted could sneak around. If a person wanted they could simply bust out a window and gain entry . Back a year or so ago, one of the local RV dealers had like 30 or 40 RV's broken into for their flat screen TV's.

[Hipshot]

I forgot to mention the storage lot I had my Bounder in has cameras, lights and can be seen from a main road.
The cameras were only on the entrance gate only. The lights did not light up the covered storage where the MH was stored. All of the big rig spaces backed up to an outside fence in the back of the lot. The thieves drove through a cemetary on the back side, cut the chain link fence that has razor wire on top, lotta good that did. Then broke into 10 motor homes and fifth wheels. The total value of goods stolen maybe $500 damage over $50,000.
I believe if my Bounder had an alarm at the time and the door was unlocked the thieves would have ran as soon as they opened the door and the alarm sounded.
Take a look at the security of your lot and if it is anythimg like the one I was in MOVE!!

[Perry White]

My storage site has an 25lb attack cat. The only thing he will let in my motorhome is MICE.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hipshot ...As stated before have good insurance. I also suggest: 1. If you have to store in a lot leave nothing of value in the RV 2. Leave the RV unlocked, as you know the cost of the damage they do exceeds the value of items stolen...

If you leave the RV unlocked, you probably wouldn't be able to collect on the insurance. Most insurance policies require proof of forced entry before they will pay.

[Donr827]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyFitz... If you leave the RV unlocked, you probably wouldn't be able to collect on the insurance. Most insurance policies require proof of forced entry before they will pay.

Never heard of that before and I was in the insurance business for 12 years. Never seen an exclusion like that.
Don

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donr827 Never heard of that before and I was in the insurance business for 12 years. Never seen an exclusion like that. Don

Search the Forums (not just this one). I've seen several posts where it has happened.

[jzick]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyFitz... Search the Forums (not just this one). I've seen several posts where it has happened.

When DD was in med school she absent mindedly left her apartment door unlocked and then went to work overnight at the hospital. While she was gone someone came in and literally took everything out, leaving pretty much bare walls. Insurance company paid the entire loss. Maybe rules are different in other states or something has changed.

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

At our storage facility there were a number of breakins and generators stolen. Owner was perplexed as he had cameras located at access points, trip wires that activated an a;arm on the outside perimeter. He started checking entry/exit tapes from the cameras and found some amazing coincidences with one of the patrons...
I think its called an INSIDE JOB. He had a storage space and access to the facility and took full advantage.

[LadyFitz...]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jzick When DD was in med school she absent mindedly left her apartment door unlocked and then went to work overnight at the hospital. While she was gone someone came in and literally took everything out, leaving pretty much bare walls. Insurance company paid the entire loss. Maybe rules are different in other states or something has changed.

I did a quickie Google search on the subject and found quite a few hits.

Around twenty years ago, my van and storage van were broken into and robbed. It was fairly obvious the van had been broken into (although I had to show the police how they did it) but the jerks had cut the padlock off the shed and tossed it. I was advised by the police I should look for the lock before contacting my insurance company since they might deny the claim if I couldn't prove forced entry. I found the lock in the grass about twenty feet from the shed. Fortunately, they had cut it instead of picking it.

[dieselclacker]

During the mid-70's Mercedes had very expensive electronic radio that was very popular with thieves. Mercedes convertable owners were advised by thier insurance agents in our area not to lock thier doors. Thieves could easily cut thru an $1800 dollar convertible top and steal a $700 dollar radio from the dash. I remember also one occurrance where the thief broke out the passenger side window to make entry on an UNLOCKED Mercedes, and took the radio. The insurance covered the loss.

Dieselclacker