Stolen Ham Gear

[KF6CUE]

Regarding the theft of my truck and emergency response equipment, I hesitated to post this because I wanted to confirm which radios were stolen before posting the information.

The LA Co. Sheriff has released my truck from impound so at least I have my truck back. Here is the list of radios that were in the truck, for whatever good it will do telling all of you. Just in case you find someone trying to sell any of this.

Mobile radios which were “Permanently” installed in my truck:
Alinco DR-235 TG SN-T101397 1.25 Meter (220 Band)
Yaesu FT-8100 R SN-9C130256 2 M/70 Cm
Cobra 29 WXNWST 512248698 11M (Citizens Band Radio)
Sanyo FXCD-550 AM/FM/CD/Cassette Receiver It seems I failed to record the Serial number. #

Handheld Radio, which was in a green canvas pouch with the accessories:
Yaesu VX-5 R SN-9K170975 6M/2M/70Cm Tri Band Handheld

Advice to all of you this is, DO NOT TRUST YOUR ALARM SYSTEM, they got past mine and it seems the proficient pukes can get past most of them. My truck was parked in the street in front of the house, been doing that for almost 10 years. The radios are insured through MARSH, but the 13-year-old truck only had liability insurance coverage check you insurance and evaluate it carefully. (Test Question)

I get nauseous looking at my truck, I thank God they didn’t damage the body beyond scorching the paint at the front gas tank so exterior body damage is minor. The body and camper shell need a coat of paint anyway.

Inside the cab and the bed of the truck is another story. Someone pissed in the now empty glove compartment and the passenger door map cove, probably on the seats and floor as well, rape and pillage comes to mind. Radios, hand tools 3 SureFire flashlights, a 6 and a 4 D Maglite, Amber 2 Strobe Allied Signal Mag-moutn Light bar, Go Bags, fire extinguishers, the list goes on. Seeing what is left behind just doesn’t look like much. My identification badges, as well as some personal information are gone.

There is hope however because the Bible that I kept in the truck was taken too.

I am giving this ‘Volunteer Spirit’ an earnest evaluation. Literally thousands of dollars taken by some puke or pukes that will probably never be caught and the only one hurt by all this is the victim. Admittedly I feel sorry for myself, I shouldn’t have to explain that, but there were just a couple of people in ‘Law Enforcement’ that I dealt with who had compassion, they weren’t just doing their job. I will be personally thanking them.

Watch your stuff!

7 3 & 7 5,
Cas, KF6CUE, K-214, NNNØFUE, WRRL-12

[KE5BCW]

Sorry for the loss of your equipment.Like you said maybe they will read your bible.73

[ka5piu]

Hello.

I am thinking an animal in the glove box.
Cats like little containers like that but tend to use the litter box.
And, alarm systems are now a cat and mouse game.
What was state of the art just a few years ago is now just a minor speedbump.
The better ones come with a theft warranty.
Perhaps yours did?
Perhaps a TV camera pointed at the truck?
Will not stop anyone but at least you have a record.

[KI6JUX]

Sorry to hear about your loss, dude.

I will be keeping an eye on 'used' equipment that I may run across, never know, it could show up in a yard sale.

I am looking for used equipment, can't afford the new stuff, so I will watch what shows up around me!

Good luck, it's crap like this that makes me leery of investing a lot of money in this hobby.

I have an alarm and a Club, so they won't get very far with my car!!!

Damn shame!

Later, and all the best.

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif
pcwiz...

[AB8RU]

I have a Locking Gas Cap for starters good investment.

Next Comment: if you installed a Car Alarm System thats one thing if your ride was impounded by the police they generally inventory whats in the car or truck, before towing.

You can however file on your taxes a Form called Casulty Losses #document everything from police report to reciepts on old radios ( yard sales and ham flea markets generally no reciept unless purchased new )

consider buying ham radio ins. also read your theft policy some may sell a rider or add on.

I had tools, radios, stolen, licenses destroyed ( filed complaint to FCC ) lost bad deal from a divorce, ( I'll leave rest out too long story )

some I could not even come close to writing all of this off but Itemizing if you qualify.

Also a Sign in vechicle Warning people of Pet Tranchula may scare them off. #also do something crazy like hey have you seen ( create a name ) look under the vechicle also If you happen on a Halloween Shop buy a fake one and place it under the seat.

Be creative.

[N2RJ]

Where was your truck stolen? My dad and uncles all chained their cars to the house when they parked it for the night.

[kb3afz]

Well Well, I see someone has vandalized one of our hobby's finest, and took what you have worked so hard for. Well,looks to me like you have done quite well in keeping serial numbers on your equipment, and rest assured they should surface soon. Even if they are "fenced" a couple of times, they can still be tracked back to where they came from by fingerprints and someone being scared when the police is questioning them about HOT goods. Perhaps these thieves are non amateur and will be caught by pirating with the equipment. (check your area for good FOX hunters and any malicious interference).

A good way to catch a car thief that I have personally witnessed, and I must say will deter them from your property quite quickly, and you may end up with them on their back wondering what happened.

The automobile sits on Rubber Tires, right? 110VAC only shocks you if you touch ground to Power. LMAO you following me. Hook a wire from a long healthy extension cord to your cars body, and the ground side to a small ground stake. No tripping of fuses or circuit breakers here as the connection is not made until something or someone standing on mother earth grabs the vehicle. "ZAP"!!!!!! 110 VAC let's them know that they cannot continue on with the act. Trust me when I say it works. A gas thief years ago kept finding ways over a 6 month period of sucking my fathers gasoline out and making it quite hard for him to get to work. Raising 6 kids wasn't easy for my dad, and he only had so much money to work with. Well needless to say, the culprit yelped and screamed so loud one night at 2:30 am that it woke half the house up, and two older brothers gave this thief a butt whoopin he'll probably never forget. and All it cost my dad was a little bit of Black Tape to re-attach the clipped end of the extension cord.

I will keep my ears out on the bands for any information that might be useful, as I am am an OTR Truck Driver, and I will also lookout for serial numbers on used equipment for sale on the web. Don't be to hard on yourself my friend. You have been true to the big man above, and he will award you. Maybe the other fellow was right in saying the culprits may read that bible.

73's and God Bless
KB3AFZ
www.forestcountyarc.com

Answer,Shoot first ask questions later http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

K6GLG

[kb7dti]

Like I always say.."Celebrate diversity- Kill them all".:angry:

[k4avl]

I would even try one of those "cow pasture" shock units that run on 12v and hook that up to the battery and car body.

[KU0DM]

Maybe those thiefs will strike again but take a self-contained APRS tracker...

Sorry for your loss

[kc9kow]

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. That they took your id's says they will likelytry to impersonate you or do something likely to be very stupid!

I highly think they are smart enough to figure out how to use the radios, as they likely are trash who can't even say their own names.

It's great that you had your radios insured...that should hopefully give you some protection against your loss.

What I feel for you about is the feeling of being violated. I know it all too well.

I will keep both my eyes and ears open to any stray and unexplained equipment and any interference by goofs on the air in the case that it turns up on the air here...as unlikely as it is, it's some sort of help anyway.

73

[n3ghx]

DO NOT TRY THE 120VAC IDEA because if they touch it just right you could be tried and convicted of murder. Shocking them may be an answer, but try something that doesn't have that lethal potential. The ccd camera is an excellent idea because they may be smart enough to use gloves.

[kb3afz]

Quote[/b] (n3ghx @ Oct. 02 2007,00:59)]DO NOT TRY THE 120VAC IDEA because if they touch it just right you could be tried and convicted of murder. Shocking them may be an answer, but try something that doesn't have that lethal potential. The ccd camera is an excellent idea because they may be smart enough to use gloves.
shocking them with 110vac won't kill em,it'll just make em wish they hadn't touched what doesn't belong to them.

[w9fnb]

Sorry for the loss. I understand the feeling, it happened to me years ago.
THE 110VAC idea is bad news...!!! More people are killed every year by the voltage range of 100-120vac than All the other ranges totaled together. A mere 40mA is enough to kill under the right condition and litigation has resulted from those that have boobie-traped their property in this manner and guess who won! Not the property owners...the criminals!!!
Sorry again GL
All the Best
W9FNB/Gary

[KD0AVI]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif I am sorry you joined this club,
me too.
EMT- equipment, ids, and my radio gear about 3000.00
and counting.

[aa8xr]

Sorry for your loss. Mine happened here in Southwest FL
back in March 92. The only recovery was the insurance money came through enough for me to get another used HF rig and replace the 2m, 220 and 440 mobiles, but the stereo, amplifier, eq and several cds, which were still plenty expensive back then. Then there was the window on the right front passenger side. The only justice was the hotel giving me a check for my deductable. I never have installed rigs in my car like I had then, never will again. Too bad, but it really clouds your happiness. But life goes on. You will recover and keep right on going, do not let scum criminals ruin everything for you. 73! Joe

[wi9ems]

Wow,

I am VERY SORRY for your incident. #The biggest thing that comes to mind is the feeling of being violated. #Not to mention the obvious...the theft of thousands of $$$ worth of radios and equipment. #Sad to say, but sometimes this is the price of serving your community. #Needless to say, and I say this having read other comments from other HAMs, we'll be keeping a 3rd eye out for your equipment. #Hopefully it'll be located. #

I wish you the best outcome from this unfortunate incident.

Cory-
WI9EMS

[N4CYA]

I am sorry to hear your loss & others as well. I am unfortunate myself when I was in the Cb Radio Scene back in the mid 2000 range I had a so called friend that wanted to use my Galaxy 99v for a base station so I did and next thing I know it he ended up moving away and stealing it from me and the local police never did anything about it. One of the cops popped up with this remark...''They Have Better Things To Do''

[KE5RRH]

wow that sucks! Hopefully you will get all your equipments back http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif, can't you park the truck in the garage? Yea you should install a CCTV camera that is aiming at the truck. What im doing is once I get my yaesu radio is I will only keep it in the car when I need it and when I don't use it and keep it inside the house, even though the neighborhood I live in is pretty safe.. you never know what will happen and got to always be prepared.. and yea hehe if a robber try to mess with my parents car or the car that im going to drive... I will take my elec paintball gun put it on full auto... and well.. you know the rest of the story http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif, I will also keep an eye out for the serial # and let you know if I see any ham on sale with those #. Good luck and keep us updated http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif 73

[n8yx]

Keep serial numbers of all of your gear.

In case of theft, closely watch eBay and the local pawn shops for those numbers to turn up.

A few of "America's Dumbest" have been caught using this very method...

[kc4ylv]

Good thread. Sorry to hear about your stolen gear. I've started to consider getting some radio insurance as I am low income and have worked very hard and paid cash for every radio I have, no CC lifestyle for me, and I'd be crushed if my rigs got stolen.

I'm going to go home tonight and record model/serial and identifying information on all my equipment, and start thinking about figuring out a lock for my 'coax feed' window.

This sounds like a scenario where remote-mounted control heads would assist. Set them up with Velcro or quick releases, pop the faces off when you go in. There's still the antenna issue, but it's less of a "STEAL ME".

[KE5RRH]

kc4 one suggestion is also to take pictures of the radios and the serial number on it so that way you have proof.. and if you don't plan on selling it ever at all maybe carve your name into the radio http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif or if you want to sell it you can like carve a symbol in it or something like that.

KF6 mind giving us a update? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif good luck and 73

[w8gtf]

One thing to prevent theft of a car/truck (esp if it's paid off or you do not care about resale), that I've not seen mentioned is a kill switch. On older cars it was very simple. Fords for example, all you had to do was cut into the line from the starter to the starter relay (about 8 inches from the battery). IIRC, there was a power wire to the starter and a signal wire of sorts. Wire a toggle switch under the dash that kills the signal wire. Flip the switch off when you come home at night and most thieves won't figure it out. Remember, car theft is usually a crime of opportunity. If you car is too much of a PITA to steal, they will move on down the street to an easier target.

I've also heard of a guy who had a jeep (with a soft top) getting some old ammo boxes and bolting them to the floor. One was the perfect size to look like a center console (after he cleaned it up). When people look in the jeep, it doesn't look like anything of value is in the jeep.

I completely feel your pain tho. My car was broken into about 2 weeks back. They didn't steal my car, but got all of my paperwork (registration & proof of insurance), and a cheap fake ring I bought my girlfriend as a gag christmas gift. I hope the dummy tries to pawn it thinking it's worth alot of money.

[ke6anm]

After reading this, i finished my stealth install of my byonics aprs microtraker....

and bought new buck shot for my 12 guage ....

[N5FOG]

One thing that works really good and will have them pulling their hair out is to put a switch in line with the fuel pump and mount it under the truck or some place hidden inside.

If your truck has a mechanical fuel pump put a in-line fuel solenoid and hook that to a hidden switch under the truck. They will get it started but the fuel in the bowl of the carb won't get them down the street.

Nothing is theft proof but if you harden the target they won't waste their time when there are plenty of soft target vehicles.



FOG

[k7nys]

There's one on FLebay right now. Looks like it's in San Diego. Probably not yours unless yours had a charger and a manual with it.
item number 290203059534
Good luck
Pat K7NYS