Do you lock your RV while it’s in storage?

[TxTig]

Do you lock your RV while it’s in storage? A thief recently hit the storage yard where I keep my motorhome. He hit 35 RV’s over a period of five nights before anyone realized the break-ins were taking place. Broke two windows on my coach, but only stole a few items that were worth less than $150. Cost to replace the two windows is $3500 and my motorhome is out of commission until probably January before I can get the repairs completed.

I’m now thinking I’d have been better off to have just left the motorhome unlocked. We don’t really have anything of significant value in it, and locking it up doesn’t seem to protect it anyway. If I hadn’t locked it, they probably wouldn’t have broken the windows and I’d only be out the small items they decided to steal.

[JamieGeek]

Always leave ours locked.

The yard where we keep it is a pretty busy auto restoration business and they also started renting Cruise America RV's so during weekdays there is always people around and they have a camera system up.

[TxTig]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Always leave ours locked.

The yard where we keep it is a pretty busy auto restoration business and they also started renting Cruise America RV's so during weekdays there is always people around and they have a camera system up.

Our’s also has video surveillance, but apparently it’s not checked unless there’s a reason to do so. Once they checked the video, they had some pretty good shots of the thief.

I was upset that it went on for 5 nights before it was even noticed. Had they know it was happening after the 1st night, most of the break-ins could have been avoided. The owner of the lot told me this is the first time anything like this has ever happened at his lot.

[EA37TS]

Unnoticed for five days, find a more secure storage facility and keep it locked.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by EA37TS

Unnoticed for five days, find a more secure storage facility and keep it locked.

What he said!!

[TripleGGG]

This. The owners of our storage facility do a walk through of the entire complex every day checking everything. They even check all outlets of any motorhomes using electricity to make sure a breaker or GFI has not tripped.

[dkoldman]

We lock ours every night and it is at home. Most of the times petty thieves just try the door and pass it by if it locked.

Can I ask how they know it was 5 days before being caught? Not doubting you but I doubt very seriously thieves would go to the same place to break and enter 5 days in a row? Even if they they knew the place had worthless security; that is beyond bold.

Unless that place comes up with some new security system, and / or a night watchman, I would get my RV out of that location ASAP.

If nothing changes, those thieves are coming back.

Can I ask...

Where any Catalytic Converters stolen? Sound like your windows cost more to replace than a stolen Cat?

[Travelin' Texans]

I had tools stolen out of my truck toolbox, I forgot to lock it back, & was told by my insurance agent that if it had been locked then broken into to steal the items insurance would replace whatever was stolen, being unlocked = uninsured.
So my point is lock it up & find a more secure storage facility!

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Travelin' Texans

I had tools stolen out of my truck toolbox, I forgot to lock it back, & was told by my insurance agent that if it had been locked then broken into to steal the items insurance would replace whatever was stolen, being unlocked = uninsured.
So my point is lock it up & find a more secure storage facility!

I don't want to beat a dead horse on gas and gas stations, but I believe the same is true if you leave your keys in the ignition while getting gas or going inside the convenience store and your car is stolen because the thief simply got in the car and drove off.

I had a lock box that I kept at the marina locked for 14 years and never had an issue. Moved out of the marina and put that lock box on the side of my house and kept it locked. It got stolen. The thieves took the whole box I guess they figured out how to open it up later. Contents were priceless to me as it had a lot of antique classics fishing gear from my deceased father in law that I could not replace.

[sportcoupe]

This isn't the 50's, 60's or even 70's anymore. Lock your stuff.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

This isn't the 50's, 60's or even 70's anymore. Lock your stuff.

Amen!

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

This isn't the 50's, 60's or even 70's anymore. Lock your stuff.

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Amen!

Did they make Cars and RVs in the 50s and 60s? More like lock up your horse and buggies

[sportcoupe]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

Did they make Cars and RVs in the 50s and 60s? More like lock up your horse and buggies

Go visit the national rv museum in Elkhart and you may be surprised.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by sportcoupe

Go visit the national rv museum in Elkhart and you may be surprised.

I just did a virtual visit to minimize my gas expenditures, but you are right, and I stand corrected

This is a Thor RV and I can assure you it is well before my time and I didn't know such a thing existed.

I bet the Duck has one of these stashed away someplace in Arizona

[HMCSW]

We are at a place with a secure garage door. Security cameras for total coverage and razor wire on top of the fencing. Other less secure places are having a rash on catalytic converters being stolen. I leave mine unlocked plus being in a garage we have pretty much everything we every take inside too so no point in locking it.

[paulwadley]

I keep mine locked at our storage facility. It has cameras and staff that go through the lot daily. You have to have a pass card to open the gate to enter. My pass card allows me to enter 24/7. It has cinderblock walls and fencing around the entire facility. My HOA does not permit me to store it at my residence.

Paul

[Chateau_Nomad]

Ours is completely empty, winterized and locked sitting in the backyard drive. Fenced yard in semi rural area. The yard is under surveillance by several methods... not the least is a very curious "critter gutter". I pity the fool...

[Scubawise]

Change place use your yard lock!

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

Did they make Cars and RVs in the 50s and 60s? More like lock up your horse and buggies

Ahhh... the kids rhese days are just so cute...

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Ahhh... the kids rhese days are just so cute...

Unless that bus thing that they had on the Partridge Family was an RV; I don't think I saw my first RV until college? I was fascinated how they would come up on campus 3 or 4 days before a football game. I use to think all RV owners were millionaires that never had to work and had plenty of money to just travel all the time. That RV in the museum looks almost as old as the Model T.