Glad you got it back. I hate people messing with my stuff.
I'm thinking I am going to just put a zip tie over the door and not locking it. I'd rather that that they just cut the zip tie and look inside than pry the door open. No lock, even a heavy hasp with a big padlock and chain around the whole camper can keep someone out if they are willing to do damage.
I am also going to have a sign laminated and hung from the doorknob (English and Spanish) that says,
"Please don't break in. No money, no food, no beer/whiskey, no electronics, no guns, no tools...nothing of value inside. Also, I have cameras hidden throughout the property so I probably have your photograph. Thanks."
There are some very cheap game cameras ($100) and motion sensor alarms ($20) that can be set on the counter and lanyard alarms that can be rigged to the door. So loud that you will not want to be in the trailer with them. I carry one hanging from my rearview (lanyard with alarm and strobe). If someone breaks into my car at night for the radio/sunglasses/radar detector, I think they are very likely to grab the little black box and try to take it with them-surprise! May help for carjacking as well.
For about $100 you can get a Linksys (sp?) motion activated, stand alone, wireless webcamera. The great thing about this is that it will send an image (video or still) to your yahoomail (or other mail) so you have an image of the theif stored offsite. They can steal your trailer, your camera, everything, and you still have their picture stored at some remote location. The camera has a large, blue, LED on the front so they know they are on candid camera. I have mine pointed to the front door and mounted inside the window. Everyone notices it when they walk up.
I've got a pretty cheap home alarm system (under $1000) at my home that is entirely wireless (no installation mess) with perimeter security, motion sensors, fire/smoke sensors, freeze sensors, water leak sensors, and carbon monoxide sensors. The system calls my blackberry when something is activated and lets me know which alarm it is. On top of that, I've got the cheap stand-alone motion sensor alarms. Those are just for distraction to keep the theif from going straight to the "real" alarm system and disabling it. The "real" system is silent in the house. (GE-Simon).
All told, someone would have to be pretty drunk or stupid to hang around long. I figure that one break in would cost me $1000 easily. Also, I got an engraver and everything has my drivers
license number hidden somewhere on it and a couple of identifying marks on the front (very subtle) so I can spot it at a pawn shop.
Anyway, glad you got it back. Time for my medicine now....
Tom
1979 Boler B1300
1987 Bigfoot F20 5th wheel
Escape Hatch II
Our Escape Hatch
Linear Mode
