ZipT-DooDa
Milford, NH / Meredith, NH
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Joined: 07/01/2004
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We have a seasonal site in Meredith, NH and try to occupy our "summer homestead" as often as possible. But apparently, not quite often enough. Two weeks passed without our presence and upon return, I discovered that our series 27 battery and the case it was in, were stolen. According to the campground owners, this is the first time this has happened. Granted my site is up a short hill with only 4 seasonal sites on it, so it is away from the main action of the campground, but come on! I even had a motorcycle chain and lock around the box as a deterrent, well, ok, as a place to put the motorcycle chain and lock (it was loosely around the battery box).
As I was replacing the missing battery and box with $100+ worth of new battery and box, I got to thinking. With the economy going sour, besides camper batteries, what else would be an easy target for theft? Well, right next to the battery are two 30 pound tanks with an auto switchover. That's easily over $100 worth especially with full tanks that can quickly be removed, (I'll show em' and keep the tanks empty!). Then there's my gas grill with two tanks under the cover. Around the back is a $75.00 water powered hose reel with 100' of hose, then there's my fabulous Flush King! Well, it's not cheap you know.
So what I've done is secured the battery by actually locking it up with the motorcycle chain and lock, wrapped the spin-off lockdown on the trailer tanks with a gun cable lock (it just fits!), and booby trapped the grill tanks and hose reel with 14k volts of electricity - just kidding - but wishing I could ;^) The flush king, well.. if they really want that crappy item... 
So I'm wondering how many of you have experienced theft of your camper/campsite items?
ZipT
07 Sprinter 380BWS (previously a ROO 233)
04 Chev TrailBlazer, 4.2 Inline 6 which can't even think of towing the 380BWS. It just sneers at this camper.
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Sorry to hear of your battery loss but if you start spending all your time worrying about protecting everything you own it won't leave a lot of time for enjoying having them. Turn the loss into your insurance company, take reasonable measures to protect your stuff and REALIZE that if they really want it they can get it but it may require a lot more damage to your RV getting it.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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ZipT-DooDa
Milford, NH / Meredith, NH
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Actually not that worried. Beats having the camper stolen. And submitting $100 loss with a $500 deductable, just doesn't work 
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10tca01
Columbia Missouri
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Joined: 02/25/2008
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Hope nothing else gets stolen!
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WMG
PA
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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Nothing to date , Knock on wood , but what I do know is many of the seasonal camps I know of in Pa. get hit by bandits a good bit, esp in the winter. A friend was hit once , they stole dumb things like those plug in air freshners , etc They didn't get alot $$$ wise but the damage they did was the expensive part of it all.
they also seem to like to hit a number of them at once, etc
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javaseuf
California's Gold Coast
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Joined: 03/30/2005
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$100.00 for 14 gallons of propane??!!! WOW. It's expensive there.
The thing I would wory about is the 30 feet of copper electrical shore-line. They are always getting stolen from storage yards. They cut them right off.
Steve
2007 Springdale 291RKL
2003 F150 King Ranch
2001 Dodge Van w/Wheelchair Ramp
1991 Palomino Mustang PUP
Eureka Timberline Tent
Yamaha IF2400isc
Yamaha EF3000iSEBC
"Politically Incorrect And Proud Of It" 
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JimInMA
Littleton, MA
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Joined: 07/27/2008
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Nobody wants your propane tanks because there is no resale market for them and the scrap dealers won't take them if there is any chance that they still have propane in them. Batteries, on the other hand can be sold to a scrap dealer in a matter of minutes. With the scrap metal market being the way it is right now they'll steal the aluminum skin off your TT before they go after your propane tanks. (I've seen reports of people coming home from a vacation and finding the aluminim siding stolen off of their house!)
I've been lucky thusfar and haven't had anything stolen. Hopefully, it'll stay that way.
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mobeewan
Hampton, Va
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Joined: 01/03/2007
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javaseuf wrote:$100.00 for 14 gallons of propane??!!! WOW. It's expensive there.
The thing I would wory about is the 30 feet of copper electrical shore-line. They are always getting stolen from storage yards. They cut them right off.
He said"...Well, right next to the battery are two 30 pound tanks with an auto switchover. That's easily over $100 worth especially with full tanks that can quickly be removed, ...".
The last time I filled a 30# tank it cost about $28. So he is talking twice that plus the cost of buying new tanks (over $30 apiece). As he said easily over $100 to replace.
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jf504mp
Indiana
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Joined: 01/06/2007
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Don't bet no one wantes your propane tanks. If they are full they are targets for meth makers..........
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WMG
PA
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Joined: 09/24/2006
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JimInMA wrote:Nobody wants your propane tanks
That would not be true , the scrappers still your cables and siding from your house, but its the tweakers and meth makers who want your propane tanks , they come in mighty handy for that sort of thing and don't think they don't know where to get them.
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