TheSamba.com :: View topic - best way to prevent a bus from being stolen?

Tue Jul 08, 2008 11:13 am

doc hopper wrote: First, my 64 split is garaged. Then, when I park it somewhere (grocery store/restaurant) I put it where I can see it from inside the location. I NEVER leave it someplace where it will be out of my sight for hours, like at a shopping mall or a movie theater. Then:
The doors are all locked.
The sliding vent windows are locked (that loop and chain device)
The steering wheel is locked (club)
The kill switch is activated
The alarm is activated
The Alpha Lock (like a mini Denver boot) is in place
The Tire Deflater is in place (fastens to a valve stem, deflates tire if bus is moved)
If all this fails I have to rely on the LoJack system (expensive but worth it)
Note: if you can't afford a LoJack system, just get one of the mauals and leave it where it can be seen. Thieves don't like to hassle with LoJack if they can avoid it.

wow. :shock: you need like a nature hike and some tea or something. your gonna have a heart attack living like that.

Tue Jul 08, 2008 12:01 pm

swervyjoe wrote: wow, thats intense. none of my locks work and i leave the keys in it half the time.

I end up doing this, too. I think about half the locks on my bus work, and I'm really bad about leaving the keys in my cars. :lol: I just make a point not to drive the bus if I'm going to end up parking somewhere sketchy.

Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:19 pm

I insure my bus for more than it is worth. That eases the worry of theft a bit.

Tue Jul 08, 2008 1:19 pm

Keep it garaged it is the best way not to loose it, but when you have to park on the street ....
Bus #2 had these installed right after bus #1 was stolen and found stripped 3 months later. Hidden ingition cut off, hidden fuel cut off and battery cut off switch. I still own bus #2.
Bus #3 which I got 14 years later has nothing.

Tue Jul 08, 2008 5:40 pm

My plans to prevent theft:- steering lock, gearshift lock, kill switch ( will build in to shift lock as I will keep the ignition with the steering lock, club like device, all new door locks, new rubber and felt with locks on the slider, will always be parked in the garagae when at home - hadnt thought of the wheel lock type devices.

Steve

Wed Jul 09, 2008 7:46 am

When I've gone backpacking I take my rotor with me. So, Fish, describe bus #1.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 9:02 am

BarryL wrote: When I've gone backpacking I take my rotor with me. So, Fish, describe bus #1.

It was a 1963 California Camper. This picture was taken 3 years before the theft. At the time of the theft all that was left to do was paint. Motor, trany, front end and interior done. Yes, is was not stock, but it was what I wanted.

In Feb. 1986 my bus was stolen. 3 months later I received a letter from DMV telling me that some one was inquired about my bus via the vin number. My bus was found almost completely stripped in a garage rented by Rolland Knobs. Yes, his real name. He had not paid rent on the garage for 3 months. The landlord cut the lock, found my bus inside and inquired at the DMV using the vin number as the plates were missing. I contacted the landlord, went and confirmed it was my bus. The next day I arrived with a truck, trailer and towed her home. From the landlord I was able to get the rental agreement with Rolland Knobs address on it. I gave the information to the auto theft detective in charge of my case and I was told he was to busy to check it out, but if he had the time he would. The next day he calls me up and tells me that he stopped by and found out that Rolland Knobs had just moved days before, but his landlady said his car was still out back. She said he couldn't get it running. The detective found Rolland's bus behind his apt. and called me to come and see if I could Identify any parts. His bus had my motor (seized, you could smell it) and my trans in it, but none of my other parts or tools. Police towed it and I got my motor and trans back. Tow yard said they were going to crush his bus if he didn't show up to claim it, pay towing and storage fees. I'm guessing that is what happened to it. I never went back to check. The detective said they wouldn't even try to presue to contact him (Rolland Knobs) and even said they wound not prosecute because I had no proof he (Rolland Knobs) knew that my parts in his bus were stolen even though his name was on the garage rental agreement where my stripped bus was found. By this time I had already bought my second bus when I got this one back so it sat on the side of the yard until 1988 when I cut it into little pieces to fit on my trailer and I hauled it to the scrap yard. Remember this was back when split window buses were still easy and cheep to find.

Wed Jul 09, 2008 11:44 am

never finish it so it sits in the garage its whole life.