Event Coverage Thieves target the Power Tour

Back to the local cop angle, or security guards from the hotel. Or someone driving around in a car that looks like a security guard. Gives people a warm and fuzzy, shakes a few hands, ensures them that their cars are being looked after. The guard selects a few plum cars that are in good locations for a heist. Bing, bam, boom.. the car is gone in 45 seconds. The guard is never to be seen after. The hotel knows nothing about an outside security force on the premises.

 

So long as someone is wearing a uniform and looks official, it's all good. A couple guys showed up at a 7-11 with a truck to remove the ATM for "repair", the clerk even helped them load it up. LOL!

 

This makes me recall the old days with Harley. I will carry a good heavy 3/8 chain and go from rear axle to power pole. At least it will slow them down. Maybe chain to another car. I have a pickup and the extra weight will help ride. I can make a box for it and lock. One old trick with chain was to use two locks in different areas. It just slows them down.
The small GPS rigs are a good idea. I had clients whose soon to be X-husbands knew where they are at all times, or until we found it and put it on a semi.
I was involved in a robbery in Knoxville so I know the thieves are out there and organized. They got my buddy foe $8,000.00 and the police would not even take a report.

 

Lots of those go-home trucks also have GPS now. The owner can use the app on his phone and see where there are, where they have been, and how fast they went. In more sophisticated systems the trucks can be shut down if they go outside a Geo-fence. Some have DVR video systems that are not available to the driver that download video via WiFi periodically. So lots of these things that protect the tow owner also make it much harder for rogue employees to use the trucks to commit crimes.

I don't disagree with your possibilities, I am just saying that technology helps legit tow companies stop that kind of abuse.

 

I'm sure times have changed since the last time I was towing. Back from 1978-1983 or so, these trucks had no protection, not even a governor. Owners have to look out for themselves more and more.

 

Great? So a beater is not even safe.

 

Mexico. Russia


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Russian CARlusion

 

Don't get the other side started. Inquiring minds will want to know.

 

Gone in 30 seconds.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...6CB6B1B8036E777199DE6CB6B1B8036E&&FORM=VRDGAR

 

Yup... 1 man operation, stays in the truck. Tow rigs have come a long way in recent years. Get it around the corner, load it into a waiting trailer or building. Move it out when the dust settles. This is how well organized they are. If they are wearing car shirts, passerby traffic won't give them a 2nd look. These guys can be caught, but it would take a lot of thought and effort.

As soon as the word goes out that a car is stolen, it is by then stashed deeply locally, in a body shop covered up with a tarp, in a warehouse, car dealer back lot. Landscaper trailers would be totally under the radar. The cops would have to lock the area down and check each and every enclosed trailer that rolls by and we know they would never do it, on orders up the food chain. Wait a few days and transport the stolen car out of town. Look for local transport firms, where they load containers for ships.

 

This is a map of local shipping companies local to the venue that are around the Concord area. There are probably more. The area is land-locked. So out to a seaport is a hike. Whatever it is has to go out by truck. This is where GPS tracking is key in theory. Which doesn't mean that smart guys have not found a way to disable or shield the signal.

https://www.google.com/maps/search/.../@35.3606398,-80.8433615,33590m/data=!3m1!1e3

 

Wow, the Drury Inn ('94 Silverado, Buick wagon, '85 GMC) and Courtyard Marriott ('83 Malibu, '84 Monte) are within a minute from each other. Right next to Interstate 85. There is a Fed Ex ship center just a tad east of there. But doubt that would be part of the caper. The cars were likely taken out in 2 or 3 trailers, maybe 1 or 2 moving vans with the right ramps or access to a dock. I see places on the map that could be staging points. These are steal-to-order since the cars are all GM products in prime shape.

 

GPS tracking is easily jammed up for less than $20. I may or may not have experience with this.

 

Repro rig doesn't mean that belongs to a legit repro outfit.

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All these members wanting to worry about their stuff being stolen and whose asses they plan on whipping or shooting need to get a grip.
The answer to getting a goods nights sleep while your truck and trailer or vehicle is setting in the parking lot is a very simple one.
The police agencies in every city have a pool of off duty policemen available for moon lighting security work. All you have to do is contact the local police department a week or so in advance to find out who the coordinator is to find out the availability and cost. Let them know where you are requesting a uniformed officer in a marked car and the nights / hours they are needed.
This is extremely cost effective (generally 14.00 -18.00 cash per hr in the midwest) when divided up between several car owners. So do the math, from 10pm to 7 am, 9 hrs divided amongst 8-10 car owners is dirt cheap for a good nights rest
Park the cars together and let the policeman know which cars, trucks, trailers he is watching. To hell with the other stuff in the lot, he only needs to watch those who chip in on paying the bill. Just do him a solid and try to group them all together to make it easy on them.

You get professional, personalized security and a good night's sleep. Problem solved.

 

Just hire the Hell's Angels. Pay them in kegs of beer. Worked great at Altamont.

 

Oh, I made a mistake my daughter is offering $10,000 reward. Lippy

 

In an ideal world but not realistic. There would be the people who didn't want to pay for security, there would probably be several hotels/motels where people are staying, not to mention the drunk who wants to get into his own car to get something and gets pissed off because they want proof it's his own car.

 

People need to make new friends and travel together, take 2-hour watch shifts but keep all the cars close together. Circle the wagons. Which will work until someone gets tased or stabbed for a car.
These places they stay seem to be decent and there are no cameras watching the lot? No business along where they may exit the lot that may have a camera?

 

The perils of a traveler.....

The traveler doesn't not know the area, really know it. I live fairly close to Birmingham. There is parts of Birmingham that are really nice. There are other parts that well, you might as well be in Kabul.
So, choose where you bed wisely. You really need to plan the route. On long trips the traveler seems to just land at spots.

Holiday Inn Expresses seem to be of consistent quality. I prefer the ones on the outskirts rather than down town. Budget Inns, Motel 6s, Econolodge and the like are inconsistent at the best. These go from OK to pure Dives.

Clues to look for......
Try not to stay in an economically depressed area.
Nastiness.
Nasty gas stations.
Nasty Hotels. If you walk into a hotel and the place looks nice from the outside but nasty on the inside.....leave get your back move on. They don't clean the place because...they don't have to.
Run down Neighborhoods.....
Junk...
Trash...
Abandoned houses...
Closed boarded up buildings
Traveling I 40, Memphis Tennessee really made me nervous then we crossed the river and saw West Memphis Arkansas.
That place looked like Berlin 1945!
Razor Wire....
If the area has high fences and razor wire....move on.
Pawn your title.....
By Here Pay Here...
Checks Cashed.....
Pay Day Loans....
Hurt in a Wreck.....
Bail Bonds....
Porn...
These are clues that the area is in the toilet.
Street people and pan handlers.....All races or Creeds...makes no difference.
Gas Stations cons.....My kid is in the hospital.....I'm out of gas....
If you are confronted while filling up.....
Cashiers behind Bullet proof glass...
Move on.
Gut feelings.....
We are blessed with a 6th sense if we just listen. If you don't feel right about a place.....
Move on.
Hotel Layout....
The dives with an office at one end and a long lot 1950's Motel Lay out.....Nope.
Again I like the layout of the Holidy Inn Expresses.
A lighted lot...close to or at the Lobby.

Choose your landing spot wisely.

 

Sounds like when my daughter went to Fresno with some dairy women for an ag convention F-one. They pulled up to the motel that they had reservations and there was a gate across the parking lot entrance that someone opened for them and closed behind them. Shocked the tar out of her but she said the neighborhood was pretty spooky anyhow.

 

Maybe you are right. Maybe not a 100%. At least for exporting a cars from the US to Germany I can assure you, no car will leave the US and enter Germany without a valid title that has been signed and stamped by the US customs and paid custom fees up front . Both, the US and European customs are pretty serious about that.
A few years ago I bought a 53 Chevy gasser project with a title that had the 6 cyl engine number as a vin. The 235 was gone- there were many loops to jump and fees to pay to get the car through DMV, the VIN verified by an inspector, you name it. Even if you managed to sneak a car out of the US ( what I think is impossible) ,in Germany you wouldn´t be able to register it without a valid and US custom stamped and signed title. Registering the car in Germany they will impound the title so I can´t be used anymore.They are extremely anal about that... just my experience, but that may be different in other countries.

Anyways , I think it´s a shame so many cars are stolen, it just makes me angry . Imagine you put years of hard work, money and love in a car to make your own, and there comes on scumbag to lift ot from you. WTF?

I have been looking intp GPS sending devices-still undecided...

 

Thank you....
That's a very thoughtful and respectful response to my off the cuff posting.

 

Are metric gms popular overseas?
Parts man, parts
A container with a 80s Malibu wagon?
Not digging on the cars but we ain’t talking mid year vettes or gt500s here

Or a joy ride and swim

 

No hunk of metal is worth your life and for that matter the thief"s life.
I advocate the use of a firearm for self protection and the protection of others. This not something to be taken lightly. With great power comes great responsibility.

Someone bold enough to steal a car in public or anywhere for that matter is bold enough to kill your ass.
A family man....a construction contractor's work truck was being burglarized in a grocery store parking lot in Atlanta. This was in broad daylight. He confronted them unarmed. They shot and killed him. It was over in 5 seconds.
He should have let them take that stuff. If he did. He would have came home and his kids would still have a Dad.
Had he been armed, same deal....he should have watched and let them take that stuff.

I have killed two people. It was a wreck. A drunk hit me. I went sideways and killed two people walking down the shoulder of the highway. I got hit. The truck went sideways....then I thought about those two guys walking. In a sideways slide I was watching them as they tried to run. Impact was at the rear drivers wheel. The beside was crushed down to the bed floor. That was from them.
They turned my truck. Had they not been there, I would have went into the embankment sideways instead of nose first. Those guys being there may have saved my life. Both of them died. One right there, one later.
Even though it was not my fault. I think about those guys nearly every day.
That was 2007,
I have not driven the F1 on the highway since.
The truck I wrecked(Off Topic)....It was a favorite of mine. Maybe the most favorite. I could have kept it.......

I did not want the damn thing!

You catch Somebody stealing your stuff even if you are armed.....let them take that stuff. It's not worth it. Yell from a safe distance. Get a description. Trying to save it ...you may loose it all.
Even if you are successful in using deadly force.....it goes bad and you have to to save your life....
In the end it would be better to let them have it. Take it. it ain't worth it.

 

Just let em have it, wife and kids too

 

Yeah! Ever see the tail end of the movie "Casino"?????....