This last Monday one of the local Neighbors at the shop where I keep the Bus decided to break into the Bus,
Fortunately, the bus is currently completely gutted on the inside.
The bad part is that they broke out one of the windows to gain entrance.
It looks like they dragged a table that was sitting nearby over to the bus and used a locally sourced Brick to bust out the window, one of the legs on the table broke and the assailant was tossed to the ground and never entered the Bus that night.
They also cut a 2-foot piece of copper tubing out of the AC on the MC7 parts bus sitting next to my bus, and cut a 2-inch piece of copper tubing out of the water heater on a Travel Trailer across the yard and stole a battery out of a Suburban on the lot.
I thought I had got out of it lucky with only the one window smashed.
The Police came and filled out a report, where they took some good finger prints off the broken glass.
I was able to replace the Window with one recently removed from where I skinned over a few of the windows.
Unfortunately they came back the next night and busted out the glass in the door and gained entrance and stole the only thing in the bus, an 8-year-old Shop Vac.
I now have a Motion Sensor alarm in place and a security Camera being delivered.
I just bought a piece of Brick resistant plexiglass to replace the door window and I am looking at options to cover the windows while it is being built.
I hope we are able to catch the $#%^&%^& person responsible, a few people would like to "talk" to him.......
I would hate to have to move the Bus at this point in the Conversion.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peterbylt.com%2FMCI96A3%2Fbrokewindow.jpg&hash=1cc33c54a001fe0183b2104b7fd7e3bcddf6a90e)
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peterbylt.com%2FMCI96A3%2Fbrokewindow1.jpg&hash=82f7c70007ec4f41e0d739a07bccbed685993317)
Peter
That really SUCKS. Hopefully they will be caught. Maybe you should sleep in the bus along with your buddies Smith and Wesson tonight. Then this will be the last night they will mess with you. >:(
The trouble with the Trumpster is that he won't deport all of the criminal pukes.
They just may return looking for the new vacuum you bought to replace the old one they stole.
HI;
You might also consider a game camera. I got one off Ebay for $100. I also have a problem
of theft. If you set it up some where so as not to be noticed, you might come up with a
photo. That is something the police can do some thing about.
Just think about where to set it up, the thieves might steal that also.
Good luck, Merle.
what about connecting AC to the skin of the bus?
Sit in there one night with a gun.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Oh, I hope that there's blood on the ground next to that table!
So sad to hear about your trouble.
Been there, done that, got the . . . . Dang it!!! - the punk stole my stinkin' T-shirt too!
Caught him, but not until AFTER he stole or vandalized over $25,000 in bus parts. He spent 3 years in jail & has probation. What a joke - he hasn't changed, probation is a joke - the justice system seems to be more interested in criminal rights, not the victims.
So, don't get too worked up over this, it won't help. Just try to anticipate it happening again & be prepared as best you can.
Know this, if you try to engage the thief on his level, he will have the edge of experience backed up with having nothing to lose.
My suggestion is to find a better/ safer place to work on it. You will enjoy it so much more if you aren't worried about thieves.
There is a tenant who lives in a room in the front of the shop, he will be calling the police (or me) if the Motion Detector triggers, he is now on alert, it was his vehicle that had the battery stolen.
I have a Motion Controlled surveillance camera ordered, probably won't arrive until after Christmas, has many options, will take pictures when triggered by motion, can take Video when triggered, Can take pictures when triggered and email them to you, or you can log in and watch live video.
I can mount the Camera and Motion Detector either up on a telephone pole in the fenced in yard or up on the building out of reach of anyone.
The Landlord has plans on putting in a taller fence with Barb Wire, but that won't occur for six months or so.
All the tools and Materials have been removed from the Bus.
I am looking at making some covers for the windows and windshield that can be used when the bus is not in use even after the build is complete.
I like the idea of electrifying the bus skin.
There are a couple of people who share the shop and yard and we are all working together to put a stop to this.
Peter
Quote from: Scott & Heather on December 22, 2016, 06:33:19 PM
Sit in there one night with a gun.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This. Either in the bus or someplace close by. Maybe a taser. I wouldn't want to kill him. But it would be fun to watch him wiggle around on the ground for a bit. Maybe hit him with a brick.
Glad they caught him. Indeed that is a short sentence.
I still like the idea of deportation.
Rubber bullets. They hurt as heck but don't cause much more than that unless too close of range in which case if a criminal is getting in my face that close then well I guess we will both have a bad day. I am not a vigilante but it always bums me out to hear hard working people get their stuff stolen by not hard working people
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: Scott & Heather on December 23, 2016, 05:35:10 AM. I am not a vigilante but it always bums me out to hear hard working people get their stuff stolen by not hard working people
That's precisely what frosts my nuts about this type of scum. They're actually reasonably industrious - its just so totally misdirected. They work fairly long hours and they're moderately creative - if they would just turn that initiative 180 degrees the whole world would be a better place. Instead the honest majority has to spend extra effort, money and time on non-productive things like surveillance and armor.
The worst part is the feeling of violation after the fact. As I think back over my life I believe I can remember every incident where some scummer stole something from me and its precisely because of that feeling of being personally injured by their actions. Fortunately there's not too many incidents to remember but one is too many (and I can remember 3 incidents).
A good high powered paint ball gun, hurts like heck when hit and also leaves a lasting impression that takes awhile to disappear. Get some paint balls that may have a permanent paint or ink if available.
A shotgun and a mate with a pig farm
Rock salt in a shot gun shell does wonders of educating while not killing! (but they will wish they were dead until they get it all out!
Also you should leave a note. "Hey ASSHOLE since you stole my vacuum cleaner how about using it to clean up yer mess next time!" :o
;D BK ;D
My note would read:
"IF YOU CAN READ THIS YOUR F***ED"
Have you considered a 4 stage intruder deterrent ( AKA German Shepard or Doberman ) ?
Stage 1...Sounds audible alarm when intruder approaches property.
Stage 2...Discourages intruder with fear factor.
Stage 3...If intruder is still stupid enough to jump fence, removes pieces of clothing and flesh.
Stage 4...If intruder manages to get away, makes sure DNA is left at the scene.
Make sure you reward your 4 stage with a pat on the head, a dog Biscuit, and some good degreasing mouthwash to get the bad taste out of his mouth :)
We keep rubber bullets in our shot gun as a bear deterrent, also have bear maze. In either case it would be a bad (bear!) day... We were fortunate to have met only good people on our 12,000 mile road trip... Sorry to hear of your misfortune. Twice in a row would make me extra vigilant.
I want to thank everyone for all great ideas.
I replaced the driver's side window with one of the spare windows, Today I replaced the door window with ΒΌ inch Polycarbonate, I did not see any reason to remove the protective covering until I am ready to drive it.
The place where I bought the Polycarbonate brought me into the shop and beat a piece with a brick and it showed no signs of breaking, so the thieves will have to find a new way in.
We have also installed a motion detector and I have a security camera on the way.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FSGGP04/ref=psdc_14241331_t2_B01AFVBOKS (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FSGGP04/ref=psdc_14241331_t2_B01AFVBOKS)
The camera will email you a picture if it detects any motion.
And trust me, if we catch them in the act, they won't be breaking into any more buses.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.peterbylt.com%2FMCI96A3%2Fplexiwindow.jpg&hash=e35f4c56c02435a7df56c1710ef0abf8cecfecc6)
Peter
You may want to take the paper off the polycarbonate because the sun will dry out the glue and make the paper very hard to get off.
Nothing at all funny about this ,but a Rottweiler is a danged good deterant I could stand cleaning up dog poo if he would reach out and touch the turd that was stealing from me. Heard a story once about a burgler that broke into some ones house.He was filling his sack with the home owners belongings when he heard "AWWWWK! Jesus is watching you " . The perpetrator shined his light toward the sound and spied a very large parrot .Well ,I be danged ,says the crook ,A parrot !! What is your name Parrot. The parrot replies AWWWWWK !! My name Is Moses!! What Idiot would ever name a parrot Moses ,asks the crook?? The bird replied,"that same idiot that named the Rottweiler JESUS"!!!!!!