Honda generators stolen

[Navigator]

Does anyone have any suggestions for securing 2 Honda 2000 generators so it takes a lot of effort to steal them?

We were on our way to Quartzsite in January when our truck broke down in Indio, Ca. While the truck was at the dealer for repairs our Monty had to be parked outside on the street with us staying inside. The generators were secured with a "theft-proof" cable to the rear jacks. This procedure has worked successfully since we purchased the Monty and all through our travels in the western US, Canada and Alaska. It appears that we were just keeping honest people honest and the thieves were a different matter!

Before we venture out this summer with new generators we need to find a way to keep them safe. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[stiles watson]

Unfortunately, we live in a world where it is almost impossible to prevent a determined thief from stealing whether on the street or on Wall Street. Taking reasonable measures to protect your property is all you can do. Insurance is there for when those measures fail. Sorry for your loss, but it is not your fault. The only blame belongs to the thief.

[cmp-shooter]

I secure mine to the tail gate with a plastic coated cable thru both gens and wrap to my 16k hitch with is got a lock on it; and while running on 30 amp parrell cables I park my p/u where I can see them run and also see if the red lite goes on over load. when we want to travel we can put both in my diamond plate tool box behind the cab.

[Navigator]

quote:Originally posted by stiles watson

Unfortunately, we live in a world where it is almost impossible to prevent a determined thief from stealing whether on the street or on Wall Street. Taking reasonable measures to protect your property is all you can do. Insurance is there for when those measures fail. Sorry for your loss, but it is not your fault. The only blame belongs to the thief.

Thanks for the sympathy. Unfortunately insurance wasn't any help in this case. Our deductible is $1000 and the generators were worth $2000. We were ready to make a claim for the $1K when the insurance company informed us that our premium would go up by 20% for the next 5 years if we did! I guess there's more than one type of thief.

[Navigator]

quote:Originally posted by cmp-shooter

I secure mine to the tail gate with a plastic coated cable thru both gens and wrap to my 16k hitch with is got a lock on it; and while running on 30 amp parrell cables I park my p/u where I can see them run and also see if the red lite goes on over load. when we want to travel we can put both in my diamond plate tool box behind the cab.

Ours were secured through the handles of both the generators and the rear jacks with the same type cable you described. The cable was cut like it was made of rope instead of steel. We were asleep inside when they were taken and the dogs never made a sound.! In hindsight we should have brought them inside since we didn't have the truck to store them.

[RickW]

So sorry to hear for your loss but in todays world locks, chains and cables only keep honest thiefs away.

I was thinking of securing a pair of Hondas just as you did, but now I am not so sure. I will have to think of a better way to secure them or I will just have to take my chances.

[HamRad]

Jim and Kathy,

Sorry to hear of the stealing of the Hondas. Guess you could paint them yellow! Just kidding folks. Please don't flame me for a poor attempt at a bit of humor.

We always put ours out of site when we are away from the rig. We used to cable them down somewhat like you describe but after hearing how easily the cables are cut we stopped doing that. Now we put them inside the rig. I should say "it" since we only have one.

If and when I get another one or if I get a 3000 I'll build a platform on the rear of the rig and mount it or them there. It will be a steel cage apparatus. Saw a really nice and secure looking setup one time when fueling up. Of course the thief could still get into and steal the things but it would take a long time and would be very noisy. Most thieves will skip that and go to the next easiest looking setup.

The real thief here sounds like your insurance company. Like they get you money and then tell you when you make a claim that they will charge you more! That is simply wrong! It is wrong at every level! It is so wrong that I'd think it would be illegal.

I would make the claim and then look around for another insurance company. There has to be one out there that at least would not be so obvious! If the insurance companies are going to act like that then we should simply put away the amount of our premiums plus a little bit. Put it into a safe savings account and then just pay for whatever when the need comes up. Better we make the money than the insurance company.

Let us know what you end up doing differently to protect your investment.

Dennis and Mary Kay

[HughM]

Yes there is a better way to secure them. Go to Yahoo.com and look under groups and type in honda generators. There in that group you will find a diamond plate box for one or two honda that is much more theft resistant. Sorry about your loss but Hondas are very much in demand.
Hugh

[Trailer Trash 2]

OR you can go to a Harly Davison shop and get one of the Tietanium cables that are supose to be cut proof, if it can hold a Harley it should hold a Honda, here is a place that sell some serous lockable chains and cable.

http://www.pashnit.com/product/locks...hain.html#5021

They are a little pricey but its better than having to buy 2 new generators for 2 K.

[swanny]

about the only thing a thief doesn't like is to be noticed. even then they usually don't care if they see something they want. so i bought locking cables with a built in alarm. 120db. so if the cable is moved to much or cut the alarm sounds. will it work? hope i never know.

[jpbcny]

Locking them with cables won't do any good, if they want them they just cut through the plastic handle. If they're stealing them for resale, they only have to get a new plastic housing...

JP

[harleyrider]

Sorry to hear of your gennys being stolen.The generator in my sig. I secure it with a device called a "lock Alarm"It has a 15 foot cable on it.When its attached and if some low life trys to cut the cable a LOUD alarm sounds.And I meam lOUD.Its not fool prof,as said if they want it bad enough nothing you could do,short of putting a 24 hour guard on it will stop it from being stolen.But when this alram goes off it scares me.The alram is attached to the rear ladder.Also if they deceide to tamper with the device the alarm goes off as well.

[jwedell]

We camp a lot at the beaches and I always wory about anything being taken. I was thinking about putting them in the side storage compartment and putting alarms on all the front and side compartment doors. I have to look into it more but outside of putting everything in bed with us what else can you do. Good luck in your quest.

[Navigator]

Wow! THANKS!! I knew you all would come through with some good ideas!

Never knew about the Yahoo group for the Honda generators. That will come in handy for a lot of things.

The alarm sounds like an extra measure of protection. At least we wouldn't have slept through the theft!

[MuddyPaws]

My rule of thumb:

If they can SEE it, they can steal it.

Our generator gets locked up in the front cabinet whenever it's not in use. Out of sight and guarded by two rabid 'attack' Golden Retrievers.

[D and M On The Road]

Many, many years ago while working as the supervising Bicycle Officer at a university police department known world-wide as the "Bicyle Capital" of the world, I became in great demand as "theft prevention" specialist. I wrote a couple of booklets (and made a video) on bicycle safety and theft prevention back then that were used all over the world.

I learned that the most sure-proof way of keeping a bicycle safe, was to take it indoors when not using it. Now I said "most sure-proof". Nothing is 100% theft proof.

We had bolt cutters from 1-1/2' to 4' tall and could cut through any chain, cable or lock on the market in a matter of seconds. It was very easy to conceal any size bolt cutter in our coats. I attended many seminars where we demonstrated that to the amazement of everyone who attended.

The ever popular u-shaped Kryptonite locks back then that were touted as impossible to cut or break open were like putty in our hands with a trick we learned from a bicycle thief we arrested.

So you need to look and figure out what the weakest link is on what you are trying to keep secure. Is it the item itself? The chain or cable or the lock?

On a Honda or Kipor generator or any other generator built like them, the weakest link is the generator's handle where most folks run their chain or cable through. The handle is quite easy to cut so no matter how big and strong your cable, chain or lock is, the handle is the weak point. I think it was two years ago (maybe three) at Quartzite that 50+ generators (Hondas & Kipors) were stolen by cutting the handles.

Custom built cages and alarms might be somewhat expensive but cheaper than buying another generator. Definitely worth looking into. Figuring out a way to secure and vent it in your generator compartment with a beefed-up alarmed locking system is another way.

We have a built-in Onan generator in our Montana so don't have as many theft worries like someone who is using a smaller 1000 or 2000 Honda/Kipor generator.

Good luck to you and I hope you find a good, secure way to keep your generator safe.

[KTManiac]

Here is a set-up that I found in a thread on "some other" RV forum. >> Secure eu2000's It looks OK as long as there is someone around. It addresses the cut/break the handle of the genny method of stealing, but I think it still has a couple of weak points. If a thief had 2 minutes of alone time with a 5 pound mallet, cordless dremel tool, or portable plasma torch, he could have two free generators without breaking a sweat. It looks more formidable than a cable lock through the handle, so it might put a thief to looking around for easier prey.

As with all precautionary measures, if someone has enough time with nobody within earshot and wants them bad enough, they are gone no matter what you can come up with.

[garyka]

Sorry to hear about your generators.When you purchase new ones I would purchase a different Insurance Co.Could you post the name of the Ins.Co so we don't have the same Company?

[richfaa]

Our Kipor is secured , as we speak, just like yours was. When not at a location for a long time it is in the truck near the tailgate secured to the hitch.In both cases easy to make off with and not much we can do about that.Even out of sight will not help much as it is so easy to get into any compartment. When we asked our insurance guy about how to prevent thieft he said bottom line was to have a insurance policy that will cover the loss. Todays replacement cost for the generator (list) is over 1300.00. Our Rv is covered under our homeowners policy with a deductable of 250.00. In your case the gen was taken from under you nose..dogs and all. You would have had to be sitting on it and they would probably knocked you off anyhow. BTW..Look for another Insurance company.

[Trailer Trash 2]

Rich where in the world did you get 250 deductable? I HAD that amount a few years back and SF Insurance increesed it up to 500, my agent said they dont offer it any more. I've had them for years too (35). to be exact. every thing we own is insured by them. except for Good Sam ERS.