Just had a guy pull into my driveway, get out of his no license silver SUV (he was the passenger) with a pair of binoculars trying to see my 185. I confronted him and he said he was an aviation enthusiast looking for airplanes he could see from the road. Wanted to know if I'd give him my N number. Told him no, sent him on his way and called the Troopers. Spread the word that there are people on the Kenai Peninsula scouting airplanes to steal.

I wonder what the N-number would achieve? Maybe your name and address plus year and S/N of plane if that's critical to theft - like key type and cut maybe? Strip the panel gear and get on Craigs ASAP.

For example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-Aircraf ... 0530590829

Last time someone showed up here eyeballing the home and asking for Joe I took the camera I keep by the door and took a pic. Zoom gone.

Gary

I think more likely the guy is looking for a specific aircraft, like high-end car thieves do. Get an N-Number and you can order aircraft records (including STCs) from the FAA. But I'm just guessing. Trooper confirmed, based on what I explained happened, that the guy was scouting (or shopping if you will).

Just guessing as well, but to what end? Where would they take a whole plane - wilds of Canada? Without repainting (takes an air strip & hangar or highway and nearby strip shop) they'd not make much distance in US land, but only if sought by Authorities. Unmonitored airports with fuel exist.

Disassembled it could be containerized and shipped world-wide I suppose. Parts can be sold but S/Ns would give it away except for small components. F/S lists can be monitored but offshore who knows.

Unless they're organized and funded it may have been a "hold my drugs and watch this...".

Gary

Possible but I doubt it.
We get bus loads of people all summer stoping in Merrill field wanting to take photos of airplanes, but mainly write down the N number on their pad. They run all over like geriatric drug addics looking for their next N number to jot down in their notebook. Doesn’t matter if it’s a green goblin 185 or some pos they want it’s N number and SN for their notepad.

"N number and SN for their notepad"

And in today's infonet comes lots of personal data about the plane and owner. Some's free and some is for sale. If you want that bar of soap bend over.

The OP noted no-license vehicle up private drive. Not a buss load of JA's on tour.

Gary

PA1195 wrote:I wonder what the N-number would achieve? Maybe your name and address plus year and S/N of plane if that's critical to theft - like key type and cut maybe? Strip the panel gear and get on Craigs ASAP.

For example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-Aircraf ... 0530590829

Last time someone showed up here eyeballing the home and asking for Joe I took the camera I keep by the door and took a pic. Zoom gone.

Gary

Pretty sure N-number and serial number isn't going to get you a key type and cut on a 60 year old airplane...LOL

How long is your driveway? Can you gate it?

Zzz wrote:How long is your driveway? Can you gate it?

Probably 200'. And yes I'm going to gate it. The red road cone has stopped vehicles, but apparently not people. The gate won't either but will make more of the "you don't belong past hear statement". Can't do a dog cause I'm right on the highway and the property including both runways is 39 acres.

I've always been the person who first assumes the best in people until proven otherwise, even hoopleheads. It sucks that I'm now having to assume the worse until proven otherwise.

And I think I'll take Gary's advice (posted elsewhere) and set up some game cameras. No telling how much of this goes on when I'm not around.

Wouldn't it be neat to boobie trap the plane with some canisters of Bear repellant. I got bit by a dog yesterday and would love to pay that dog back with the most potent version.

pepperpower.com

Honestly it's why you carry insurance and hope you don't run into them in the middle of stealing your plane. Well, that's what you do in Canada. Over here if you beat up, shoot, set a trap for a thief - you get charged. Criminals have all the rights.

Read Post #12 - http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthrea ... production

Better system? - https://www.cessnawindowlock.com Roll the door handles shut then lock the window.

Gary

Pretty sure N-number and serial number isn't going to get you a key type and cut on a 60 year old airplane...LOL

Don't need serial no, or N no. to get a key for a 60 year old airplane. Back about 1980 a mechanic showed me his "key ring", at that time piper used 6 keys, Beechcraft used 8, and Cessna had 12. He had a complete set so he could open any plane he had to work on. FWIW, I rekeyed my door to use a different key blank than the original.

Get one of these:

https://amzn.to/2M4kUu5

You'll get text with images and have a high resolution record every time it is activated.

Interesting, thanks. I did just pick up some Trail Cams yesterday, didn't know there were transmitter types available. I'll see how these work and consider upgrading if the detail at night especially is good enough (I've never used trail cams before).

You don't need a whole pocket full of keys. When I was instructing and SE 135 flying in Laramie back in the late 70s early 80s, I had 3 keys that would fit all 40 some aircraft on the field, sometimes with just a little jiggling but usually just like they were made for them. The only exception was a King Air, because Beech actually put more than a $1.98 lock on it.

Cary

My experience with game cams has been through others that use them for Spring bear hunting and have invited me along as bait. Any movement day or night will trigger a pic so keep them pointed at stable vegetation and away from windy spots. Try a few pics at various distances to determine detail resolution and field of view. If on a trail locate them so they get incoming or outgoing movement and not just a brief 90* hit.

I was amazed at how many ravens like to fuss with stuff, and how a Grizzly can tear a 55 gallon drum with a heavy chain looped through the metal from the anchor tree. Motivated like crooks I assume.

Gary

This is not spoke of here, largely because there is a whole lot more to enjoy about these locale's than the crime rate, but Alaska leads the nation in property theft followed by, you guessed it, New Mexico. It says a lot about the American drug culture as most of the activity is related to that. It's one reason I have been on the fence about the airstrip in NM in that I wouldn't have a way to secure the aircraft in our absence.

Could one add a hidden kill switch off the ignition that must be engaged before the plane would start as added protection?

I don't think that there's an absolute guaranteed way to stop a determined thief. Airplanes disappear off of tie downs, sure, but also out of locked hangars. If it's locked and the one next to it is unlocked, that'll help. A heavy chain around the prop that unbalances it will likely stop the whole airplane from being stolen, as will a sturdy throttle lock, but that won't stop an avionics thief--and all of our airplanes are notoriously easy to enter, with or without keys, so that with a couple of simple tools, a whole stack can disappear in minutes. Although I habitually lock my airplane, even in my hangar, and I add the throttle lock whenever I must tie it down somewhere, I've always felt that ultimately that's part of why I buy insurance.

Cary