Part Three
By Ellen Wright, NetPosse.com 2012(c)
The purpose and mission of NetPosse is to help owners of stolen and missing horses and horse-related equipment locate and, hopefully, successfully retrieve their property. The fact that we have a predominately successful record is nothing short of incredible, and we could not do it without the tireless effort of many contributors and volunteers.
We would like to help prevent the need for our services in the first place. This depends almost solely on YOU, the individual horse owners.We have compiled this list of tips, suggestions, and just plain advice from law enforcement to help you reduce or eliminate the possibility of having a theft or loss of your equine family member or farm property/equipment.
Please feel free to copy and share with attribution. (For private use only.) If you feel this helps you, we would encourage a voluntary donation to help defray expenses at www.stolenhorseintenational.com.Thank you.
On The Road Again../or horses safe
We buy horse trailers (floats) for a reason-to move the horse from one place to another. Now that reason can vary-it can be for pleasure rides, competitions, breeding, or whatever-but we want the trip to happen without worrying about the trailer itself going missing. After all, those things are not cheap. From the lowliest stock trailer to the fanciest living quarter slant load, you can sink a lot of cash into them. Thieves love them, too. Why? Because they are easy to steal and easy to sell. (And, let's face facts, they are extremely easy to strip down as scrap metal. Law enforcement has found nothing but the VIN number of at least one trailer at a scrap metal yard.)
So let's make this harder on them, shall we?
- Use wheel lock devices. Put them on between the wheels of the trailer.Try to find the ones that are hardened steel.
Remember-all the time that it takes you to put on/take off these "boots" is the same amount of time that a thief would have to take to steal your trailer-and they just are not inclined to work that hard. your trailer-how bad do you want to keep it?
- Never leave show tack unattended in your trailer. Those locks are for honest people. A thief can get in in less than 30 seconds. Pay somebody if you have to-trade off with somebody else to watch his or hers. Whatever you have to do, make sure somebody stays with your stuff. Taking a family member who doesn't "do" horses and having them posted at the trailer with a video game is cheap insurance. Don't forget your sign that your equipment is permanently marked--but don't rely on that to protect it either.
- You need to turn into a neat freak and keep everything under wraps.People do look in and they will note what you have. Temptation will get the best of them.
- Keep a record of the VIN numbers of both the vehicle and the trailer WITH YOU at all times. We have stories of people who have had both stolen when they stopped for lunch. Because they had this information with them, police were able to return the property to them within 24 hours. Where ARE the VIN numbers?
- Well, unless you're pulling a homemade trailer, you should have a number stamped into the metal of the tongue near the hitch. There may also be a copy of it on the metal plate that has the make and serial number on it.
Frequently, the VIN is also stamped into the metal up underneath the trailer and on the axles-but why go there if you don't have to! Most makers put the VIN on in at least three places. For anyone who should happen to have one old enough or a homemade one, you can create your own. Most DOT's recommend using the number associated with your tag number.
- Photograph the vehicles (towing truck & trailer)-inside and out. Keep a CD or thumb drive with you to document ownership along with registration papers.
- Know the distinctive marks/decals on the vehicles. For example: the author (to her knowledge) owns the only fire engine red Baron SL 2009 Brenderup in the country. It has been further personalized with various decals, safety reflective strips, and other items. A thief would be nuts to steal the thing.
- Park in well-lighted areas. Try to make it an area where there are people going and coming. This works to your advantage because someone who is tampering with your vehicle will stand out and is more likely to be noticed.
- For those with more traditional horse trailers, you will need to mark those trailers with a permanent system. There are engraving tools that will mark the metal -we suggest doing so in an inconspicuous place and with something like your phone number. (NOT your full social security number!) There are also stamping tools that can imprint letters or numerals into the steel. We do not recommend paint because it is too easy to simply paint over. Another great suggestion is to mark the roof-yes, the roof. Few thieves will look up there, for one thing, and police aircraft can easily spot it from the air.
Stay tuned for more Preventative Theft Therapy in future editions of NetPosse News!
