Tracking Devices, Air Tags, Tiles, etc

Looking into getting something to track valuable items (trailers, ATV, generators, fishhouses, boats, etc) to help find them if they grow legs.

Does anyone use these things?

From what I was reading anyone can download an app to find “orphaned trackers.” (Aka trackers that are not yours)

What’s preventing a thief with any common sense from doing that and removing the tracker? Or is it just a matter of hiding it REALLY well?

How close does the app get to finding a tracker you have on something? Yards? Feet? Inches?

Are there any that don’t make a sound/tone to find them?

I had the tile trackers for a couple years (until the last ones battery died) for my keys, never had to really need to use it in that time though I did use the tracker a few times to find where I left my phone (was a button on them that would make your phone jingle). As far as accuracy, to the best of my knowledge it would always put the location within the boundary of my house (when both the keys and I were in the house), so not terrible. Last tile died probably about 4 years ago so maybe they have improved on that as well.

If they made them so you can’t find them isn’t that kind of counter intuitive?

The issue with using Airtags to track stolen items is they specifically designed them so you can’t maliciously track somebody. At least someone using an iPhone… they will alert the iPhone user that an unknown airtag has been following them for a certain period of time and I believe the person being followed can then turn the chime on so they can find the tag. The great thing about airtags is the popularity of the iPhone and the number of users being used to help track.

Maybe give them a covid vaccine and ask the government to track it for you. We have a JLG lift that has a gps tracker, but I think it came from the factory. Worked well when a truck, trailer, and the lift were stolen from our old shop in Minneapolis. I know united rental has trackers on each lift they rent out. Maybe check with to see what they use.

There are some high quality locks for your trailers out there. Might be your best defense. I’ve been meaning to buy one for my boat for about a year now. It’s only really worth it for those trailers that have some value to you.

http://www.provenlocks.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA_c-OBhDFARIsAIFg3ewrbfWqT7iMGL35sts6eIO2j7gY9BVDVh7Xt1RnT3dblUuVgw5vHYEaAuhwEALw_wcB

Many of the cheap ones out there by Reese, Master, etc… are complete garbage and can be removed with a hammer. The one above takes some serious tools and skill to remove.

The problem with these devices is it only protects from the first time thief who is usually caught days later. The people who steal for a living are using electronic jamming devices to prevent these devices from working. I know every time something is stolen from us we just wish we could find it but usually does not work that way. A good lock is your best protection from the weekend warrior thieves. They are lazy to start with anything that takes more effort deters them.

A combination of a coupler lock and a wheel lock From the site I posted above would still be less than most peoples deductibles. Something to keep in mind.

A real GPS anti-theft tracker has a couple of advantages. First, you’re going to have way more warning that the object is being stolen because you can set up the device to go off if the protected item moves at all. So the big advantage is you can notify the cops within minutes instead of discovering your wheelhouse has been stolen hours or days after the theft took place.

Most thieves with large items like wheelhouses, trailers, etc are going to try to get the item off the road and hidden quickly before the owner even knows it was stolen. A gps tracker is going to allow you at least a chance at recovery.

Locks, yes, make it as difficult as possible. With that said, I can’t see any locking device that could withstand more than a minute or two against a cordless angle grinder/cutoff disc, so everything has its limits and the more layers of protection you have…

Just to add another thought on Grouses comment on locks. Most locks are cut off very quickly.

If you have a lock or a cover device that prevents access to cutting the lock, pro- thieves just use an impact wrench and take the coupler nut off the hitch and insert one and spin the nut back on.

Insane how proficient thieves are. Ironically, most work very smart.

As for gps tracking devices, we run a few. I have nothing positive to say about them so far. Either failed or thieve discarded them fast

I’m not a big believer in any sort of coupler or receiver locks holding up for long. Tracking devices are a good concept, but their reliability is mixed at best and the thought of adding them to everything of value is overwhelming. I think where you keep things is far more crucial to keeping thieves away from them. It’s absurd the number of people who will spend thousands of dollars on boats, rvs, utvs, gear, etc. and not factor secure storage into their purchase decision.

I feel for those of you who live in places where this is an issue. I say it regularly, but you could not pay me enough to live in the city, suburbs, or areas where anyone has a right to be near our property without permission or can even see what we have to steal.

buckybadger wrote:

I feel for those of you who live in places where this is an issue. I say it regularly, but you could not pay me enough to live in the city, suburbs, or areas where anyone has a right to be near our property without permission or can even see what we have to steal.

For me it’s not really about where I live, it’s mostly about where I don’t live. But like anywhere, there is theft in our metropolis of 2,000 people.

My main concern is I’ll leave my shack or boat or enclosed trailer somewhere, like at a campground, our land, my Dad’s cabin, etc at times. Locks and trust in humanity help, but neither are bulletproof.

As the old saying goes….”if a thief wants it….they are going to get.”

If something were to be stolen, I would just like to get it back is all.

About 10 years ago I had my Sled Bed stolen in a suburb of Trego. Dead end dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

If you think their isn’t theft by you Bucky, I’d do a little research.

Don’t feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for you being so naive. I highly doubt your local sheriff doesn’t have a story or 20 about theft to share with you.

About 10 years ago I had my Sled Bed stolen in a suburb of Trego. Dead end dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

If you think their isn’t theft by you Bucky, I’d do a little research.

Don’t feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for you being so naive.
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I couldn’t agree more. If you think your seclusion on P4 is untouchable you are kidding yourself.
I have had thieves going through a very small lake north of Aitken stopping at every dock and taking everything they could from everyone’s boats on a lift. Let’s just say they did it by boat and not vehicle on a boat ramp that has about a 4 mile drive down gravel road to get to.
Took a 5$ landing net and a couple life jackets out of one of my fishing boats.
Hate to break it to you but some people like to leave their compound and travel or fish other areas in the country.
Pretty sure this is what B-Man is referring to.
Hell I had my truck windows smashed in a town of 50 in Canada going in a fly in trip. You would think the OPP could track them down in a town of 50? Nope.

My house resides in a suburb. Never had anything stolen.

No help on the tracking devices B-man sorry.
I am sure I don’t have to tell you that good insurance goes along ways but tracking by the time you have track it mostly likely it is long gone or destroyed.

Thieves are the worst and most are super efficient in there profession.

Tiles work great for tracking stuff within the bluetooth range of your own phone. Press the find button on your phone and your tile chirps or press the tile button and your phone plays a song.

I keep one on my truck keys and my garmin gps tracker. Batteries are cheap and easily replaced on most Tile devices. Newer tiles have a longer range and louder chirp. Tiles can also be tracked to the last location your phone picked up on or even tracked on their Tile network of subscriptions.

The Apple airtag works by similar process. It runs off a bluetooth network (everyone else). Small and easily hidden. I suppose it would work as a tracking device. Airtags don’t have the audible chirp … just a location showing up on your phone.

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You missed my point and I’m not surprised. Sure there are theives near me (I’d still argue considerably fewer than more populated areas). Me and my stuff aren’t the lowest hanging fruit due to where we choose to store it and live. The thefts we deal with in the area are from those who leave gear in unlocked boats on weekends in the marina, side by sides in their unlocked garages with keys in them 100 yards off the road, unlocked flat bottoms sitting on trailers pointing towards an alley, job trailers parked along the road with a $10 lock etc.

People need to think more about where they’re going to securely store their things before making purchases. Don’t leave stuff where other people have access to it even if you use cute locks or tile trackers. For every thief there is a young dumb thrill seeking vandal who will get more joy damaging your stuff (and probably posting videos of it on social media) than they would actually stealing it.

Brittman wrote:

Airtags don’t have the audible chirp

Yes they do

buckybadger wrote:

You missed my point and I’m not surprised. Sure there are theives near me (I’d still argue considerably fewer than more populated areas). Me and my stuff aren’t the lowest hanging fruit due to where we choose to store it and live. The thefts we deal with in the area are from those who leave gear in unlocked boats on weekends in the marina, side by sides in their unlocked garages with keys in them 100 yards off the road, unlocked flat bottoms sitting on trailers pointing towards an alley, job trailers parked along the road with a $10 lock etc.

People need to think more about where they’re going to securely store their things before making purchases. Don’t leave stuff where other people have access to it even if you use cute locks or tile trackers. For every thief there is a young dumb thrill seeking vandal who will get more joy damaging your stuff (and probably posting videos of it on social media) than they would actually stealing it.

I think you missed my point actually.

I travel outside my “secure storage,” and will never stop doing so. Yes I know it’s a risk, but I’m not going to hide at home with all of my stuff because there are pieces of $hit in the world.

Have you ever stayed at a campground, a marina, a hotel, a buddy’s place, a resort?

Did they all have a big pole shed a half mile from the road with razor wire and an armed security guard outside for you?

Just gonna chime in with this inconsequential tidbit:

I live basically in the middle of three major TC arteries and have lots of toys sitting out in easy view — and have for many years — and have never had anything stolen. They all have no more than a measly tongue lock on them.

Excuse me while I knock on wood.

But yea I can see travel being the bigger the more worrisome scenario. I’ve worried about my flatbed up at red when I’ve had to park it separate from the truck for space reasons(you know how busy it can be up there early ice with a big, varied crowd…).

I suppose the best option is just a good high quality tongue lock? Like the one posted above by Matt? I’ll do a little more research and probably invest in a couple better ones for the future.

Good topic, B. I’m still open to any more suggestions tho

Ps: how many of you have actually had somebody break/remove one of your run of the mill tongue locks? Specifically these two styles:

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LabDaddy1 wrote:

Ps: how many of you have actually had somebody break/remove one of your run of the mill tongue locks? Specifically these two styles:

If you add a hardened chain to lock the wheel to the axle, the two locks combined are going to make a trailer as safe as it’s possible to make it. Especially when you consider a lot of “target-rich environments” are always going to give the perps a much easier option than a trailer with 2 locks on it. It’s all about making your own trailer the least attractive option.

Rag on the ‘burbs all you want, but there is something to be said for having neighbors that know to call the cops if someone other than myself is messing with my boat.

Makes sense, grouse. Thanks

Reading through this, something struck me… some people blaming the guy who works hard, bought his toy, but failed to think ahead of how he was going to secure such toy… not just park it in the driveway with-a mere Schlage on it…Maybe we can start cutting the thieves hands off, instead of them cutting your locks off would be a more appropriate behavior change. (Not advocating this, just pointing out addressing the innocent victims actions rather then the root cause, the thief’s)