Preventing Theft: Ideas from anglers, for anglers

[federline]

With ice season coming, it probably good we are are raising our awareness of theft. What about ways to ward theft off? I know there are always those theives that would steal your stuff even if it was in Fort Knox, but 98% of thieves look for easy targets.

I've had a fish house ransacked, and know people who've had gear stolen from their rigs when they were gone only 5 minutes.

Here some of my ideas and practices, start adding onto the list:

lock the truck

trailer ball latch padlock

receiver hitch pinlock

put trailer light adapter away in safe place when parking rig (sucks not having trailer lights on the way home!)

never leave gear in open boat on trailer when stopping somehwere - keep it in the truck locked up

transport boat with cover on, contents and interior out of sight when you stop

never leave gear in visible sight in truck cab or bed

For those with toppers or tonneau covers: Locking tailgate

another one, for certain lake accesses: empty truck of valuables before leaving home, leave truck unlocked with window down (prevents window smashing by smash-n-grabbers)

don't store expensive gear in fish house on lake

open curtains on fish house windows so theives can see there's nothing of value inside

leave fish house door unlocked when away (prevents door damage)

bring all "toilet facilities" with you so your gear isn't left unattended while you go to shore

bring a friend fishing, take turns watching gear when the other is away

Most of all, realize that along with gear comes the risk it will be stolen. Unattended trailers in lake access parking lots, unattended trucks, too. Unattended fish houses, boats... if you are standing next to easy pickings, it probably won't be stolen. It's all the times that you aren't there we have to worry about.

[Aquaman01]

Very good advice! Thanks!

-Don't plaster your truck with outdoor gear stickers. They advertise what might be inside.

-Hang your W4 in the window; the theives might actually LEAVE you some stuff

-Park next to a really nice truck; they may not have time to do ya both and will pick the richer looking rig first.