Keeping Tractor Secure In Bad Areas

The store that I delivered to was broken into last night and I was parked out back in an alley. Not exactly one of the safest places. The police woke me up to ask me questions. What are some ways that you keep yourself and your tractor safe in bad areas?

And I only have a regular padlock, so I don't bother putting that on a trailer. I feel like criminals will think it's more worth it to break into a trailer if they see a lock and they'll come back with stuff to break it if they don't have the tools already. If I put on a puck lock and/or a cargo door lock to make a trailer more secure, I feel like that would make my tractor more of a target.

What are some ways that you keep yourself and your tractor safe in bad areas?

You can back your trailer up to a building or even the back of another truck. That way you physically block the doors from being able to be opened.

If I put on a puck lock and/or a cargo door lock to make a trailer more secure, I feel like that would make my tractor more of a target.

I can't even understand this thought process. It seems convoluted.

I would hate to be you trying to explain that logic to the folks who just had their goods stolen. Or what about explaining that to your employer who has a theft claim affecting their already expensive insurance rates?

"Wait a minute driver. You didn't even try to protect the freight in your trailer?"

"No sir, that only makes it more likely for the crooks to go gather up some tools and break in. Don't you see how well I thought this through? I was protecting my cargo by leaving the doors unlocked. That way those smart guys stealing this stuff know there's nothing worth having in my trailer."

Not locking your doors as a way to protect against cargo theft is a serious offense at most trucking companies. Why don't you have a good lock?

And I only have a regular padlock, so I don't bother putting that on a trailer. I feel like criminals will think it's more worth it to break into a trailer if they see a lock and they'll come back with stuff to break it if they don't have the tools already. If I put on a puck lock and/or a cargo door lock to make a trailer more secure, I feel like that would make my tractor more of a target.

My observation is that most companies WANT the trailer to be locked up. My company issues each driver one of those reallly good stainless steel padlocks. I don’t know how difficult they are to cut with a die grinder, but they are way better than nothing.

If a load was broken into, I think the first question law enforcement, the company and the insurance company would ask the driver is: “We’re the doors padlocked?” And if not, Why?

The physiological aspect of weather the locked trailer is more enticing to thieves is of no concern to the driver.

There are other things that can be done. Back the trailer up end to end with another trailer or against a light pole so the doors can’t be opened, but then it can be a hassle to find a parking place, and parking can be hard enough as it is.

I worry about my own personal safety more than the trailer’s security. The company has insurance but I only have one life. Common sense is your best security,

Old School, sorry that my comment overlapped on yours, I was typing mine before I saw yours.

But it does raise a question in my mind: What about flatbed loads? Have you ever had anything stolen off one of your loads?

What about flatbed loads? Have you ever had anything stolen off one of your loads?

No, but when hauling high value loads we will sometimes Convoy with other drivers. We park together and always have one driver in a truck on watch.

Most cargo hauled on flatbeds are not quickly removed and most theives are looking for fast and easy grab and go.

PJ is right. Our cargo is secured and usually under tarps. It takes work and usually needs equipment to get it off the truck.

I seldom have a single piece weighing less than 1,000 pounds on my trailer. A couple of Crack heads would have a bad day trying to tote that to the pawn shop.

On the other end of this, I padlock my trailer when empty. This way I know nobody was in my trailer while I was asleep or away from the truck. It's especially helpful when the trailer I'm pulling has stubborn doors that don't want to easily close. Now I know the trailer is as I left it and don't have to fight the doors again before taking off.

What are some ways that you keep yourself and your tractor safe in bad areas?

In all seriousness, I think the best way to protect yourself is to avoid sleeping in bad areas if you can help it. If I had a delivery in a bad area, I would get as close as I safely could, usually 15 - 60 miles out, and then complete the final stage of the trip in the morning. Obviously traffic is a concern, so you get in there before traffic hits.

My theory was that thieves are more likely to steal in the early or middle part of the night, not as much past 5:00 a.m. so I figured by 5:00 a.m. I was probably safe to go to the delivery.

I asked BART (Google's AI bot) about what times are safest and most dangerous for theft, and here is what it said:

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the risk of theft at different times of night:

1:00 AM to 3:00 AM: This is the highest-risk time for theft, as most people are asleep and there is less traffic on the roads.

3:00 AM to 5:00 AM: The risk of theft starts to decrease during these hours, as more people begin to wake up and there is more traffic on the roads.

5:00 AM to 7:00 AM: The risk of theft is still relatively low during these hours, but it starts to increase again as more people leave for work or school.

7:00 AM to 9:00 AM: The risk of theft is at its lowest during these hours, as most people are at work or school and there is more traffic on the roads.

9:00 AM to 11:00 PM: The risk of theft starts to increase again during these hours, as people start to return home from work or school.

11:00 PM to 1:00 AM: The risk of theft is at its highest during these hours, as most people are asleep and there is less traffic on the roads.

You can see that, "5:00 AM to 7:00 AM: The risk of theft is still relatively low during these hours"

That's what I counted on. I would wait until like 5:00 a.m. to go into dangerous areas. That's just my opinion, so do your own diligence and decide what you think is best.