Ducati Monster Forum

I was at my farm today when I got the dreaded voice mail message. The manager of the rental storage units where I keep some of my bikes called and said to please call her immediately, it was urgent. Oh s#@t!!! You can imagine what was going through my mind. When I finally got through to her it was what I thought. My unit had been burglarized along with others and they wanted to know what might be missing. I had five bikes in there. The 916SPS, 996S, S2R1000, Back in Black Sports 1000 and my Hayabusa. From their screwed up description of the crime scene it sounded like the 996S was gone but the others were still there.

You can imagine the foul language that flowed from my mouth during the two and a half hour drive home! When I got there I could not believe my eyes!! All my bikes were still there!! They had not bothered cutting my two high dollar disc locks on the roll up door, they went for the sliding latch they were locked to instead. Apparently that's no problem, that's not encouraging. :P They found the Mother Lode in my unit but they were soon discovered by a fellow renter going to his unit about 8:00pm last night. He saw they were up to no good and hit them with his high beams and honked liked crazy. They went flying over the fence and were gone. Good work dude!! [thumbsup]

Well, sort of. They wanted my bikes so bad they went down the street and stole a huge rental box van from the Public Storage units. They cut their fence and broke into the truck, busted the steering column, hot wired it and drove it down the street and crashed through the gate of my storage complex and parked it in front of my unit. What balls!! They were busted and run off by the honking good Samaritan but they came back a second time for my bikes just an hour later!!

I have all my bikes locked with HUGE On Guard locking cables through the front and rear wheels of every bike. I also have every bike locked the same way to every other bike. They are all linked together and all their wheels are solidly locked. You can't just take one. Try moving five 500+ lb bikes all locked together with wheels that don't turn. Good luck!

They tried to cut the monster cables but had no luck. They had the truck with the door up and the ramp down on the ground but they could not cut any of my bikes free. Even if they had it would have been a giant pain in the ass to drag any of my bikes (with both wheels still securely cabled) out of the unit and up the ramp and into the van. I might have even paid money to sit back and watch that comedy of errors. Of course that would be right before I shot them in the ass with buckshot!! Bastards.

The point of this little tail is you had better re-think your bike securing techniques. That is what saved my ass pure and simple. Having worked for State District Criminal Court judges for years and having dealt with literally tens of thousands of felony defendants you start to think like one when it comes to personal defense and crime prevention. My bike lock down method kept my bikes from being stolen. I will invest in even more of those locking cables to make it even harder in case there is ever a next time.

My bikes are secured in my home garage exactly as they are in the remote storage unit. I can't tell you how many people I know that do not lock up their bikes just because they think they are "safe in my garage". You are wrong. BAD WRONG. I know way too many folks who have had their bikes stolen out of their garage, some even while they were home! Park your car outside with the garage door remote in it? Oops! Your mistake, big time. Have your electric garage door "emergency release" cord still attached and hanging down inside your garage? Want me to show you how fast I can break into your garage from the outside with a straightened coat hanger "fishing" for that cord through the upper door crack. You wouldn't like the results. Take the freaking cord off right now!!!! Oh, and lock up your bikes. It's a fact, they are not "safe in your garage".

Good luck out there people. 

Man, what an incredibly bad story.  I'm glad the swine weren't able to get anything of yours; hopefully they'll get caught  [leo]

And I think I'll look into a better way to keep our bikes safe at home; thanks for the "wake-up call."  Sorry you had to go through this tho just for the FHE...

Holy smokes!  Amazing story Brian!!!  I'm glad to hear that it had a happy ending (so to speak) - all bikes accounted for, and no damage to them.  Any idea what ran them off finally?  Just frustration over not being able to move any of the bikes?  Another good samaratan?  Or just finally wised up and went on looking for an easier score?  Regardless, I'm really suprised they didn't take out their frustrations by kicking over a couple of the bikes when they finally had decided their attemps would be fruitless.  Or maybe they want to keep them in good condition and intend to come back someday?  I hope you're considering moving them, or seeking some additional security system?  At the very least - move to an alternate unit so they'll be harder for the same mornons to find.  You know, if they're not in jail, they'll probably come back with the right tools for the job.

Kudo's to the good samaratn who spooked them off the first time.

Wow... just wow...

Rottweilers. Lots of them.  Only feed them once per week.  Make them nice and hungry for the bastards  [thumbsup]

 :-X Thanks for tip about the Garage door emergency release cord - since I have no windows I thought I was safe <fail> !

Thanks Fastwin for sharing your tale of almost woe !  [thumbsup]

That's been done. They are moved. I told the management they had a choice: either let me move the bikes right now to another unit or I'm spending the night in my unit with Claymores and a M249 SAW machine gun in wait. They went for the move to another unit. Guess they didn't want to clean up the mess I would have left behind. [evil]

We have no idea what made them leave for good the second time. No one knows. No good Samaritan #2 has come forward if there was one. We think they just grew tired and impatient of trying to cut free the Hayabusa (which was closest to the roll up door and the one they took the bike cover off of). Maybe they left to go and steal a welding truck so they could come back a third time and burn the locking cables off? [bang]

One thing is for sure, the complex has security cameras but they didn't do s#@t. They are at roof top level so all the thieves did was tilt the one aimed at my unit skyward so there is no video evidence of anything except the full moon and shooting stars. :P

Good Samaritans [thumbsup]

Good info Brian, thanks.  Mine probably are not safe where I keep them (secret).  I'll beef up security.

Do it! You won't be sorry. [thumbsup] Spend all you can afford on cables, locks, alarms, Lo-jack, etc. Oh yeah, and theft insurance. Just doesn't pay to have anything nice... some a##hole will try and take it.


EDIT: Just ordered four more Rottweiler OnGuard cable locks. When too many is just enough!!! Since I couldn't get all the real dogs I would like I'm settling on the locking cables named after them that saved my bacon. [bacon] [thumbsup] Still, that SAW in ambush thing sounds mighty appealing... just saying. [evil]

what a fuc*$%g shame these people.  I hope they get caught and put behind bars.  I'm going to check into lo-jack for all three of my ponies now.  I already had cut the cord on the garage door but dumb me left the remote in the truck.....task completed.
thankfully your babies are safe.  if you need help moving them again let me know, have trailer.

did they take anything, or is it too early to tell?  Brian, glad all the bikes were there?

(http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a91/iarann/Cats/Security_Cat.jpg)

Unfortunately, Dallas Police Department's crime scene expert left a little to be desired. :P With his "help" I am sure the bad guys have little to fear. When he dusted the 'busa for prints all he did was grumble and when I asked if he was going to print me so he could tell the difference from the owner's prints vs the thieves he said "naw". ???? WTF???? Ahhh, I think my 12 year old could have figured that one out! When I asked him about the rental Public Storage box van he said that since it's rented that there would be too many prints. Hmmm, do most of the renter's break into the truck, bust open the steering column and hot wire it? Oh yeah, wouldn't there be prints on the rolled up door and ramp? Guess that's why not many home burglaries get solved in Dallas? No offense to my friends who work the street for DPD. [thumbsup] [leo] But the CSI staff isn't helping. [bang]

Crap!  Glad to hear they were unsuccessful, but still awful. 

No, all is good. Everything accounted for. They didn't even touch my well endowed ( [laugh]) tool box. Amazing! They put my air compressor in the van but left with out it. The storage unit manager put it back in my unit and was smart enough to wear gloves and not grip the carry handle. Don't know if the crime scene guy even looked at it. I was disgusted and left after he dusted the 'busa.

Nothing like you see on TV.

Well tell Jen its time to move into a warehome!!  [thumbsup]   

That's good, at least.

Sucks that this happened.... It will get us all to thinking about security devices.

That's the point. All good for me but the reason for the post is a wake up call to all. At home, parked outside at work, at the mall (a friend had his R1 stolen from Valley View Mall on a Saturday in mid afternoon and he was in the mall maybe 15 minutes!), anywhere... ain't nothing safe anywhere! Lock it, keep it! The more the hassle to steal it the more likely it will still be there. Basic stuff.

 :-[ I have a kryptonite disk lock I paid $75.00 for I've never, ever, used !  [bang]

You might want to re-think that program. I'd also go for the pack of Rottweilers and the Squad Automatic Weapon... just my two cents.

when you said the 916SPS was there my stomach turned.  Glad it turn out alright but I would move to a different storage facility not just a different unit.  

BTW, I can store some of your bikes more securely for a small charge that is.  Like leaving the keys.  Piece of mind and all you know.  Priceless.
 ;D
cdc

Brian, you are so very right my friend. I, as some of you may know, was burglarized during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The robbery took place in broad daylight by people who had cased out the neighborhood for days. In fact they hit 9 houses with a new total of 10 being broken into. They were after computers, guns and HDTV's in all instances. The simple fact is that my keys to my ST4s were sitting on the counter top that they rummaged through. These guys didn't bother to get the real expensive stuff. Theives are stupid but crafty. I have started locking up my bike in the garage at night and all the time I'm not at home now. All said and done the only thing you can do is to lock up everything because there is no justice for criminals because breaking and entering is just a bother to the police departments now. All you have as a recourse is to file your claim (call me) and hope you get enough to replace at least some of the stuff. They will not pay you what it cost to replace anything. All around looser is you and your family.

For over 30 years I have had a "snake". I am not sure even if they still make these monstrous link contraptions with a cobra head at the end. It's called "The Cobra" and it locks with a hardened steel flat top 'coke machine' type locking mechanism. When these came out they were wicked expensive back in the '70's at $150 but it has never been broken and still works to this day. If you want peace of mind try to find one. Just remember to keep the key where you know where it is at all times because if it's ever lost you'll have to cut it off whatever it's locked too.

Don't be so foolish to think you're safe wherever you live. Even moreso if you live in an affluent neighborhood. Belive me thieves know where you live and what you have.

Thanks Brian for the headsup

Doesn't surprise me that someone hasn't suggested the "store it my place but leave the keys" thing before. [laugh] Glad to see you are at the pointed end of the spear regarding that mind set! ;D

Dang Brian, what an experience! Any idea what brought them to your unit? How did they know they were there?

Thanks for the security tips. I've been lax about my setup and sometimes even leave the keys in the ignition.  [bang] No more of that!

I'll have to start shopping around for some better deterrents as well.

well since you mentioned it, I live alone and can re-arrange furniture to accommodate "certain" bikes  ;D
the house will be a toasty 77 degrees.  you can start bringing them over tomorrow anytime.  [thumbsup]

Hey, I have several Cobra link locking cables from that era. They are actually pretty damn good to this day. I have stuff in my farm's barn locked up with them at this very moment. I think the Rottweiler OnGuard cables are close to the old Cobra links... maybe better. They were expensive but they did their job and it was worth it. Too bad we have to think this way. Oh how I would love to catch somebody stealing my s#@t!!! I'll leave it at that... no incriminating evidence here. [evil]

ok just went to LoJack site and no Ducati installers for this system.........WTF?

Well you know Brian, as they say, hope springs eternal. I have room for the SPS, B in B and just to show I'm not a Ducati snob, the SP1. 

http://bellissimoto.com/electronics.html (http://bellissimoto.com/electronics.html)

Sorry to hear about the attempted theft.  At least the only hassle you have is dealing with the dusting of the busa, instead of dealing with a stable of bikes missing.

Scary stuff Brian. Most of us are probably fortunate not to see this ugly side of humanity. It's incredible the effort these guys will go to. Thanks for the reminder, just glad your stuff is safe.

What is a good source for the badass cables and locks you used to defeat the evil doers? Any good websites or local store? I really need to purchase some security aids.

http://www.jonesbigasstruckrentalandstorage.com/ (http://www.jonesbigasstruckrentalandstorage.com/)

Glad nothing was vandalized! Sometimes if they can't have it they make sure no one can.

wow....looks like they won't be starting a CSI: Dallas series anytime soon huh?  really sorry to hear about all this crap, man...  sounds like quite a f'ing ordeal.  i'm happy to hear that you're head didn't explode with sheer rage when you got to the scene...i think mine might have.  glad to hear those beefy chains did the job for you, man!  i know we would all be sick to our stomachs reading this if it had turned out differently!!  i'm pretty sure most of us would be in tears.  this really makes me paranoid now...mine is outside and my chain is sub-moto chain...just the beefiest that home deopt had    :-\   i keep going back and forth about getting something like onguard chain, but i would need roughly 8 feet, since the fence i chain it to is a ways away   :(

hmmm...you've really got me thinking about security.  i think i either need to add more chain, or buy something higher caliber.  do they even make 8 feet moto chains?

thanks for the security wake-up, man.... you should post this in the main section, too.

I think AMS is getting (or has already gotten) to be a certified install shop for Lo-Jack.

I know for a fact that Action Kawasaki-Suzuki on I-30 (at the Motley exit) in Mesquite is a Lo-Jack dealer and installer. I am sure the guys could handle putting one on any kind of bike. Heck, they even make them for lap tops!! Top notch stuff. [thumbsup]

I get my OnGuard Rottweiler locking cables through Chaparral Motorsports. I've been ordering all kinds of stuff through them for years, well before on line ordering caught on. I've seen some at Al Lambs Honda but the selection at scooter shops is usually weak. One of the 25mm thick Rottweiler cables is 5 feet long, another is 4 feet (my favorite!) and they also have a badass 30mm 3 foot long model. Rich, maybe you could use two of them together to get the needed length, like two 4 foot cables snapped together?? It would beat a wimpy Home Depot cable. [thumbsup]

I am also glad the morons didn't tear anything up. Just some smudges on the 'busa but no real usable prints for the crime scene guy. But who am I fooling, they have better things to do than mess with storage unit break ins where nothing was stolen. :P Expect the box truck but even that was recovered. Sad to think but I am sure the same guys were at it again last night at some other facility probably having better luck and some poor SOB will be getting the same call I got yesterday. There is a reason why Dallas County has seventeen State District felony courts and they are all back logged. That's with just the folks they catch! [bang]

Hey Brian, im so glad they didnt end up taking any bikes!!!! Im sorry that happen, I really hate thief's!

Hey Brian- +1 on all the good wishes, although I think a WareHome may be you best solution [thumbsup] ;D

I have a coupla things someone might be interested in-

a heavy-duty disc lock with a piercing siren

& a DP security alarm system with remote that fits the 1098/848. May fit others, dunno...

Shit Brian this is some scary stuff, I'm glad to hear nothing was taken or damaged.

I have too say how surprised I was about the level of interest in security there was when I was buying my bike.

AMS do not (or did not at the time) even stock decent locks.  I asked about it when I  went in to buy her and was told they'd try and get one but when I picked her up they had forgotten about it.  Fortunately I new what lock I wanted, AMS did phone Moto Liberty who had one and I had to get straight over there before they shut, there was no way I was leaving my brand new bike unlocked.

Dealers in the UK stock decent locks and encourage you to buy and use them,

I got this one and use it every time I leave her at home, locked to a big 8" gas pipe, I also have a disk lock for when I'm out but I have become a little lazy about using it.

https://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?cid=1000&scid=1002&pid=1169 (https://www.kryptonitelock.com/products/ProductDetail.aspx?cid=1000&scid=1002&pid=1169)

 

+1  [thumbsup]

Attaboy Andy!!

I sometimes wonder if the shop that sells you the bike doesn't care if it gets stolen because after the insurance claim is paid you'll come back and buy another one. :P OK, being a little facetious there, but I too am shocked at the lack of locking hardware at most shops and you are right, AMS has nothing. I do know that Action Kawi/Suzook promotes their Lo-Jack service when you buy and they actually have a better that normal selection of OnGuard chains and disc locks.

That's about all you can do Andy. The disc lock prevents the opportunistic "roll off" thieves (like the ones that snatched Keith's 1098 up in McKinney last year... they didn't get far!) and cabling or chaining it to something unmovable helps with the thefts where they pick it up and throw it in a truck. Can't ever defeat those that have carefully cased it and come back prepared. That's where insurance kicks in. Like they say, locks just keep the honest people honest.

I just updated my insurance with better coverage and changed my deductible. Dodging one bullet is plenty for me!

HAHA!!! I'm totally getting that shirt!  [laugh]

 [bacon]

It's on my Christmas list for this year! That cracks me up. [laugh]

Damn that sucks man. Def a wake up call.

I-m glad nothing got stolen.

wonder if it has anything to do with how many GSXR's there are on the road compared to Ducati's.........
When people see Duc's, they see money, my guess is they didn't steal a box truck for 1 Busa.

Agreed.  Everyone knows that Ducati = $$. 

so if Ducati = $$ does that mean you have $$$$? Wow :o nice!

your equation is incorrect, unfortunately.   [roll]

fixed.

Touche  [thumbsup]

Oh yeah, they wanted it... they wanted them all. But it was truly a random act of crime, no targeting. They just started cutting open units until they found something yummy. They realized they would need something big for five bikes, that's why they stole the big box van. I truly think the problem was they were caught in the act by the good Samaritan the first time and didn't really see the massive security hardware on the bikes inside the dark unit (it was 8-8:30 at night). Besides all the bikes had form fitting bike covers and I'm sure that also prevented them from seeing all the locking cables. Again, more luck for me... had they known they might have brought something that could have cut the bikes free. :P

Not so much luck, as being well prepared [thumbsup]

At least I do something sort of right. [bang] Too bad it's thinking like a criminal! [laugh] Hope the story makes everyone take a second look at their stuff and how to make it harder to steal. It's kinda sad but it's a fact and it's the world we live in.

I would wax nostalgic about the days when you could leave your car keys in the visor or under the floor mat but those were different times...and also the days when a crowbar could be used for car repair...or the old Chevy "don't really need a key if you jiggle that 75 Nova ignition just right"....but it is good to see theft deterrent in action!!!  And sorry to hear about the dreaded phone call and CSI: Dallas...you mean they don't have all that hi tech equipment and hot babes like they do in CSI: Miami???

I am glad everything is in good shape and I would definitely change facilities!!

+1

Plenty of room here in our maximum-security WareHome [thumbsup]

But more importantly, when's our next trip to Avila's?!?

That's the name of that place! I have a mental block on that for some reason. Maybe this upcoming week? I would like to return to the farm next week since I was so rudely interupted this week. >:( I've got lots to do. Also on Monday (I think) I'm helping Lisa get her 999 back on the road after the front stand/poltergeist garage attack.

My first reaction was to immediately move the stable to another complex but after I calmed down (and that was helped greatly when I saw nothing was taken) and really saw how it all happened I realized that the same thing could happen anywhere. As I have said, nothing is safe, not even your own garage at home. I think the best and simplest thing to do for the moment is what I have already done. They have been moved to another unit at the other end of the complex and there was no one there to see the move.

I looked at several complexes and even passed on a few that were closer to my house. Cost was important but not as important as the surrounding neighborhood, the attitude of the staff/management and the security of the facility. Even after this I still feel pretty good where I am. I am considering adding more OnGuard cables and maybe a few of those screaming Xena disc lock alarms. I accidentally set one off in a bike shop a few years ago... damn!!! I can only imagine what a couple of those going off would sound like in a metal storage unit! The thieves ears would be ringing for a week! [laugh]

i was looking at some of the xena locks myself.... i've heard some good things about them  http://www.xenasecurity.com/product/motorbikes/alarm/showall/

it looks like it might be a good alternative to buying a full alarm system, though scorpio has some really impressive stuff  http://www.scorpioalarms.com/products/motorcycle

Thanks for the link  [thumbsup] They look relatively easy to install if you spring for the factory wiring harness.  You have me seriously considering one.

yeah... i go back and forth...do i want to spend $300+ on chains (the fence it's chained to could be easily cut) and locks, or $300+ on a good alarm. 

parking outside is a pregnant dog when you really like your ride.  my next place will have a garage.  or a kitchen that i can park in.  one of those two.

I thought I saw AMS had some closeout deal on a DP alarm on their website.

I'm in for Avila's sometime, great place!  I'm off work next Monday and Friday.

Thanks for all the info guys!

Those Xena locks might be my choice for starters.

Available locally?

The one I accidentally set off was at Bates Cycle Parts on I-35 (west side service road) in the Carrollton area. Funky old cycle parts place that has been around about as long as I have. ;D That was also several years ago, how knows if they still have them. Haven't noticed them at other shops but then again I haven't been looking. I'll have to research on their website (thanks for the link Rich [thumbsup]) as to which one is the one for me. It's not like I can put in a private security camera or alarm system in a rental storage unit. So the best angle of attack is to scare them off and make your stuff hard as hell to steal.

Friday lunch at Avila's could be happening. [beer]

They do make roll up door trip alarms - that you set & disarm each time you roll up/down the door.  It's just a loud howler, I mention it for what it's worth - it doesn't call the cops but it does raise a ruckus.  I think I saw them at Elliots?  Seems there is also a motion activated siren too.  [moto]

I've got one, brand new, I will sell.

PM me [thumbsup]

hmmm...did you ever PM me?

oh, and cory: what's the battery drain like on your s4rs with the scorpio armed and the proximity sensor going as well.  can you leave it in that state for 2 or 3 days and still have plenty of juice in the battery to start it up?  i'm still leaning towards installing one of these, but i don't have a real way to have the bike on a battery tender, so there would be some times when it would have to go 3-4 days between rides, since i commute to work on the train.

also, i found this interesting (re: cell phone tracking):  http://www.r1-forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=229652