Theft concern for plug-in 30A power cord??

[myredracer]

Am thinking of installing a Marinco exterior receptacle for the 30A cable on or TT. How concerned should we be about someone stealing the cable which obviously could be so easily removed? That's about a $100 cable or so to replace.

We were at a campground in Oregon last summer and had 2 loads of firewood stolen while we were out for a country drive. The b*****ds. Copper wire theft is a real problem these days. Should we be worried about it or just live with it and hope it never happens?

I guess I *could* rig up a relay with a 12V siren that would go off when the cord is unplugged.

Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!

[Hob]

Maybe get a big mean dog and chain it to what you don't want stolen. Of course, then some jerk would steal the dog.

[yvesm]

You might be able to adapt something like this

Technology Research Corp - Surge Guard Universal Lock Hasp - 34590-001 - Surge Protectors - Camping World

[caper]

What is the difference if the cable is a plug in style or hard wired in if you want the copper the hard wired can be cut off.

[youroo]

You will have to lock the campground box to keep the cord (HOT). Locking it (CORD) to the RV will not prevent someone from killing the power and taking the cord,by cutting off the RV end. Youroo!!

[myredracer]

Hmmm, I was kinda thinking about a piece of string and a shotgun, that'd be a bit messy. We have dog that we could tie up but he would just lick anyone to death.....

One thought I had was mounting the receptacle under the trailer with a locking device to hold the cable plug in place, but then it'd be more difficult to get the cable up into where the panel is. We could take a spare cord along with us everywhere, but that's just more money. Or maybe a 15A adapter as a spare so we'd at least have some power. Or maybe unplug the stupid thing every time we go out? Has anyone else had one of these plug-in cords ripped off?

[windrider]

We went through this about a year ago, do a search. I hate the firewood got stolen, and I hate thieves in general. If you are hungry, ask I will share food with you, put you up for a night, whatever you need. As for people stealing things while camping, what about the propane tanks sitting on the tongue, and the battery or two? Yes is copper is high, but not that much copper in a power cord, because to get top dollar, you have to strip all the insulation. Maybe 5 pounds when all said and done, really not worth it, even at $2.00 a pound. Batteries will bring that much, and much lass work.

[Labzy]

My dad gave me a lock (his suggestion) to put around my cords and lock them together so if somebody wants them they have to be cut.

I look at this two ways:
1. If there are people with cable cutters wandering around, then I am probably not at a good CG.
2. If they do decide to cut the cords, maybe they will forget to unplug them first

[LFugate]

Originally Posted by Labzy

My dad gave me a lock (his suggestion) to put around my cords and lock them together so if somebody wants them they have to be cut.

I'm curios how you lock your cord to prevent theft. Do you lock it to the box or what? Or are you talking about locking the box?

[Malco]

Originally Posted by youroo

You will have to lock the campground box to keep the cord (HOT). Locking it (CORD) to the RV will not prevent someone from killing the power and taking the cord,by cutting off the RV end. Youroo!!

Not really.All they need would be an ax,and hack through the cable,tripping the breaker,then being able to finish cutting the cable with anything and not even get a shock.

Also to Windrider the thieves would probably take the batteries and the cable.People where we live have had the lines stolen off their exterior oil tanks on the houses.What would be in these,less than a pound of copper,while hundreds of dollars of heating oil spills on the ground.Usually the foresight of a petty thief is not very far,more just for the moment.