RV Solar Panel Theft is an issue

[Doppleganger]

Originally Posted by NJKris

In the dark. In bad weather. In a situation that would required hopping from a balcony. With tools to unscrew it. It's like a James Bond movie!


BTW, be careful staying in cheaper motels. Around here, residents are welfare recipients living there on government assistance vouchers. Never knew that till I started seeing so many articles involving crimes at these places. NJ pays these motels to house unproductive members of society.

Yep. Do some research in the areas you intend to stop in overnight. Glad we don't have a ladder on the back of our rig, makes it a lot tougher for someone to get up on the roof.


I wonder how much meth you get for a 100w solar panel?

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by rdailey

I learned this the hard way. We just returned home from an eight day seven night road trip with our Palomino SS1251.

The second night we were supposed to stay in a camp ground near Youngstown Ohio. The weather was bad, driving was slow and bad so we stopped short and got a room in Sandusky Ohio instead. That night the 100W panel on my roof was stolen although I did not realize it until we got home. A good deal of other damage was done as well to the vent fan they tried pulling off and the roof membrane.

Apparently solar panel theft has become yet another popular crime. The panels show up on ebay cheap.

I have full coverage on the truck and camper so this will be remedied but it still costs me $500 and I don't know yet for State Farm.

The new panel will be installed with one-way screws and have the camper serial number engraved in big easy to see fashion.

Be advised.

The whole point of having an RV is to NOT have to pay for a motel room and leave your 10’s or 100’s of thousands of dollars in RV equipment unprotected in a parking lot!

I doubt if you were sleeping in the rig in a Walmart, rest area, Cracker Barrel or any of thousands of places you could park for one night that a thief would have climbed on your roof to remove the solar panel.

Now, for those of you that have expensive bicycles locked to a bike carrier on the back of your rig, you are in danger of getting those stolen. I had a friend who got theirs stole from the back of their rig in a 1000 Trails CG in Las Vegas. Lock in truck or inside RV.

Sleep in your RV!! Haha in

[JRHERE]

Using anti-theft screws and hardware might well frustrate the thieves, but they'll often do more damage while attempting to remove fasteners they don't understand. A crow bar will destroy an RV roof.
I have a pickup bed soft cover for that reason. If they want in there, they'll get in. The damage is minimized...maybe.
Too many thieves these days are dumb as a box of rocks and have no idea what they are stealing or its value.
Bet your thieves are folk living on the second floor of the motel...or higher up. The security cams won't necesssrily see 'resident' borrowing your things.
How big were those shoe prints? Nike? Jordan's? Just askin...?

[garywilson]

Originally Posted by SacRV

I have 5 solar panels on our trailer with 3 more being installed in a few months. I have heard about solar panel theft and it is a little bit of a concern.

My panels are adjustable, which limits my ability to secure them. If you can install them into a fixed position you can use security screws like these..



For me, are there security devices you can put on the ladder to prevent unauthorized people from getting on the roof?

Ref Ladder security.
Do a google search for 'ladder guard', then look at the pics.
You should be able to make one with some sheet metal and a padlock if you want.

[ssmote]

Crazy, I guess they'll steal anything these days.
I always worry about the battery getting stolen more than the solar. The battery door locks but anyone with a cheap screw driver could pry it open in 10 seconds. That's why I've been hesitant to buy anything more expensive than an AGM.

[gmer140]

I think the key is using those security screws. Although easy to find, doubtful many would have those in their Arsenal stealing so inexpensive items. They use those in restrooms often so thieves don't take fixtures off the walls.

[Philkaty]

Originally Posted by SacRV

I have 5 solar panels on our trailer with 3 more being installed in a few months. I have heard about solar panel theft and it is a little bit of a concern.

My panels are adjustable, which limits my ability to secure them. If you can install them into a fixed position you can use security screws like these..



For me, are there security devices you can put on the ladder to prevent unauthorized people from getting on the roof?

The problem with those screws you are showing is that they are machine screws not for wood.

[rdailey]

The experts say to make it harder to steal. Solar panels are supposed to be easy to damage and they say the people who steal them realize that.

I have no idea but it is what they say. Plus engraving an ID on the frame in a really obvious way so they see it quickly.

[SacRV]

Originally Posted by Philkaty

The problem with those screws you are showing is that they are machine screws not for wood.

They make wood screws too, those were just an example.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by rdailey

The experts say to make it harder to steal. Solar panels are supposed to be easy to damage and they say the people who steal them realize that.



I have no idea but it is what they say. Plus engraving an ID on the frame in a really obvious way so they see it quickly.

And what are these 'experts' you generically refer to selling?
While I'm sure some RV roof mounted panels are stolen, I don't believe it is rampant.
We have many in our local RV group with solar panels, fixed and portable. Not one of them has taken any measures to secure them against theft. No theft yet over several years and lots of trips.
I think folks are over thinking this.
Nothing in or around an RV can be made theft proof. That's what good insurance is for.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by JRHERE

Using anti-theft screws and hardware might well frustrate the thieves, but they'll often do more damage while attempting to remove fasteners they don't understand. A crow bar will destroy an RV roof.
I have a pickup bed soft cover for that reason. If they want in there, they'll get in. The damage is minimized...maybe.
Too many thieves these days are dumb as a box of rocks and have no idea what they are stealing or its value.
Bet your thieves are folk living on the second floor of the motel...or higher up. The security cams won't necesssrily see 'resident' borrowing your things.
How big were those shoe prints? Nike? Jordan's? Just askin...?

Around here most thieves may have had functioning brains and been smart at one time but today their brains have been forever altered by drugs. That's why their stealing anything their damaged brains may think has value. Their need for cash to buy more drugs.