ATV Thefts
The number one way an ATV gets stolen is that thieves simply roll it away. Obviously, they aren’t going to roll it a few kilometers down the road; they are going to roll it onto something – usually a trailer or maybe a pickup truck. There’s numerous ways ATVs can be stolen; fortunately, there’s numerous ways that can be prevented.
It’s going to mean more time and effort for you. However, it’s no different than the increasing process you need to go through to bank online. It’s the way of the world these days. The world is not going to adapt to you; you are going to have to adapt to it. It’s adapt or perish, or in this case, lose your ATV.
ATVs, whether a quad or side by side or something even more sophisticated, are very handy things to have around the farm or acreage. When you add their recreational value, they become even more desirable.
ATV thefts are more likely to occur prior to, or in summer, when they are more likely to be in use.
A lot of the principles that apply to vehicle theft apply to ATV theft. One difference is that a stolen ATV is less likely to be recovered. Why? Because it’s unlikely an ATV is going to be driven around town or on the highway where it can be seen.
What can you do to thwart thieves? Let’s start with a couple of principles that should be familiar by now: 1) if they never see it, they can’t steal it, and 2) make it more difficult to steal than someone else’s.
Never leave the keys in the ignition. This is a “duh’ thing, but how many times have you done it?
General measures include indoor storage, GPS trackers, security cameras, installing a “boot” similar to law enforcement’s parking enforcement, anything that you use to guard/protect your property (gates, dogs, etc.)
One of the easier ways to get your ATV stolen is to leave it on a trailer – thieves can hook up to the trailer and drive away. A hitch lock on your trailer is essential and it doesn’t take much time to use. It is strongly recommended to use a second line of defense, like chaining the trailer to an immovable object.
“If you have to leave your ATV unsecured at camp while you are away, the easiest way to prevent someone from rolling your ATV away is to remove the valve stems from two tires so they go flat. You will want to make sure you have a convenient and fast-acting pump to fill the tires when you get back” (from ATV Man). Perhaps deflating the tires without removing the valve stems is going to make it less desirable. You can also remove a key fuse – maybe for the fuel pump – that way they can’t hot wire it.
Another principle is that ATVs stored at an unattended property are more likely to be stolen – the weekend cottage or a second property. Nobody’s home. Accept that reality and up your efforts to secure your asset. There was a case a few years ago where a side by side was stolen from inside a barn on an unoccupied property near the Millarville Race Track.
There are thieves and then there are the buyers of stolen goods. If someone offers you a good deal on an ATV and you buy it, you are part of the problem. Yes, you got a good deal, and you’ve hid it on your property, but you’ll be looking over your shoulder forever. In the stock market, there is a saying, “there’s monetary capital and there’s emotional capital”. You will forever have emotional capital (i.e. stress) with the purchase of stolen goods.
Can you insure stolen goods? I doubt it.
Is the effort of securing your asset vs the loss of the asset worth it? It’s a complicated answer based on a number of factors, including loss of immediate use, the value of the asset (a 15-year-old ATV vs a new one), dealing with the insurance company, emotional trauma, the “pain-in- the-a__” factor with regard to constantly implementing theft deterrence measures, etc. It’s a personal decision unique to your circumstance.
Dave Schroeder
HCRCWA Board Member
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