Securing stuff in the car

[Ed Richards]

I have a jeep liberty, which has no trunk, just behind the back seat storage. I currently secure my gear by putting everything valuable in a BIG, locked pelican case that is chained to the car. It works, but it takes up most of the area. I am curious about what other folks do to secure their gear.

[Kirk Gittings]

I do much the same with a car alarm too with an automatic shut off if the car is hot wired. Mainly all you can do is thwart a smash and grab effort.

[Eric James]

I stash my valuables under a tarp, hoping that if there appears to be nothing of value in the vehicle, the thief will move on to the vehicle with the chained-up Pelican case:D

[Sheldon N]

I don't leave stuff in the car.

[Gem Singer]

If I need to leave my photo equipment in the car, I usually lock it in the trunk in an insulated bag that keeps it cool.

I realize that your jeep does not have a trunk. However, I would not leave it outside, in plain view, even chained and locked, in a Pelican case.

How about on the floor, behind the front seat, covered, chained, and locked. Keeping it out of sight.

[lenser]

I built a drawer system for the back of my Explorer. The top of the plywood casing is covered by red carpet to match the interior and give the illusion of being the empty back cargo area, plus the rear windows are heavily filmed with the darkest allowed by law. I also have a remote lock alarm system and I am working with my machinist friend to create a system to bolt the whole thing down and have a locking bar to block the drawers without releasing the combination. Cumbersome, but necessary in today's world.

[Frank Petronio]

I am starting to think that having all this valuable portable stuff that we don't actually carry with us 24-7 is becoming more of a hinderance than a benefit. If you bring your MacBook along then you have to worry about it in the car or hotel room; if you don't have your view camera with you then you're thinking about it...

I am thinking more along the lines of a smartphone and a 35mm these days... trying to wean myself from the big stuff. I used to think that having the big neg was a goal unto itself but now I'm appreciating the smaller negs more than ever.

Maybe we emulate Emmet Gowin and just use the 8x10 around the homestead?

[Daniel_Buck]

I keep anything valuable in the trunk of my mustang, you can't see into it, so for all anyone knows (I hope), they think it's just holding the jack and spare :) I keep my main backpack in the passenger seat and my 2nd bag in the passenger floorboard, but those only stay there during travel time, not over night.

If possible though, (like when at a hotel, or at a house) I bring everything inside.

Frank, I'm with you! I love the 8x10, but I find myself using it only when it's most convenient, which suits me just fine!

[GPS]

For my SUV I have a system that I use constantly, even in the car parked overnight in front of cheaper hotels. Have plenty of cameras there (take out for the night if I remember, sometimes not), tripods all the time (don't bather to take out). Never had any problem in 10 years. What's the system? Every time I was tempted to disclose it I realized I would give an idea to the potential thief and shut up... Sorry.

[Patrick Dixon]

Wow, that was worth posting.

[Brian K]

I go on pretty long duration trips using an SUV, and pack quite heavily. The most valuable things carried are the camera bag, the film bag and the tripods. When I check into a motel I empty most of the things out of the car. The little that remains are hidden by a large black sheet, that when viewed through the heavily tinted windows is invisible. Without something light inside to reflect back, the assumption is that the windows are so dark as to be either opaque or the back of the SUV to be empty.

If I stop to eat or use a restroom the film and camera cases, if they don't come in with me, are steel cabled and locked to the car interior. The car itself is alarmed, has a GPS tracker and if moved without me, my cellphone receives a phone call stating so.

When I travel I prefer to stay at motor lodges, on the first floor and park the car right outside my room even if the car is empty. If it's not a motor lodge I again stay on the first floor and park the car directly out my room's window. When I am forced to leave my gear in the room it is locked and steel cabled to a secure and immoveable object in the room. The lights on and the TV playing, usually a TV show that has voices like the news. I try to make it appear that the room is occupied.

All other times the camera back pack, the film bag and one of the tripods come with me. That's nearly 100 pounds that I carry almost everywhere. It's no wonder I still lose 10-20 pounds on a trip. The loss of mobility that my gear causes is making me reconsider my shooting methods and whether or not I should be using my smaller formats.

[John Powers]

You might find some of the thoughts in this thread useful,

Stolen lenses and security

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=41313&highlight=Highlander

I wrote:
Out of sight, out of mind, making things invisible helps. I have a tan Toyota Highlander SUV with tinted windows. There are millions of them, common as dirt. A little dirt helps as a matter of fact. Most SUVs come with a sliding cover for the area behind the seats to the back door. I went to an automotive upholstery shop and had them make a cover that fastens to the head rests of the front seat, has snaps on the sides and extends to the top of the back seat. They made it of factory seat vinyl. There is an unbroken line of the same material at the bottom of the window line from the back of the front seat to the rear door. They even made a little hang down piece that dangles between the two front seats, so you can’t look through the windshield at what is in the back seat.

For a week long event like Bill Schwab’s APUG Gathering 2007, I carried a 7x17 mounted on an extended big Ries tripod and an 8x10 mounted on a small extended Ries, film holders, a 54 quart cooler, bag of lenses, and a baby jogger, all out of sight under this cover.

In addition to the above quote, on occasion I add a steel trailer hitch mounted basket normally used for carrying dead deer. This can carry the baby jogger making more room in the car for gear. In my fantasy of being disguised I think the car may look like it belongs to the parents of the child in the baby jogger and that the car is full of dirty diapers.

The only person I have found so far that doesn't like this rig is the US Customs inspector on the bridge in Buffalo, NY. He was used to looking in the side window of an suv and seeing everything. For him I opened up the cover.

John Powers

[GPS]

Very correct, John. If a thief sees that it would take a long time to get "there" and if he cannot see what is "there" he will look for another car. The majority of thieves does not have the patience and the motivation to bring special tools and work undisturbed to get to your riches they don't see. Those who think the car doors are enough to get respect for their possessions are fools. But thieves are no rocket scientists either - make it not attractive and easy for them and they will leave you - there are too many easier targets there...

[Diane Maher]

I take precautions with my gear whether I am photographing near home or out of town.

[George Stewart]

I use the Pacsafe system:

http://www.pac-safe.com/www/index.php?_room=3&_action=detail&id=48

Then I keep the valuables covered and still have a few odds and ends (cooler, etc.) showing to demonstrate lack of value.

[Marko]

My SUV came with the cargo slider cover built-in, but for those without it a couple of large, well-worn cardboard boxes and a few old clothing items on top should work fine.

Simply place your valuables in the boxes and throw the old clothing on top and it will look like someone's heading to the laundry. I have yet to see a thief interested in dirty laundry. ;)

[Ed Richards]

I do cover the case with a tarp - old Zone VI darkcloth.:-) I am not worrried about security for my current system, I am just looking for something that will not take up as much room. The Pacsafe looks brilliant. It would stop a smash and grab, which is my goal. My stuff was stolen with the car in my own driveway at home - I was building in the garage and left the car out. I think I bumped the damn eletronic key emptying my pockets and accidently unlocked the car. (The key works fine though the walls of the house and garage, I learned when I tested it later.) This is a real hazard with these huge electronic keys that get stuck with these days. I guess they reduce theft of the care, but not the contents.

[Brian Ellis]

For my SUV I have a system that I use constantly, even in the car parked overnight in front of cheaper hotels. Have plenty of cameras there (take out for the night if I remember, sometimes not), tripods all the time (don't bather to take out). Never had any problem in 10 years. What's the system? Every time I was tempted to disclose it I realized I would give an idea to the potential thief and shut up... Sorry.

Good thinking. This forum is riddled with thieves, murderers, and child molesters.

[Jim Noel]

A ratty old cardboard box will attract far less attention than a Pelican case. I don't carry any of my equipment in a recognizable camera case or bag.
I have had a series of station wagons. The rear windows have Limo film on them. I take everything into the motel at night and so far I have been lucky and never had a theft.

[Ken Lee]

"A ratty old cardboard box will attract far less attention than a Pelican case".

That's the idea, and one of the reasons I use nothing fancier than a cheapo beer cooler and some old canvas bags. Nothing says photo gear on it: no logos. It might as well be dirty socks and root beer, as far as anyone can tell.

For a long trip, rent an affordable "plain-vanilla" car with local license plates. Don't wash the outside, and place some local grocery bags and other junk in there - to make it look like you're nobody other than "Joe Six-Pack". Don't leave any maps or other symbols that indicate you're either wealthy, or a visitor.

[Gem Singer]

What about placing stickers on the window of the vehicle stating:

"This vehicle protected by Smith and Wesson".

[Pete Roody]

Shoot close to your car. Sleep with your equipment. :)

[Ron Marshall]

I only bring what I will be able to carry with me, and leave nothing of value in the car.

[Turner Reich]

The Pacsafe is something that would beg to be beaten with a tire iron just for the inconvenience.

Any thing left in a car is is at risk, even with the roll out. The first time someone sees the roll out in action they know there is a hoard of goodies in there. They know about out of sight out of mind too and rummage around.

Don't leave it in a vehicle is the only peace of mind answer. If you can't then you must weight the risk and accept the consequences.

[GPS]

Good thinking. This forum is riddled with thieves, murderers, and child molesters.

Trying to be clever? Not so good thinking. Just google "securing stuff in the car" and you will read something familiar - if you are or not a member of "this forum"...;)

[Marko]

Good thinking. This forum is riddled with thieves, murderers, and child molesters.


I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members.

-- Grucho Marx

;)

[Armin Seeholzer]

If I want be sure I sleep in the car, otherwise I take all in to my Hotel room, or visa versa if I'm camp in my tent I put almost all important in my car which is just 1m from my tent!
So it depends a bit, but in the tent I'm almost somewhere in the pampas where I'm almost alone!

Cheers Armin

[William McEwen]

I am thinking more along the lines of a smartphone and a 35mm these days... trying to wean myself from the big stuff. I used to think that having the big neg was a goal unto itself but now I'm appreciating the smaller negs more than ever.



Frank! Say it ain't so!

[Eric James]

One more idea Ed, You could affix a blinking LED to the dashboard to suggest that you have a security system.

[Darryl Baird]

a Knaack box, (http://www.knaack.com/jobsite_storage_equipment/tool_chests.php) used by construction workers who leave tools onsite. It can be bolted to the car's floor. I installed one in my minivan after a brick through the window, during a broad daylight, busy downtown lunch resulted in all my Hassy equipment finding a new home.

It still sits in my basement and is used as a lens (and other valuables) safe when we leave for extended periods, or we have new neighbors that we haven't vetted fully ;)

[D. Bryant]

I have a jeep liberty, which has no trunk, just behind the back seat storage. I currently secure my gear by putting everything valuable in a BIG, locked pelican case that is chained to the car. It works, but it takes up most of the area. I am curious about what other folks do to secure their gear.

Ed,

At one time some company sold a large stainless steel net that could be bolted to the floorboard of a vehicle. THe net couldn't be cut by a bold cutter and the lock was made from hardened steel titanium.

My MO is not to leave valuables in my car or truck if the vehicle is out of my site.

Don Bryant

[SamReeves]

What about placing stickers on the window of the vehicle stating:

"This vehicle protected by Smith and Wesson".

LOL! Don't forget a rifle rack. ;)

[Ed Richards]

> LOL! Don't forget a rifle rack.

Down here, they would be a lot more interested in stealing the gun than the cameras.:-)

[Drew Wiley]

Around here a lockbox (Knack box, truck box, etc) is just about a guarantee that
someone will break in. Or more often they take the whole vehicle and strip it at their leisure elsewhere. Alarms don't work either. A rabid rottweiler or wolverine
might help. But otherwise, the best thing is to look as inconspicuous as possible.
A dirty blanket thrown over your gear is much better security than a truck box;
and an ordinary picnic box is better than a Halliburton case. It's also a good idea to
frequently check your rearview mirror to see if anyone is following you around. In more rural areas you take your chances. One time I didn't want to leave my 6x7
system in the truck, so my nephew packed it for an entire week canyoneering in
Utah while I carried the Sinar system. He wasn't exactly amused when I never shot
the 6x7 the entire trip!

[eddie]

i have a POS 96 escort wagon. looks ugly. not too neat on the inside. i figure if they look in and all that it looks like is junk and shit they leave it be.....it has worked fro years. i just cover the good stuff with an ugly worn blanket....most haphazardly so it just looks thrown in with the rest of the stuff.

[John Kasaian]

Take an Igloo cooler. Apply some duct tape and cheesy decals to the exterior. Tie one end of a rope to the handle, the other to your bumper and drive a couple of blocks dragging it behind you.

You'll have a box for your gear that no one will likely find tempting (unless they are bears and you're in a national park! For some reason these critters can read "Igloo" and "Coleman")