Avionics thefts- Chicago edition

Here's a business idea. Print up some poster sized paper that is an image of empty steam gauge holes with wires coming out. Park and pull out the poster. Put a little masking tape on the paper and tape it over your panel. All the thief sees is a ragged out panel with most of the goodies removed. Problem solved.
 
LesGawlik said:
Here's a business idea. Print up some poster sized paper that is an image of empty steam gauge holes with wires coming out. Park and pull out the poster. Put a little masking tape on the paper and tape it over your panel. All the thief sees is a ragged out panel with most of the goodies removed. Problem solved.
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Or a deadbolt on the hangar....if the owner/airport manager allows it, which is what we're running into. They're not wanting deadbolts unless they're keyed the same. They're not breaking into hangars with deadbolts.
 
At my little airport out in the sticks we all pay a $35 / month security fee. We have a live officer in a car cruising the airport all night long. There are sensors that alert when a car passes so if the officer is on the other side of the airport he knows where the activity is occurring. I've been met by security every time I conduct operations after hours. I'm aware of no vandalism reports on our airport.
 
Heading down to Chicago this coming week, any further developments, or has this crew hit anyone again?

Will most likely go MDW but would be comforting to hear they haven’t been seen in a month if I go elsewhere.
 
They may have moved south. Someone hit C15 in Pekin with the same MO.
 
NealRomeoGolf said:
They may have moved south. Someone hit C15 in Pekin with the same MO.
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Oh boy. Hadn't heard that. That's too close for comfort. Time to go put some landmines in front of my hangar.
 
Jim K said:
Oh boy. Hadn't heard that. That's too close for comfort. Time to go put some landmines in front of my hangar.
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If you do, make sure to add a new pre-flight checklist item lest you get hoisted by your own petard.
 
SkyChaser said:
I suggest bear traps. Still rather debilitating, but significantly reduces the chance of the airplane sustaining collateral damage. :D
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Claymores would be suitable.
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TCABM said:
Claymores would be suitable.
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I thought of that, but if i have to be there to trigger it....I mean I already have an AR-15. I guess a trip wire would be the solution. The good news in any case is that the maintenance crew won't be mowing for a few months now.
 
FYI, we had a vehicle that meets this same description steal avionics from 3 GA training aircraft around 2am this morning at Smith Field, KSMD. They broke into a small hangar and pulled the radios (GPS, Audio Panel, Transponder, Coms) out of all three planes that were inside the hangar. Thankfully, they didn't vandalize anything, just stole the radios and left... We're working with local law enforcement and now that they've hit multiple states, it could turn into a federal law enforcement issue as well.
 
MIFlyer said:
I always liked Claymores having that wording stamped on it. :)
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but are the words in multiple languages?

(do Canadian claymores have the words in english and french?)
 
MIFlyer said:
I always liked Claymores having that wording stamped on it. :)
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I wasn't there, but I'd heard that an early morning task at firebases during the Vietnam war was to walk the perimeter and turn the claymores back around. The Viet Cong liked to sneak in at night and turn them to face into the base.
 
Maybe some of the folks from the "Any Hunters in Here?" thread would like to help out Chicago pilots ...
 
Jim K said:
Oh boy. Hadn't heard that. That's too close for comfort. Time to go put some landmines in front of my hangar.
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Put a deadbolt on the hangar. Weren't hitting those
 
Racerx said:
I'm both... although I'm almost exclusively a bow hunter
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I have a BIL that bow hunts and he gets a lotta respect from me for that. In Chicago it could be a bonus as it wouldn't violate the firearm regulations nor should it cause any issue with noise ordinances that might be in place ... :D
 
Oh boy, I'm currently at a small rural airport in Illinois en route to Florida and have to park outside. No hangar space available. They better stay away from my plane these scumbags.
 
Chrisgoesflying said:
Oh boy, I'm currently at a small rural airport in Illinois en route to Florida and have to park outside. No hangar space available. They better stay away from my plane these scumbags.
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My hangar is empty but you're probably elsewhere.
 
Daleandee said:
I have a BIL that bow hunts and he gets a lotta respect from me for that. In Chicago it could be a bonus as it wouldn't violate the firearm regulations nor should it cause any issue with noise ordinances that might be in place ... :D
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Why thank you! Elk, moose, and Bear hunting (without bait and without dogs) with a bow just adds several degrees of difficulty. I'm good to 80 yards, but 50 and under is preferred.

Luckily I'm far enough away from the city and in an unincorporated part of the county with a large enough piece of property I can legally shoot if I was so inclined. Just not my weapon of choice.
 
Racerx said:
Why thank you! Elk, moose, and Bear hunting (without bait and without dogs) with a bow just adds several degrees of difficulty.
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My BIL is just outside Nampa Idaho. He does some large stuff but I don't think he's done any bears ... and I can't imagine anyone doing so with a bow!
 
Daleandee said:
My BIL is just outside Nampa Idaho. He does some large stuff but I don't think he's done any bears ... and I can't imagine anyone doing so with a bow!
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Had this cub jump in the tank I was at and went for a swim. Very pretty color phase black bear. Cubs under a year and sows with cubs aren't legal to take. He ran right by me at 7 yards. All I could think of is where's the sow?!

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LesGawlik said:
My airport has county police, city police, state police and the Air Guard all based there. Not worried...
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If the Guard unit is any thing like the unit I was in , they would be the prime suspect. ;)
 
Pretty sure stealing them is the only connection and I’m just impressed they actually put some federal LEO’s on this case at all. Seemed more likely to just get ignored given that’s the case with most crime these days.
 
mo_mo said:
Pretty sure stealing them is the only connection and I’m just impressed they actually put some federal LEO’s on this case at all. Seemed more likely to just get ignored given that’s the case with most crime these days.
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Rumor has it one of the planes broken into at PWK was owned by the feds.
 
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