KASH 9 Airplanes burglarized

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PaulS

Touchdown! Greaser!
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PaulS
On the news tonight, 9 airplanes had avionics and radios stolen last night. The crooks used a crowbar to open the doors on the airplanes that were locked. Pecker heads.

Can't find a link to the story yet, on local news, will post link when available.


KASH, Nashua, NH airport.
 
Today's news had story about over 20 cars vandalized at PTI
 
I did a lot of training and most of my initial licensed flying out of Nashua. That's crazy. People suck, I hope these people lead miserable unhappy lives.
 
How do you defend against this stuff?. Our hanger is locked and alarmed. But I was actually considering this airport is a place to fly into on a trip coming up in about two weeks but found hangar space for 25 a night at KLWM. Was considering leaving plane outside but stories like this convince me to hangar if going for more then a day trip.
 
It also makes you question airport security. Don't you need to either scale a fence or have an access card to get in? if someone with an access card is stealing stuff that's a problem in itself, and if people are scaling fences with crowbars and nobody is noticing it then that's also a problem.
 
benyflyguy said:
How do you defend against this stuff?. Our hanger is locked and alarmed. But I was actually considering this airport is a place to fly into on a trip coming up in about two weeks but found hangar space for 25 a night at KLWM. Was considering leaving plane outside but stories like this convince me to hangar if going for more then a day trip.
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Wouldn’t a good pair of bolt cutters make the hangar option equally vulnerable? Bonus: the crooks can close the doors and take their time. Thieves and vandals suck.
 
Sad ,not only take expensive avionics, but they do damage to the aircraft. Someone has to be buying the stolen avionics.
 
woodchucker said:
Wouldn’t a good pair of bolt cutters make the hangar option equally vulnerable? Bonus: the crooks can close the doors and take their time. Thieves and vandals suck.
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I agree. Hard to get in the way of someone who truly doesn’t care. Wonder Who is out there buying this stuff.
 
Yeah if I ever buy used avionics I’m definitely going to get the SNs first to make sure they were not stolen.

Speaking of which I need to get all the SNs for my stuff
 
PaulS said:
On the news tonight, 9 airplanes had avionics and radios stolen last night. The crooks used a crowbar to open the doors on the airplanes that were locked. Pecker heads.

Can't find a link to the story yet, on local news, will post link when available.


KASH, Nashua, NH airport.
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I fly with ECAC any info on the owners that were impacted?
 
NHWannabe said:
I fly with ECAC any info on the owners that were impacted?
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Not that I've seen published. The most information I've seen is on the link in post # 9. The article says airport officials say thieves left behind equipment that could be traced. I hope that leads to quick arrests.
 
PaulS said:
On the news tonight, 9 airplanes had avionics and radios stolen last night. The crooks used a crowbar to open the doors on the airplanes that were locked. Pecker heads.

Can't find a link to the story yet, on local news, will post link when available.



KASH, Nashua, NH airport.
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Just so you know burglary involves buildings not tied down airplanes.
 
benyflyguy said:
I agree. Hard to get in the way of someone who truly doesn’t care. Wonder Who is out there buying this stuff.
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I’m wondering the same. Must be pilots thinking they are getting great deals?
 
Watch craigslist? ebay?
Can an ads-b transponder be used again or can the internal programming be erased?

Security; motion activated IR cameras?
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Can an ads-b transponder be used again or can the internal programming be erased?
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There has to be an way to program them in the field so they transmit the code for whatever airplane they are installed in.
My ADS B out (EchoUAT) could be re-programmed in about 2 minutes. Or less.
 
ircphoenix said:
Depends on the jurisdiction.

Illegal entry of a specified structure with the intent to commit any felony or any larceny.

Locked cars and locked aeromobiles count as burg in my state.
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The way I read the law (Penal Code 459 PC - California), that would be true only if you're living in them (inhabited dwelling).

EDIT - You are correct. Mea culpa.

Under Penal Code section 459, forced entry of a locked vehicle constitutes burglary. People v. Young K. (1996) 49 Cal.App.4th 861, 863 [57 Cal.Rptr.2d 12].

As relevant, section 459 provides that "[e]very person who enters any ... vehicle ... when the doors are locked ... with [the] intent to commit grand or petit larceny or any felony is guilty of burglary." (Italics added.) Under existing case law, an entry within the meaning of section 459 includes just about any entry into an interior section of a locked vehicle with the requisite intent, including an entry through a door, window, or trunk.
 
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When buying used I google the serial numbers and ask the tech support if they have ever been reported stolen. Garmin responds in a day or two.

If I'm leaving the airplane somewhere I don't like, I take the best radios out and all headsets. Some of my good stuff, while very new and shiny aren't really expensive to replace and aren't practical to remove. Hopefully removing the big $ items are enough to prevent it.

Aircraft damage from prying doors open is a concern, so much so that a Beechtalker reported that he contacted his insurance company and asked about leaving the airplane unlocked in effort to prevent major structural damage during a theft event, and insurance replied he would be covered even if the doors were not locked.

I'm really skeptical of buying high end used headsets.
 
For decades, I've been saying that I fear the day when crooks figure out that GA airplanes are:
A) loaded with expensive goodies that can be sold on fleaBay for drug money
B) locked with only an old Chevy key or easily pried open

With news reports like these spreading on all social media, I think the day has come. Me thinks that we'll be seeing an enormous increase in avionics theft and aircraft vandalism very soon. :(
 
Ebay is full of stolen motorcycle parts. I'm sure there's other stolen stuff up there.
 
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