Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion theives want your pumps

Does anyone have any ideas for preventing the theft of gas pumps? Simply bolting them to the ground doesn't seem to be working anymore. Just yesterday, I read in a local newspaper that a visible pump on display at local station was unbolted and stolen. The pump was right beside a well traveled highway and was apparently taken during darkness. I get really apprensive when I hear or read stories like this. My "357 magnum" insurance policy is only in effect when I am home. Seriously though, I was thinking about using "theft proof" lug nuts, (the kind you can't turn with a regular wrench) to mount my pumps down. The only problem with this is that I will have to change the studs which are mounted in concrete to get the threads to match. Anyone else given any thought to this and come up with a better solution???

One thing you have to remember when dealing with thieves is that if they really want something they will find a way to take it. Even if you change the nuts, chain things down or whatever, there is a plethera of portable grinding and cutting tools that these boys probably use. If you have a really valuable pump then store it indoors, but if you display them outside, then aim a survelance camera directly at them. Be sure to consult a security professional and not be fooled by one of the fly by night internet companys. A good CCD camera and monitor may go for $500 dollars or so. But that is cheap when you consider losing a $2000-$3000 dollar pump you spent months restoring. And the look on the thieves face when the sheriff plays the tape for them is priceless.

17 DEC 2001
You cannot secure such an item in any
meaningful sense -- insurance is the
best I can recommend. Second best, to
me, is a tracking device -- but are you
willing/able to track someone 1,500
miles or more? What do you do when
you find them and they have repainted/
re-logoed your property? The idea of
your local law enforcement finding your
property really strikes me as highly
unlikely -- these thieves move far and fast
to a swap meet in a different region, with
or without a pit-stop to disguise "their"
prize. No, I don't sell insurance, but I
think it's your best bet.
Regards,
J. R. Mielke