Thread: Show us your lucas anty theft device

I have been trying to work something out myself as i am in the same boat.The only thing i come up with was take the wheels off the motor as 181kg is very heavy and hard to cart as the wheels keep the blade off the floor when traveling.

I have a blue heeler, if you can get past the dog, you can have the mill.

Originally Posted by rustynail

I have a blue heeler, if you can get past the dog, you can have the mill.

Do you really leave the heeler with you mill in a public place overnight ??

Interesting topic. I'm considering grabbing a Lucas Mill or somesuch myself sometime in the next year or two, and will be interested to see what people have to say about the potential dangers of leaving them unattended.

I'd have thought vandalism and other such mischiefs, rather than theft, would be the primary concern in such a scenario. I kinda don't think theft is a greatly realistic fear, for several reasons:

• Anyone local thinking of stealing it to use would be reluctant, coz it'd be pretty damned obvious once they started using the thing.
• It's a bulky and kinda rare item.
• It's unlikely there'd be an opportunistic traveller come past with the means to dismantle and transport it.

On fenced off private property it should be OK, and if it needed to be left in a built-up area overnight for some reason I think I'd just get a local Security Service to add it to their rounds. That way if it DID for some bizarre reason end up knocked off you'd know sooner rather than later.

Originally Posted by BobL

Do you really leave the heeler with you mill in a public place overnight ??

That was actually MY first thought reading the thread. A swag in the back of the ute and a heeler tied up to the plant, if it needed to stay onsite someplace where you're worried about its safety. And early starts/late finishes so you can get the job done and bugger off outta there!

When ordering spare parts and accessories from Lucas they will want to know your model number. They called the previous owner the first time i needed some goodies. Not a foolproof system but good none the less.

Originally Posted by BobL

Do you really leave the heeler with you mill in a public place overnight ??

It depends what you call a public place. I wouldnt leave her in a shopping centre car park, but on site is not a problem. My offsider and I both have heelers and they come out with us. They hate each other even though they are opposite sex, but we tend to think it is just attention seeking when we are around. Perfect pets during the day, but team up at night if we are away and wont let anyone near our gear. We've never left them any longer than over night. A mate came to pick up some timber we were cutting. He decided to rollup the night before for an early start the next morning. We had gone into town for the night so he was "greeted" by the dogs. He had to stay in the car and pee in a bottle!

Originally Posted by rustynail

It depends what you call a public place.

A public place is pretty clearly defined as a place where a member of the public has the right to pass more or less at anytime without being obstructed or molested etc. A work site is not a public place as the site is usually owned by someone who has the right or obligation to put up a fence or other barrier to keep members of the public out. If anyone left their dog in a public place around here (tied up to their Lucas or just running free) the council ranger would come and take it away.

Anyway that's just playing with words - being a dog lover I liked the story about the "greeting by dogs" and needing to pee in a bottle.

normally i take the powerhead home,like others i more concerned about vandalism more than anything else.the other thing is your other gear that you might leave around that people can pick up.The ally rails would go for scrap and they weigh a bit.

Originally Posted by BobL

A public place is pretty clearly defined as a place where a member of the public has the right to pass more or less at anytime without being obstructed or molested etc. A work site is not a public place as the site is usually owned by someone who has the right or obligation to put up a fence or other barrier to keep members of the public out. If anyone left their dog in a public place around here (tied up to their Lucas or just running free) the council ranger would come and take it away.

Anyway that's just playing with words - being a dog lover I liked the story about the "greeting by dogs" and needing to pee in a bottle.

Yes, it is a good story, but also a sobering incident as we didnt realize how seriously the dogs took their job after dark and in our absence. We both grew up in the bush and have always had working dogs that have been trained to stay. The properties we cut on are all privately owned land. There is some fencing but its stock fencing and much of the country is unfenced. Unfortunately, as these are large blocks they often have roads running through them which, of course, give some access to the public. We like to set up close to the road as it gives good access to take out sawn timber but the down side is possible thieves. My dog, Gypsie, has been trained to stand watch. She will not trouble you provided you dont touch what is mine. Stan's dog, on the other hand, just hates everybody but Stan. Hence the need for our friend to remain in the vehicle and use the bottle.
Sad things council rangers. Bit like parking cops.

Originally Posted by catweazle

i'd have thought vandalism and other such mischiefs, rather than theft, would be the primary concern in such a scenario. I kinda don't think theft is a greatly realistic fear, for several reasons:

• anyone local thinking of stealing it to use would be reluctant, coz it'd be pretty damned obvious once they started using the thing.
• it's a bulky and kinda rare item.
• it's unlikely there'd be an opportunistic traveller come past with the means to :d

Whilst you might think all that, it can happen and has happened. I suspect they are sold off and used in remote locations or as others have said broken down for parts and scrap.

Regards
Paul

The blue healer can be a canine to contend with.

I knew of a guy who kept his blue cattle dog in the back of his ute. If he said to the dog "This is a good bloke," the dog would hang out it's tongue and lick you to death.

If he said to the dog "Watch this bloke," the dog would bare his teeth, snarl and become the more disreputable twin of the Hound of the Baskervilles. And, by alternating these phrases, the owner could swap the dog's demeanour back and forth.

I saw an interesting statistic that pointed to more dog attacks by Blue Cattle dogs than Alsatians and Rottweillers. People see them as little and don't appreciate how territorial and fearsome they can be. I am also talking, by the way, as someone who has owned a Blue Healer and Rottweilers. Both are delightful animals, but I would be wary unless I knew the dog and indeed they knew me.

If I saw a dog obviously guarding equipment, I would move on. BobL makes an interesting point and you should be mindful of this as a lawsuit could cost you many times the value of the sawmill. For example a person who is biten would have rights of recourse against the owner of the dog even if they were up to no good. It might be a small child or minor at least. Most guard dogs are in an enclosure and cannot accidentally be approached.

Perhaps on the subject of saveguarding equipment overnight in susceptible areas you should look at the sort of security devices available for motorcycles. However this clearly only becomes economic if you are continually faced with this scenario.

Having said that, if you depend on this gear for your livelihood you might well want to make sure it can't be knocked off or damaged.

Regards
Paul

What i ment by a puplic place was it can be seen from public places and yes is usually behind a fence.
But they do get stolen,a mate lost his from the state forest.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

The blue healer can be a canine to contend with.

I knew of a guy who kept his blue cattle dog in the back of his ute. If he said to the dog "This is a good bloke," the dog would hang out it's tongue and lick you to death.

If he said to the dog "Watch this bloke," the dog would bare his teeth, snarl and become the more disreputable twin of the Hound of the Baskervilles. And, by alternating these phrases, the owner could swap the dog's demeanour back and forth.

I saw an interesting statistic that pointed to more dog attacks by Blue Cattle dogs than Alsatians and Rottweillers. People see them as little and don't appreciate how territorial and fearsome they can be. I am also talking, by the way, as someone who has owned a Blue Healer and Rottweilers. Both are delightful animals, but I would be wary unless I knew the dog and indeed they knew me.

If I saw a dog obviously guarding equipment, I would move on. BobL makes an interesting point and you should be mindful of this as a lawsuit could cost you many times the value of the sawmill. For example a person who is biten would have rights of recourse against the owner of the dog even if they were up to no good. It might be a small child or minor at least. Most guard dogs are in an enclosure and cannot accidentally be approached.

Perhaps on the subject of saveguarding equipment overnight in susceptible areas you should look at the sort of security devices available for motorcycles. However this clearly only becomes economic if you are continually faced with this scenario.

Having said that, if you depend on this gear for your livelihood you might well want to make sure it can't be knocked off or damaged.

Regards
Paul

Paul, you are dead right. If a person was bitten they would have every right to recourse. My dog will not bite unless attacked but if approached while alone, she will put on a show that would make your blood run cold. She does have one weakness... she loves little kids.
So if a couple of three year olds wanted to lift the gear she would probably help. These dogs aren't your average city watch dogs.....bite first and ask questions later. They are both well trained and professional bluffers. But if push comes to shove...

[QUOTE=rustynail;1451410] They are both well trained and professional bluffers. QUOTE]


I think that's the ideal. Lots of bluster and look the part.

Regards
Paul