Rotax 912 engine thefts and "plane spotters"
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 32,724
Received 2,721 Likes
on
1,156 Posts
One I heard a while back was a Modern radio fit being stolen, serial numbers etc were circulated....... nothing.
Another aircraft on the same field on the annual had a radio pulled for repair and the serial number flagged up, turns out the thief had removed the sets from both and then fitted the supposed stolen items into the other aircraft, thus he had nearly a year to dispose of the radios as the flagged up stolen ones were not the ones stolen.
Another aircraft on the same field on the annual had a radio pulled for repair and the serial number flagged up, turns out the thief had removed the sets from both and then fitted the supposed stolen items into the other aircraft, thus he had nearly a year to dispose of the radios as the flagged up stolen ones were not the ones stolen.
An expert friend found me the "official" place: Rotax-Owner.com Education, Information, Support
There are three separate pdf's, one for 2-strokers, one for 912, one for 914. Current document names are listed below but are prone to change with time.
* SL-2ST-007 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
* SL-912-013 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
* SL-914-011 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
There are three separate pdf's, one for 2-strokers, one for 912, one for 914. Current document names are listed below but are prone to change with time.
* SL-2ST-007 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
* SL-912-013 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
* SL-914-011 List of Stolen Rotax Engines REVISION 9
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Perth - Western Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 1,805
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are plenty of cheap, small, discreet and effective tracking devices available today. If you own an item worth a substantial amount of money that is easily and regularly stolen - and you're constantly worried about it being stolen - then fit it with a tracking device.
Small, easily transportable, but valuable items of construction equipment are regularly targeted for theft - but tracking devices have been quite successful at recovering those stolen items.
Simple signs stating the area is under hidden IR camera surveillance are also effective in theft deterrence.
And you can always buy cheap trail cameras with camouflage markings, and mount them in areas leading to the high theft area, to create a record of those who carry out the theft, or who often "case" a place, prior to the theft taking place.
Small, easily transportable, but valuable items of construction equipment are regularly targeted for theft - but tracking devices have been quite successful at recovering those stolen items.
Simple signs stating the area is under hidden IR camera surveillance are also effective in theft deterrence.
And you can always buy cheap trail cameras with camouflage markings, and mount them in areas leading to the high theft area, to create a record of those who carry out the theft, or who often "case" a place, prior to the theft taking place.
Thread Starter
Having seen the encouraging number of responses to this thread which I started, here are some of my impressions:
* 'Plane spotters might potentially be a beneficial resource in looking out for others who are aren't 'bona fide' spotters and it would be a good idea if they were all to have photo ID issued by their own clubs.
* "put up warning signs along the lines of "welcome to XXX airfield, visitors may be asked to identify themselves and show photo ID", if only so that the sign can be pointed at." This seems a really sound suggestion.
* "Simple signs stating the area is under hidden IR camera surveillance are also effective in theft deterrence." Another very sound suggestion, which should be backed up with actual surveillance equipment.
* Lists of stolen engines are of limited value because most will either be exported or used in non-aviation applications.
* A tracking device, apart from needing modification approval to be fitted to an aircraft engine, probably wouldn't survive long in such a hot environment and would be near-impossible to conceal on an engine.
* G-INFO could be a useful resource for criminals, and aircraft owners should be mindful of this when furnishing details for publication on this website. If possible, change your entries on G-INFO.
Thanks for all your contributions.
* 'Plane spotters might potentially be a beneficial resource in looking out for others who are aren't 'bona fide' spotters and it would be a good idea if they were all to have photo ID issued by their own clubs.
* "put up warning signs along the lines of "welcome to XXX airfield, visitors may be asked to identify themselves and show photo ID", if only so that the sign can be pointed at." This seems a really sound suggestion.
* "Simple signs stating the area is under hidden IR camera surveillance are also effective in theft deterrence." Another very sound suggestion, which should be backed up with actual surveillance equipment.
* Lists of stolen engines are of limited value because most will either be exported or used in non-aviation applications.
* A tracking device, apart from needing modification approval to be fitted to an aircraft engine, probably wouldn't survive long in such a hot environment and would be near-impossible to conceal on an engine.
* G-INFO could be a useful resource for criminals, and aircraft owners should be mindful of this when furnishing details for publication on this website. If possible, change your entries on G-INFO.
Thanks for all your contributions.
Last edited by Colibri49; 23rd Aug 2016 at 09:27.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've got my airfield all camera'd up the ying yang, but a friend in security says if they want it, they are gonna get it and the cops usually can't do much about it. He gave me 2 suggestion in addition to the cameras: 1. Get the cops to come out and spray all the equipment including the tractor and mowers with that invisible paint that is unique and registered to me.2. Install a bunch of motion detectors that are linked back to a large speaker for an audible alarm however he said don't bother with the usual alarm sound or announcing "police called" as they are used to that kind of thing and it doesn't really bother them, instead anyone triggering an alarm gets a high decibel blast of Karl Orff's Carmina Burana. His theory is the kind of fu@&wits that are doing the thieving are given something completely alien to them and it creeps them out far more than standard alarm would. I suspect his theory will be put to the test soon based upon the recent influx of knackers that have set us camp locally.
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: go west
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
spotters aren't to blame, for a would be thief it is extremely inefficient to visit bunch of airfields in the country to look for any potential rotax activity (and how do you even tell how many hours they have?). It is clear as a day that G-INFO database is being raked, I only got my G reg plane registered few months ago and every aero shop in the universe is sending me junk mail. CAA should really do a better job protecting this sensitive information
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Age: 63
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
These days, G-INFO being open to all only serves as a thieves shopping list. It is high time it was restricted, or at least allowed users the option to redact their listing. I could not agree more SWOPIV
I can't imagine car registrations being published on line, so why should anyone be able to work out that a light aircraft owner is away from home and that his or her home thoughtfully listed by the G-INFO database is likely to be empty.
I can't imagine car registrations being published on line, so why should anyone be able to work out that a light aircraft owner is away from home and that his or her home thoughtfully listed by the G-INFO database is likely to be empty.
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: UK
Age: 63
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ditto Martin 123 I am bombarded by aviation insurance companies for starters. Why are aircraft registrations seemingly not subject to data protection. If I were to divulge the names and addresses of the service users that I work with daily, I am fairly sure I would be sacked or prossecuted probably both in fairly short order.
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Edinburgh
Age: 41
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
a high decibel blast of Karl Orff's Carmina Burana. His theory is the kind of fu@&wits that are doing the thieving are given something completely alien to them and it creeps them out far more than standard alarm would.
Maybe you should also add some paint cannons to your motion sensors, to make 'pretty pictures'
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Glens o' Angus by way of LA
Age: 60
Posts: 1,975
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maybe you should also add some paint cannons to your motion sensors, to make 'pretty pictures'
Bump! It is happening again. Between 7th and 8th June 2018 the scumbags lifted 6 off 912 engines from a private airfield in Wiltshire. A mixture of 4 X 912UL and 2 X 912ULS from 3 X C42 and 3 X Eurofox aircraft. A load of tools were also taken including some woodworking tools. The announcment email from the BMAA and LAA was issued before the crime reference number and engine serial numbers were known.
Be on the alert.
Rans6.....
Be on the alert.
Rans6.....
a high decibel blast of Karl Orff's Carmina Burana.
Recommended alternatives - Mahler symphony no 8 1st movement, Ligeti Lux Aeterna Berlioz Messe des Morts brass section in Tuba Mirum (part of the Dies Irae) !!!
OK this is a serious matter, but just wanted to inject some twisted humour.
Airfield Thefts
There was recently a major theft of up to date radio gear from a private airfield in the UK. Although not against 'enthusiasts' visiting airfields it is very easy for 'undesirables' to also visit under the guise of being an enthusiast. Also various spotter mags and sites give a very good account of what machines are where, therefore making it even easier to be targeted.
I think it is unlikely that a company that 'garages' vintage and classic cars would allow you anywhere near their charges, so why should aircraft be so 'available' on private land.
Regrettably I feel that the less information is out there the better; as there is little benefit in 'advertising' your easily robbed machine. For the same reasons marina's are now like mini fortress's which is a shame but not unexpected.
I think it is unlikely that a company that 'garages' vintage and classic cars would allow you anywhere near their charges, so why should aircraft be so 'available' on private land.
Regrettably I feel that the less information is out there the better; as there is little benefit in 'advertising' your easily robbed machine. For the same reasons marina's are now like mini fortress's which is a shame but not unexpected.
Although not against 'enthusiasts' visiting airfields it is very easy for 'undesirables' to also visit under the guise of being an enthusiast.
As for the pilots...
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: essex
Age: 67
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All the the thiefs need to have done is brought the numerous airfield guides that list all the most airfields and majority of private airstrips in the country Pooley, AFE and Lockyear.
Also i can do an internet search and within a few minutes find sites listing all these airfields some of these sites are from fellow pilots or LAA struts listing there members airfields..
Also a pilot has put on the net a KMZ file pin pointing the majority of private strips on Google Earth.
Also i can do an internet search and within a few minutes find sites listing all these airfields some of these sites are from fellow pilots or LAA struts listing there members airfields..
Also a pilot has put on the net a KMZ file pin pointing the majority of private strips on Google Earth.
Missing the point
SWB No one has suggested that spotters are master criminals, however the information they 'share' frequently gives accurate details of what aircraft are based where.
This information is readily accessible to anyone who wants to use it (Including criminals) therefore increasing certain machines being targeted.
Its a simple security situation; the more you 'advertise' what you have and where makes it very easy for someone to target the location.
The CAA do not publish information of this nature only the registration based details of owners or hirers, but very comprehensive info is available in publications and the net of 'actual' locations of machines. Time to start fitting discreet trackers on expensive equipment.
This information is readily accessible to anyone who wants to use it (Including criminals) therefore increasing certain machines being targeted.
Its a simple security situation; the more you 'advertise' what you have and where makes it very easy for someone to target the location.
The CAA do not publish information of this nature only the registration based details of owners or hirers, but very comprehensive info is available in publications and the net of 'actual' locations of machines. Time to start fitting discreet trackers on expensive equipment.
