Avionics thefts- Chicago edition

Same here in IL but I have about 15 years to go and the place may completely fall apart before that so I will probably split in a few years ..

If you don't go soon, somebody'll probably steal the tires off your moving van while you're loading it up. :D
 
I’m retiring next summer. I’ve been saying since I got here that on my last day, I’m driving the moving van to work and leaving it parked out front, headed west, engine running. That’s how fast I’m out of here.

Leaving the engine running might not be a great idea ... :dunno:
 
If you don't go soon, somebody'll probably steal the tires off your moving van while you're loading it up. :D

One of my college buddies had this happen last week:

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One of my college buddies had this happen last week:

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Many years ago, my brother and I needed a ride from Newark to JFK. We got an airport limo because it turned out to be cheaper than a cab.

The driver was very friendly. As we drove on, I noticed the many cars on blocks. The driver said that he was driving on the highway and got a flat tire in the rear. He opened the trunk and got the jack out. Another car pulled over and stopped in front of him. The driver walked towards him with a jack and a wrench. How nice, the driver thought. A complete stranger is stopping to help. The stranger put the jack under the front bumper and started to jack it up. The driver said, "Hey, buddy, whatcha doin?" The stranger said. "It's cool, you got the back, I got the front." The driver had to say "It's MY car."

If only roadside assistance was so prompt.
 
SO, the airport just emailed everyone today, that the FBI responded and said these avionics thefts are not committing any federal crimes. Law enforcement at its best again, Sick…
 
letting rid of would-be deterrents like high $ bail (we're going to cashless bail as a state). This is why we very much have a catch-and-release systems here in IL,

No federal crime, and no bail, whats stopping them from stealing?
 
No federal crime, and no bail, whats stopping them from stealing?

The prospect of opening my hangar door and getting clocked in the dome with this
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Florida 776.08
Forcible felony.—“Forcible felony” means treason; murder; manslaughter; sexual battery; carjacking; home-invasion robbery; robbery; burglary; arson; kidnapping; aggravated assault; aggravated battery; aggravated stalking; aircraft piracy; unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive device or bomb; and any other felony which involves the use or threat of physical force or violence against any individual.​

Ensure you're familiar with your state's definition of burglary. Unoccupied aircraft on ramp? Probably not included. Hangar where you're sleeping? Maybe.

And there's probably case law to peruse in addition to the statutes.

Btw, I noticed aircraft piracy was listed.
 
Yesterday at Joliet ( KJOT) I saw a police car parked between runways. One of the guys at the airport told me that a cop keeps a plane there and he asked his boss to have an old cruiser parked permanently at the airport and then have it moved it to a different location on daily basis.
 
My airport has county police, city police, state police and the Air Guard all based there. Not worried...

I've heard one of the airplanes broken into was actually owned by the feds...
 
Yesterday at Joliet ( KJOT) I saw a police car parked between runways. One of the guys at the airport told me that a cop keeps a plane there and he asked his boss to have an old cruiser parked permanently at the airport and then have it moved it to a different location on daily basis.

A small town in Texas used to put a derelict police car on the side of the road right inside the city limits to try to get folks to slow down.

That is until someone put a "Please Call Police'' sun shade on the windshield... :lol:
 
Ensure you're familiar with your state's definition of burglary. Unoccupied aircraft on ramp? Probably not included. Hangar where you're sleeping? Maybe.

And there's probably case law to peruse in addition to the statutes.

Btw, I noticed aircraft piracy was listed.



From the Florida statures,
(b) For offenses committed after July 1, 2001, “burglary” means:
1. Entering a dwelling, a structure, or a conveyance with the intent to commit an offense therein, unless the premises are at the time open to the public or the defendant is licensed or invited to enter; or....


Treason is also listed, which opens up all sorts of possibilities.....:devil:
 
All these obese geriatrics on PoA all ready for hand to hand combat with criminals or LARPing as vigilantes. :rolleyes:o_O
I'm early 30's and wrestled from 1st grade to senior year of high school. Placed in state a couple times. Still run sub 7 minute miles. I'm fairly certain I can take the guy in the minivan if I absolutely had to.
 
A small town in Texas used to put a derelict police car on the side of the road right inside the city limits to try to get folks to slow down.

That is until someone put a "Please Call Police'' sun shade on the windshield... :lol:
I saw something like that on I-81 North in New York, right at a "Y" junction with another highway. The police car was parked right at the Y in the middle . One the left rear fender was a box from Dunkin Donuts. Nearly lost urinary control....
 
I'm not a "hand to hand" combat sorta fella ... and I don't fight fair!

Tie them up and start telling stories about the old days, cost of Medicare drugs, why ADF and LORAN are better than GPS, and what really causes lift.

Scared straight for life.
 
Here in Florida, entering a conveyance for an illegal purpose is burglary (see my post above). An airplane is certainly a conveyance.

I would think that entering any "structure" that is private for the purpose of theft would qualify as burglary. In one set of laws I was working under years ago, a three sided wall around a compactor area was, for certain situations, considered a structure. Go figure ...
 
I wonder if Garmin avionics should follow Garmin Marine electronics with pin requirements for startup. I have a GTN 650 which I've had for years . I also have a Garmin 8612xsv Chart plotter in my boat that requires a 6-didgit pin for startup. Supposedly it can only be reset at the factory making theft basically futile--at least in theory. Don't know how hackable this setup is in real life though.
 
I wonder if Garmin avionics should follow Garmin Marine electronics with pin requirements for startup. I have a GTN 650 which I've had for years . I also have a Garmin 8612xsv Chart plotter in my boat that requires a 6-didgit pin for startup. Supposedly it can only be reset at the factory making theft basically futile--at least in theory. Don't know how hackable this setup is in real life though.
The old GNS480 allowed you to display the N number and owner's name upon boot up. I'd prefer that to a PIN code. It wasn't locked down very hard, though.
 
I'm headed to 3CK later this week, should I rethink this?
 
Apply a little Psyops... If you're coming to Chicago, park in the grass and let the air out of your tires - put a ratty cover on your plane. The baddies will think they've already hit you and leave the plane alone.

I'm headed to 3CK later this week, should I rethink this?
There is no reason for me to tell anyone to keep away. 3CK is further from civilization than most of the airports...
...has hit up IGQ, LOT, PWK,C09, and C77...
Although C09 and C77 is basically farmland - so who knows.
 
Apply a little Psyops... If you're coming to Chicago, park in the grass and let the air out of your tires - put a ratty cover on your plane. The baddies will think they've already hit you and leave the plane alone.


Bending the prop tips would add a convincing touch.
:D
 
I think some of the "double witch" aircraft "B" owners were the thieves, keeping the stolen box and selling their legit radio.
 
Although C09 and C77 is basically farmland - so who knows.

I thought the list of airports hit was interesting. You have PWK which I would imagine is one of the more secure facilities around. Granted, I've never had to come in from the outside. Then you have Poplar Grove and Morris. Honestly if I was thinking like a criminal those are the ones I'd be looking at and was surprised they'd have the juevos to his pwk
 
I thought the list of airports hit was interesting. You have PWK which I would imagine is one of the more secure facilities around. Granted, I've never had to come in from the outside. Then you have Poplar Grove and Morris. Honestly if I was thinking like a criminal those are the ones I'd be looking at and was surprised they'd have the juevos to his pwk
One of the greatest weapons you can have as a perp is presence and … TWO of the greatest weapons you can have as a perp is presence and confidence. Remember, perception is reality. Show up to an airport in a Land Rover and tailgate in with someone, smile and wave… we all know what a pain it would be to have the auto gate close and reopen. As an example, the touchpad at the NE Ts entrance at KPWK is sticky so it’s annoying to access.

Honestly if it was me, I’d hit a bigger airport where you may get more transients and can “blend in with a crowd”. Risk of getting on camera is worth it, as that’s really only detective well after the fact… rather than preventative.
 
One of the greatest weapons you can have as a perp is presence and … TWO of the greatest weapons you can have as a perp is presence and confidence. Remember, perception is reality. Show up to an airport in a Land Rover and tailgate in with someone, smile and wave… we all know what a pain it would be to have the auto gate close and reopen. As an example, the touchpad at the NE Ts entrance at KPWK is sticky so it’s annoying to access.

Honestly if it was me, I’d hit a bigger airport where you may get more transients and can “blend in with a crowd”. Risk of getting on camera is worth it, as that’s really only detective well after the fact… rather than preventative.
Guys, we found the thief.
 
Guys, we found the thief.
Haha. Mine will be the only RV10 with Universal FMS ;). I do have a few wild story’s from my audit days where we were basically paid to break into places.
 
I had a cheap radio stolen from my Porsche 911 Targa at ATL. The radio was maybe $150 new, doubt it was worth more than $30 on the street. The Targa top on the other hand was worth about $10k and could have removed easily once they were inside the car. Not the brightest bulbs in the box.

It is not about ease of access. It is all about speed of access.

-Skip
 
Guess I’ll be paying Atlantic MDW whatever they want next time I visit. Have parked out at IGQ 3 times in a club plane, don’t feel like getting stranded and having to explain to the club manager why.
 
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