Yella Fella STOLEN...

[yvrr]

Everyone,

Alan Feld just send me the following e-mail:

Joyce Hoffman, the owner of the Yella Fella, the bright yellow Sportsmobile that has been in many advertisements, just informed me that it was stolen yesterday from Oceanside at 1 PM. She was attending the opening of the Woman’s Surfing museum when it was stolen. This van is very high profile and visible, can you put the work out for everyone to keep an eye out for it, and report sightings to the police.

Here is a photo

[photo:1pqaoyv8]8108[/photo:1pqaoyv8]

Joyce would love to get her back! Let’s see if we can help.

Alan

 

[billwilson-THOR]

what a shame
will be on look out

i live in the next town up the coast, kinda a wake up call

will be adding a few anti theft things sooner than planned

because the van is so hi profile
probably in mexico now

bw

 

[bettyford-SMB]

Man that s==t piss's me off,
We will all have to be very careful about really good deals on eBay and craigslist, Being from San Diego I bet it didn't go south. I bet it went straight into a shop and is being striped. Not trying sound like a know it all just a thought . So I will not be buying anything used from socal.

I have Emailed all my buddy's in SD and they will be on the look out.

Ron

 

[yvrr]

Joyce posted this to the Yahoo group:

Thanks to everyone for getting the word out on Yella Fella. I parked him in an open public parking lot @ Cleveland & Pier Way in Oceanside, CA @ 1:00 yesterday. I walked into the museum about 200 yards away & within sight of Yella Fella. I went to leave @ 4:30 to find him gone. He was locked & there was no glass on the ground, so obviously a pro. Given the uniqueness of it & its bright yellow paint job, I assume it was taken immediately after I left it. This was no spur of the moment snatch, because they had to have some place to stash it within a 20 or 30 minute drive as they had no idea how long I might be in the building & once a police report was made they would surely be caught if on the road anywhere. I am thinking that I was probably spotted on my drive to the event & followed (a very scary thought) & they grabbed it the moment I was out of sight. It is probably already being stripped of all the components to be sold.

I had never really considered it necessary to add any of the anti theft stuff, since I figured they wouldn’t be much of a target due to their uniqueness—particularly a bright yellow one that locked like a Ford van on steroids!

Thanks, again--Joyce

 

[Nomadcat]

I've been thinking of a kill switch for a while. It may be time.

 

[Angel-SMB]

billwilson,

Please keep us posted as to what you do and WHERE you have it done. I will probably follow suit. I want a battery kill switch, also. I have a clicker that sets an alarm but I think I need to have something on me that lets me know that the alarm is going off. Nobody pays attention to alarms anymore.

After losing everything when my prior van burned up, one would think I would learn. I have the only copy of important SMB info in my van. I am going to fix that. Also time for pictures of everything in my van. This has been suggested on a previous thread. Homeowners insurance covers these items.

Angel

 

[billwilson-THOR]

billwilson,

Please keep us posted as to what you do and WHERE you have it done. I will probably follow suit. I want a battery kill switch, also. I have a clicker that sets an alarm but I think I need to have something on me that lets me know that the alarm is going off. Nobody pays attention to alarms anymore.

After losing everything when my prior van burned up, one would think I would learn. I have the only copy of important SMB info in my van. I am going to fix that. Also time for pictures of everything in my van. This has been suggested on a previous thread. Homeowners insurance covers these items.

Angel

will do
i have a couple of souces of no BS info
will post here also to get feedback

sadly a car can be flat bedded with a winch and down the road in minutes

will follow up

best to you Joyce (?) and Yella Fella

 

[NRL]

I've been thinking of a kill switch for a while. It may be time.

Hidden Kill switch(s) to an additional appropriate Relay that connects to the PCM or Starter solenoid, or both just to make sure.
Also recommend LOjack or a GPS Tracker or both also.

 

[bsdctx]

New rims, a little retro body work, bada bing!

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4436

 

[sdwindansea]

So sorry to hear this. Especially since it was such an unique and beautiful SMB.

For those looking into additional security on their SMB, here was a long topic about it http://www.sportsmobileforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=125. I purchased the Ravelco a couple years ago and I have not complaints.

 

[Angel-SMB]

Has any one looked into a GPS tracking system? Does any have one? Or, do you think having a RAVELCO immobilizer and an alarm system with a 1 mile range pager is enough?

VIPER: 210V GPS Tracking $499.99, Service: $99 per year, web and telephone based, http://WWW.shopaudiovideo.com/dei210v.html

ESCORT: Entouerage CIS $400, Service $15 per month, needs smart phone or brouser-enabled mobile phone; Uses key fob. If driver does not have key fob, owner is alerted. (parents like this) http://www.escortradar.com/entouragecis/

Angel

 

[NRL]

Has any one looked into a GPS tracking system? Does any have one? Or, do you think having a RAVELCO immobilizer and an alarm system with a 1 mile range pager is enough?

VIPER: 210V GPS Tracking $499.99, Service: $99 per year, web and telephone based, http://WWW.shopaudiovideo.com/dei210v.html

ESCORT: Entouerage CIS $400, Service $15 per month, needs smart phone or brouser-enabled mobile phone; Uses key fob. If driver does not have key fob, owner is alerted. (parents like this)
http://www.escortrader.com

Angel

I was looking into modify that GPS "Spot" (http://www.findmespot.com/en/) device to add dedicated power and remote "on/off" switch but it looks like it would be a hack job, so I found a few GPS Trackers on Ebay.

This GPS Tracker looks pretty good. I saw like 4+ different applicable versions using the search term "GPSTracker".

It uses a Cellular SIM card. Also has a few neat features like fuel or start cut-off, call and listen in and more..comes with relay (for kill switch type functions), and no monthly servcie plan other then paying for that Cell Sim card (eg.. T-Mobile Pre-Paid). It basically uses SMS Texting and you call either call the cell sim card like a cell phone and it returns a SMS text message with GPS coordinates, copy/paste the GPS coordinates into Googleearth and there she is.. It has other features like move and perimeter fencing also. You can also call it and listen in (if that's going to help or not, probably not).

Its on ebay for $140.00: http://cgi.ebay.com/HOT-AVL05-GPS-Car-T ... 2c5350b205

There is also the "NanoSpark" which is a tiny unit, but it's an all enclosed unit with antenna and don't know if it works as it claims as far as having it in your glove compartment...or hidden semi exposed to the sky location. Downside is you have to pay a montly service fee.

The only advantage of hacking up a "Spot" device is that it's Satellite based versus the Cell Based GPS Tracker...

If your a HAM, then you can progress into APRS(Automatic Position Reporting System) GPS/Ham radio tracking that uses 2m/440 and a gps to track your location for close to free: http://www.cave.org/aprs/
More APRS Links: http://www.b2v.org/forms/APRSEquip.pdf

There are a few tiny APRS GPS Trackers available also with Radio built in.. http://www.byonics.com/
http://www.jancorver.org/en/info/aprs/index.htm

only one rule now: leave no man behind, including my Sportsmobile

 

[TwoVans]

:b3: As Thomas Jefferson said “He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both.”

The downside to putting a GPS Tracking device on your SMB so you can track it if it is stolen is that your SMB can now be tracked. Now, I'm sure that would never happen... But, I'm just say'n... :b1:

Ravelco for me. Then if they want it, they'll have to tow the 9,000 lb beast. Good luck! :b6:

 

[Ed in Montana]

Jessenej, I'm pretty sure that was Benjamin Franklin that said that. Unless his quote was stolen by Thomas Jefferson of course.

 

[jage]

The downside to putting a GPS Tracking device on your SMB so you can track it if it is stolen is that your SMB can now be tracked. Now, I'm sure that would never happen... But, I'm just say'n... :b1:

So you eschew cell phones as well then? And no doubt any GPS that communicates for data (traffic, updates etc)? And lets not forget all those traffic and street cameras... I seriously doubt you're going to disappear in the SMB and if you needed to at least you should know where the device is to remove from your own van.

 

[Scalf77]

Has any one looked into a GPS tracking system? Does any have one? Or, do you think having a RAVELCO immobilizer and an alarm system with a 1 mile range pager is enough?

VIPER: 210V GPS Tracking $499.99, Service: $99 per year, web and telephone based, http://WWW.shopaudiovideo.com/dei210v.html

ESCORT: Entouerage CIS $400, Service $15 per month, needs smart phone or brouser-enabled mobile phone; Uses key fob. If driver does not have key fob, owner is alerted. (parents like this)
http://www.escortrader.com

Angel

Angel,
You might want to check your link, I believe you meant http://www.escortradar.com. While your link may provide possible entertainment to some, it would not help keep your SMB from being stolen.

 

[Angel-SMB]

LOL!!!!! I fixed it. When I click on my listing in your post, I get the wrong site. When I click on the listing rewritten by you, I get the right site. They sure look the same to me. Go figure.

Angel

 

[NRL]

:b3: As Thomas Jefferson said “He who trades liberty for security deserves neither and will lose both.”

The downside to putting a GPS Tracking device on your SMB so you can track it if it is stolen is that your SMB can now be tracked. Now, I'm sure that would never happen... But, I'm just say'n... :b1:

Ravelco for me. Then if they want it, they'll have to tow the 9,000 lb beast. Good luck! :b6:

That's like saying if you have a cell phone, you can be tracked... by Big Brother, etc.. but hopefully not by the general public.

Those GPS Trackers need to authenticate with your password before it gives up the GPS Lat Long.. there is no broadcast, it's strictly for you. But then again, if someone at the phone company was watching your SMS txt, it would give yourself away.. but that's like saying someone at your internet provider is reading all your Email..

Same goes with the SPOT GPS Messenger, you put in the Email addresss of those you want to know where you are.. it's not public.

I also found some interesting steering column locks that completely cover the steering column and ignition key port: http://www.simjack.com

 

[jage]

That's like saying if you have a cell phone, you can be tracked... by Big Brother, etc.. but hopefully not by the general public.

Ever catch Law & Order? Or better yet CSI? "I triangulated his cell signal and he just moved from the hot dog roller to the nacho cheese machine inside the Sip & Gulp. That's our killer all right!" and later of course they get finger prints from the nacho cheese itself.

but that's like saying someone at your internet provider is reading all your Email..

Implying that they are not reading any of it? :b1:

I like the idea of GPS tracking mainly because from Ravelco to taking your steering wheel with you, there is always the tow truck and if they really want to take your vehicle they will. At least a GPS tracker gives you (the police) the option to retrieve it.

 

[NRL]

That's like saying if you have a cell phone, you can be tracked... by Big Brother, etc.. but hopefully not by the general public.

Ever catch Law & Order? Or better yet CSI? "I triangulated his cell signal and he just moved from the hot dog roller to the nacho cheese machine inside the Sip & Gulp. That's our killer all right!" and later of course they get finger prints from the nacho cheese itself.

but that's like saying someone at your internet provider is reading all your Email..

Implying that they are not reading any of it? :b1:

I like the idea of GPS tracking mainly because from Ravelco to taking your steering wheel with you, there is always the tow truck and if they really want to take your vehicle they will. At least a GPS tracker gives you (the police) the option to retrieve it.

hehe, I'm sure they are or can if they wanted too.. both Cell and Emails

The best we can do is to have a deterrent first, and a recovery plan next; help the PD find it quicker, either with LoJack or even quicker with a GPSTracker.. I think the first 1-3 hours is critical..

Even though it's insured, there is a aweful lot of intrinisic hours spent getting your sportsmobile the way you like it. Kinda like trying replacing your kids lost loved pet with another same looking pet, it's not the same pet.