Questions about moving and self/property protection

Status
Not open for further replies.
F

FourNineFoxtrot

Member
Joined
Jun 24, 2007
Messages
361
If this question has been asked, I apologize, but I didn't see anything about this when searching. Also, if this belongs more in S&T, feel free to move it; I just thought my main question was more legal than S&T.

I have a somewhat tenuous plan to move in the near future (could be weeks away, could be months, I don't know yet). The states involved will be California, Arizona, and New Mexico, but I'm not going into further detail. I'll be moving myself, using a U-Haul truck, and I'll likely have to stop at least once, to sleep.

My primary question is this: If somebody tries to steal my moving van, or break into it (presumably while I'm sleeping at a Motel 6 or something), and I wake up and catch them while this is happening, what can I do? Let's assume I have a gun, because I will. Can I shoot to stop some guy from stealing everything I own? Can I step outside from my motel room, shout "Hey, got off my truck!", and generally try to scare them off? Do I pretty much have to hide in my room, call the police, and hope I get better than 10 cents on the dollar from the insurance?

I may or may not have a friend along for the ride, but if he's there he would be armed. Do his rights differ any from mine, since it's my stuff?

Does this vary any among the states mentioned (CA, AZ, NM)?

Finally, does anyone have any advice for guarding against stuff like this? Things like "Make sure you can see the truck from your room", or "park the truck so that it has to be turned around before it can be driven off", that sort of thing.
 
1. Moving? Search 'interstate travel with guns.'

2. Lethal self defense of property is generally a 'no go' and illegal in most if not all states.

3. Lethal self defense of yourself in fear of 'imminent severe bodily harm or death' is generally accepted, but state specific. Some states are more restrictive than others.

4. For a comprehensive list of laws and reciprocity see http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Search is your friend on this site!
 
Thanks, leadcounsel. So I suppose shooting at someone who is stealing a U-Haul truck full of all my stuff is probably not legal.

Maybe I just won't stop, then. Nodoze and Redbull and loud music for 1400 miles. That's gonna be a long day.
 
I suppose if you went to intervene with non-lethal force and the person produced a weapon you would be justified in lethal self defense. But that is a big risk.

Surely there must be some way to disable the vehicle mechanically in the engine, or buying a steering wheel locking tool or something.
 
The Club or you could simply pull the coil wire when you park for the night.

As for just driving straight through do a risk assesment are you more likely to fall asleep at the wheel or get robbed? Red Bull does nothing for your decision making skills.
 
The Club! Of course, that's brilliant. Thanks, guys, I think we hit on something really useful, here.

Red Bull does nothing for your decision making skills.
Click to expand...

True enough. Yeah, hopefully it won't be necessary to drive straight through. I've done it before, but not with a moving truck... I doubt I could pull that off. If the club thing works out okay, there shouldn't be any problems.
 
I have had sucess disabling vehicles by disconnecting one battery cable, pulling coil wire. Remember thieves want speed, and they might not have time or tools to make necessary repair. Also park truck backed up to something so they cannot access the rolling door or get the stuff out easily. I have pulled shifts with my kids keeping an eye on the vehicle. Second set of eyes helps a lot!!
 
The club is a bad idea, I can cut through the steering wheel in about 30 seconds with a hack saw and remove the club.

Take the coil wire + some of the fuse's from the electrical center and that should disable the truck especially if you can get the one to the fuel pump!

Park it where you can see it and try and back it up against something tight. Also some hardware stores sell little stick on intrusion alarms that will go off if moved off the magnetic sensor. Had one of those on the back door to keep my grandson from making it to the pool when he was little. They aren't really loud but it should wake you if your not parked too far away.

Plan ahead for your stop and maybe stay someplace with active parking lot security, it may cost a little more for the night but I'd think the peace of mind might be worth it. Plus then you could relax and maybe get a better nights sleep than you would with one eye open all night.
 
What about bringing a friend for company, road trip, and shared driving and you can offer to pay his/her airfare back home? Then you could drive straight through by sharing the driving and there's safety in numbers.
 
I don't know enough to try removing the coil wire. The club does indeed have its flaws, but it's another obstacle. Might be worth doing, along with that alarm idea.

Leadcounsel, like I said in my OP, I might have a friend along on this, if he can get off work for a few days. Shared driving won't work, though, because he would be driving my car (which I would otherwise have to come back for by air or rail).

Good suggestions, guys. Thanks.
 
If you have a friend driving your car, you can park the Uhaul and then box it in with the car so they would have to steal your car and move it before stealing the Uhaul.
 
leadcounsel-

Great idea about boxing the van in. I'm using that.

AlabamaFamilyMan & Treo-

Pulling the battery might be a good idea in a pinch. As for the distributor and coil wire... nope. Widgets and thingamajigs to me. Not a car guy.

Others-

I don't have insurance on my stuff right now. I do plan on getting whatever insurance thing the U-Haul people offer. Might be worth looking into if I can get insurance from my car insurance people for this, though. Good thought.

As for the guns getting stolen, I don't have that many, and I plan to keep them close and secure (probably in the motel room with me). And I fully intend to be discreet moving into the new place... the guns go into a box or a duffel, something shapeless and neutral colored that looks like anything but a gun case. I'm all about discretion.
 
I work for a moving company... not the shady kind.

Uhaul's insurance will typically only cover the vehicle in the event of a collision. They won't take any liability for what you may or may not have loaded onto the truck or for what condition it may or may not be in. Check your rental agreement. I suggest you purchase renters or homeowners insurance before you move and be sure you understand what is and isn't covered.

Previous suggestions of parking in a well-lit area, and backing up to a fixed object to make it difficult to access the cargo area are good. Be sure to use a solid lock. Disconnecting the battery can be good, depending on the truck type, it may disable the radio or other items with 'anti-theft' features.

Make sure you know a description of the truck and license plate info in case it is stolen.
 
You can buy insurance for your trip (content insurance) similar to renters insurance. Should not be too expensive for a simple move. Not a bad idea to have renters (contents) insurance when you get settled in (esp for the firearms).

Still a good idea to make it as difficult as possible to steal the truck or anything in it.
 
When I moved from the People's Republic of California back to the United States in 2002, I used a chain and padlock to secure the steering wheel to the seat frame. I kept all my guns in boxes in my car on a trailer attached to the back of the rental truck, and lugged them into my motel room every night. If I were going to move again, I believe I'd do all that and remove a wheel from the truck and another from the trailer.

Most criminals don't have enough ambition to steal and replace tires.
 
A couple of suggestions.

1. If you have to spend the night somewhere, spend it in a nicer place. the cheaper motels tend to attract lowlifes looking for an easy score. Nicer places tend to have better lit parking lots and better (but not perfect) security.

2. Try to find a wall you can back the truck or trailer up against to make it harder to get in through the door.

3. Good quality padlock.
 
illinisnare-

There's a non-shady kind?

Sorry, bad joke. But I've had some bad experiences with moving companies in the past. My family used Bekins (sloppy, lots of stuff broken) and A. Arnold (pretty decent). Personally, I used Mayflower once. They were really bad. Stole things, extorted a gratuity. Can I ask for a recommendation of a good company? I wouldn't be using it this time, but it might come up again.

Taking down the license plate is a really good idea, though.

SCKimberFan-

That's the stuff- content insurance. I'll definitely be getting that if they provide it. Thanks.

ilbob-

A lot depends on what's available to stay at. Roadside motels generally have better parking accommodations for moving trucks, etc, than nicer places. Motel 6 is, admittedly, the bottom of the motel-chain barrel (except maybe for Super 8).

Something like Best Western, Hampton Inn, Howard Johnson, might be a pretty good step up, if I can find one.
 
I'd be less worried about someone stealing the truck than someone popping the back of it and walking off with my stuff. Taking your most valuable and portable items into your hotel room with you (guns, electronics, jewelry, computer, camera, etc) for a little added safety. Go on and get your renters insurance now too. Freshly moved into places seem to often be a target for burglary.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Moving ?'s
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Hugo
H
A
  • Locked
Flying to SeaTac, Driving to AZ
Replies
12
Views
1K
NMexJim
NMexJim
R
  • Locked
Deadly Force to Protect Property?
2 3
Replies
67
Views
3K
Jeff White
J
S
  • Locked
Possible move to NM from CO - castle doctrine?
Replies
3
Views
311
sterling7c
S
N
  • Locked
Moving from Colorado to Texas - CCW Eligibility?
Replies
4
Views
655
nick8005
N
Back
Top