How do you protect your tools and equipment?

[AlBorland]

I currently have an open bed pickup truck and I use chains and cables to protect my equipment and I was curious as to how many people do the same or if there are better ideas...besides guns and pitbulls.

[Frankiarmz]

Chains are too easy to snap with big bolt cutters. A 9/16 length of wire rope(winch line) with braided ends is much tougher to break, even a cutoff tool would take a while. Of course your lock has got to be worth it's weight, no point in going cheap.

[Tom W]

I have an enclosed trailer I pull with an SUV. When organized properly the big stuff, table saw, generator, miter saw etc are in there. Small tools I keep in the back of the SUV. When not organized properly, and that is usually the case, I just wing tools in the trailer and fight and cuss because I can't find something. Another downside is I have to disconnect the trailer from the SUV in order to open its back door because the trailer jack is in the way.

[stxrus]

Chevy Express van

steve

[plumberscrack]

Chevy Express van

steve

Same here plus a pair of MasterLock deadbolts and locking drawer cabinets inside. You can only slow down the theives. You won't stop them.

[RiR]

Ah! You don't need a Pitt-Bull, a Doberman will do just fine, and besides they are fine judges of character, and treat nice people nice.

[darius]

I use wax on cast iron and steel parts.
I also have an attack cat. She attacks the other cat I have.

[Woussko]

Screech owls work. They scare people away. A wicked temper hawk would be an idea too.

The best bet is several people with the old trusty 2 x 12ga butt blaster.

[AlBorland]

Thanks for the responses. You would think that with tool theft as bad as it is, there would be some innovative products out there to prevent theft, but nobody ever seems to mention anything. Obviously for heavy equipment there are lojack type devices, but for smaller stuff there really isn’t that much. I figured this would be the best site for somebody to point me in the right direction.