Bolt and nut protection

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Does anyone have a idea for some type of cover for anchor bolts and nuts. I had a A/C unit stole from my rental house and I'm making a cage to cover it. I'm putting 4 anchor bolts in concrete and going to bolt it down but I need to be able to take the cage off. I could use tamper proof nuts but don't want to take a chance. I've got fabricators block! Any ideas!!
Reply:You can always spot weld the top of the bolt. A quick hit with a grinder will take off the spot if you need to remove it. You can do the same thing with a mallet. Just pean over the top couple of threads and the nuts won't come off easily. Trust me on that. I've also seen guys recess the nuts inside say the 1-1/2" square legs of the cage.  Just plate the bottom of the leg and cap the top with some of those plastic table leg caps. You will need a long socket extension to reach down thru the leg and loosen the nuts. A bit of grease on the nut will help keep it in place on the socket while you insert it down the leg to get it started. The down side to this is that a lot of these thieves carry a portable grinder and just cut the cage to remove the AC unit. Other than allert neighbors the only solution I've seen is to just build the cage so heavy they kill the batteries before they can get done, or get spotted."tamper proof" nuts come off real easy with vise grips usually..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Tie a pit bull to the cage?
Reply:claymore landmine under the a/c unit...I guess the only thing is that the a/c unit might not be useable after the first theft attempt...-Millermatic 211, Powermax 380, and way too many other tools to list....-Unofficial, professsional, garage tinkerer...
Reply:Use larger bolts...say 5/8" - 3/4" diameter and then cross drill a 5/16" hole. Use a 1/4" padlock to keep them from turning the nut right off.Of course this doesn't help if the thieves are the cutting tool carrying kind as mentioned above.Andrew
Reply:Weld the nut.  Use a locking system to secure the cage. I use 1"  receivers for 3/4" tubing(the material of the cage) slide the cage ends into the receiver and the front extends under the unit or into a receiver.Though if it is yours, weld it and cut it lose when needed.I have done over 100  a/c cages.  I've used numerous techniques for securing the units, since house and mounting pad varied widely. Many ways to slow the criminal down.  However, if it is remote and they  got nothing better to do then the will get what they want.  Make sure they can't get there hands into the cage, to the a/c grill.  If they can then the will take the copper and leave the unit seemingly untouched.  Really funny story on our local news a couple of years ago:  A house across the street from  a convenience store with security camera.  The camera captures two guys with a truck attempt to steal an a/c unit. pull it away from the house try to stick it into the truck-- won't fit.  They leave, then come back with a trailer get the unit and leave.  I don't think the were caught.  The contractor called me for a quote for a cage after that, though i didn't get the job.
Reply:I like DSW's idea. Use a HSS square metal tube that has a bigger hole on top so the bolt goes inside the tube and mounts inside. You can also get magnetic sockets which would hold onto the bolt. Would be cleaner, a lot less messy from the grease idea. Also like DSW said, put plastic caps over the holes where the bolt head went through. If you used a lock, I think the lock would have to be encased in steel as well to prevent cutting or a sledge hammer.
Reply:Originally Posted by ezondanutzDoes anyone have a idea for some type of cover for anchor bolts and nuts. I had a A/C unit stole from my rental house and I'm making a cage to cover it. I'm putting 4 anchor bolts in concrete and going to bolt it down but I need to be able to take the cage off. I could use tamper proof nuts but don't want to take a chance. I've got fabricators block! Any ideas!!
Reply:tie a dead thief to the ac unit, it will upset the next thief and he will leave........
Reply:I want to thank everyone for all the replies. It's really helped me out. I know if a thief wants it bad enough he will find a way to get it. I just want him to really have to work at it for a while. Make them work hard for that dope money!!
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Reply:Originally Posted by dbotos
Reply:LOLI use one of those around my fish pond.  Keeps the Koi in very nicely.Seriously though, if you're going to use a padlock, either use a disc lock like the abus which you can't fit bolt cutters around, or use the American hidden shackle lock.  With that, they'll have to grind the cage.