Worried about your robotic lawn mower being stolen? Well, the good news is while not unheard of, robotic lawn mower theft is rare, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to the possibility.
Some of the best domestic robot lawn mowers come with anti-theft features such as GPS tracking built-in, and is certainly something you should consider when looking to buy one, but not all of them. So what other steps can you take?
This guide will look at some useful tips and tricks to help you keep your robot lawn mower safe and secure. Let’s get started!
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Do robotic lawn mowers get stolen?
Yes, robotic lawn mowers get stolen.
It’s common knowledge that people will steal anything and everything, especially when it’s unguarded. Robotic lawnmowers can also be easy targets for thieves, but they don’t get stolen as often as other lawn mowers and garden tools.
Stealing a robot lawn mower Robot lawn mowers are known to be fitted with a variety of security features that make them traceable. Also, these gadgets need their charging station and an access pin code to function, so they are often not very attractive to thieves.
How to stop your robotic lawn mower from being stolen
You can’t take your robotic lawnmower indoors because they are designed to be left outside. But this makes them an easy target for petty thieves, so what can you do? While some robotic lawn mowers have integrated security systems, not every one of them has in-built security features.
The most sophisticated security features like geofencing, GPS, are seen in high-end robot mowers, which are naturally more expensive. If you happen to buy the budget-friendly models without high-end security features, there are certain steps you can take to protect your robotic lawn mower, and here are 5 tips on how to keep your robot safe.
Secure your lawn
One of the easier ways to secure your robotic lawnmower is by not making it an easy target for thieves. Some criminals only steal when they see an opportunity, so make sure you don’t give them what they are looking for. If you have a fence and gates, ensure to keep them locked at all times. However, not everyone has a fenced and gated lawn and if you fall into this category, we have more options for you.
Install an anti-theft robot mower garage
A robot lawn mower garage is great for protecting your little robot from the elements, but the anti-theft variety is even better because it offers extra protection against theft. The most common type of anti-theft robotic lawn mower garages are those with rolling shutter doors and can be programmed to only open when your robot is ready to roll out.
The garage door will follow the schedule of your robot lawn mower, and once it opens, it remains open until your robot drives back into the garage, then the door closes and remains closed until the next cutting session. This type of garage is best for keeping your robot mower securely locked up and unavailable for thieves.
Install a home security system
A home security system with outdoor security cameras is a great option for constantly monitoring your lawn. It will help prevent theft of your robot lawn mower and loss of other important belongings. A 24/7 monitoring and home automation with cameras and an alarm system will alert you when there is an intruder in your home.
Home security systems can be pretty expensive and most of them come with monthly subscriptions. But there are some good choices with budget-friendly prices, like this one from Abode.
Abode is a wireless home security system with built-in 93db sirens, battery backup, and can connect up to 160 devices. The starter kits work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Z-Wave compatible devices, and you don’t have to pay monthly subscriptions or any long-term contracts.
Install motion-activated lights
Another option to consider is installing motion-activated security lights. Although installing motion-activated lights will not directly protect your robot lawn mower, it will keep trespasses and petty thieves off your property. Most petty criminals are opportunistic, they see something when they think no one is looking and grab it. But motion-activated lights will deter them.
Get a GPS tracker
Not every robotic lawn mower has an integrated GPS, and if yours doesn’t have one, you may have to get one for it. The perfect GPS tracker for a robotic lawn mower should be very small, compact and lightweight. You don’t want something bulky that will stick out like a sore thumb.
A good one I recommend is Tracki, it’s an excellent tracking device and small enough that you can easily hide it somewhere in your robot. Tracki has a rechargeable battery life that can last for up to 30-75 days, it also has smartphone Apps compatible with: Android, iOS and all Internet browsers.
For maximum protection, you can combine an anti-theft garage door with a GPS tracker and home security system.
It’s unlikely that your robot mower will get stolen, here’s why!
Most robot lawn mowers come with at least one or two security features that ensure that they can be recovered after theft, or that prevents them from being stolen in the first place. And this is common knowledge, which has made criminals naturally uninterested in stealing these gadgets. Here are the most common security features integrated in robot lawn mowers.
Access pin code
When you purchase a robotic mower, you will be given a 4-digit pin code that will allow you to access and control the robot. This pin code is required to control most of the functions of the robot. This means that only the owner (or whoever has the pin code) can control the robot. Therefore, a thief who steals the robot will be unable to operate it. But pin codes alone do not prevent theft because sometimes the thief doesn’t know that they will need the access pin code.
Geofencing & phone alerts
Some robot lawnmowers come with a feature called geofencing. During the installation of a robot lawnmower on your lawn, this feature enables you to create a map of the lawn to indicate the areas where the robot will work on. Geofencing restricts the robot to the mapped zones, and when and if your robot is moved out of the boundary, it sends a notification to your phone to alert you that your robot is being moved out of your property. This happens in real-time, which makes it a very useful feature.
Alarm system
Some robotic mowers also come with an integrated alarm system, which is triggered if the robot is turned over without first entering the pin code. The alarm system can also be triggered if the robot is moved away from the lawn area it’s programmed to mow. In this case, the alarm system is connected to the geofencing feature. These security features are often seen in high-end robot mowers with a steep price tag, like the Husqvarna 430XH and the Husqvarna Automower 115H.
Integrated GPS tracking
Another security feature that is present in some robotic lawnmowers is an integrated GPS tracker. Some robotic lawnmower models like the Husqvarna Automower 440 and the Landroid M 20V come with GPS trackers installed. With this, you will be able to always tell where your robot is at every given time. And if your robot is stolen, it will be very easy for the authorities to quickly find and recover it.
What happens if someone steals your robotic mower?
If unfortunately, your robotic mower gets stolen, the very first thing you should do is to call the manufacturer and the police and report the theft so that the robot will be blacklisted.
If a robot is blacklisted, it means that if someone takes it for servicing or any repair, the robot will instantly be recognized as stolen property. The technicians in the service center will alert the authorities, and you can recover your robot.
You can also explore some home insurance packages that cover robotic mowers, especially if you have a very expensive model. Insuring your robotic lawn mower will cover theft and damages.
Final thoughts
Thieves rarely steal robotic lawnmowers, and it’s very unlikely that yours will be stolen, this is because these robotic mowers are known to come with a lot of security measures that prevent theft.
Robotic mower manufacturers deliberately make them unattractive to thieves. The suite of security features including pin protection, audible alarm system, geofencing, and GPS tracking all contribute to making robotic lawn mowers unattractive to petty criminals and sometimes a great asset for the Police.
In addition to these, you can go a step further to secure your robot with a home security system and an anti-theft automatic lawnmower garage. These measures will completely discourage thieves from attempting to steal your robotic lawn mower.
Emma Marie is a valued writer at the Little Robot Shop. She studied robotics and deeply understands technology, which shows in her writing. She consistently produces high-quality content, making her a perfect fit for the Little Robot Shop team.
While not writing, Emma works in a popular electronics retail chain. Emma also enjoys running and has two dogs with whom she loves spending time.
