RVers need to be aware of an increase in the theft of RV shore power cords. The video at the bottom of this article from our friends at Endless RVing spotlights one such incident, why it matters, and simple steps owners can take to reduce risk.
The incident at ET Quality RV
This case unfolded in Yuba City, California, at ET Quality RV. A thief snuck onto the lot and stole about 40 shore power cords straight off RVs. The team joked about “ET Phone Home,” but the story is no joke. Each cord runs roughly $150 to $300, a serious hit for a family-run business.
- 30-amp cords: high copper content
- 50-amp cords: even more copper, even more valuable
Why copper keeps getting stolen
Copper is extremely valuable at scrapyards and on the black market. Construction sites and home builds lock it up for a reason. Power cords hold enough copper to tempt thieves, and they are easy targets in the wrong setting.
- High demand, steady resale value
- Easy to strip and sell
- Commonly left accessible on RVs and in storage
How it happened, and how it ended
Surveillance footage showed the thief slipping into the lot and yanking cords off RVs, then stripping them for copper. ET Quality RV’s general manager, Molina Roshan, explained how quickly the loss adds up.
Detectives with the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office later arrested 45-year-old Peter Pedo at a Riverside camp, where he was found burning copper wire. Some cords tied to a local church were recovered, but the dealership’s cords were already stripped and sold.
This is bigger than one lot
Incidents like this are not isolated. RVers should expect similar crimes to pop up in other regions and settings. Stay vigilant at:
- Dealership lots
- Outdoor storage facilities
- Campgrounds
Practical safety tips for power cords
Towable RVs
Most towables do not have built-in cord reels. If you do not need power, unplug and store the cord inside. If it must stay out, secure it and keep it out of sight.
Motorized RVs
Built-in cords are harder to remove, but they can still be cut. Unplug when practical, and keep the area well-lit and visible.
Guard against catalytic converter theft
Gas motorhomes are at risk of catalytic converter theft. Thieves might get $200 to $300, but owners pay thousands to replace one. Options include a cat strap product or a welded cage around the converter. Just when it seems every angle has been tried, a new one appears. Thieves look for quick cash, and RV gear offers it if left exposed.
Recommended resource
For background on this case, see the RV Travel report from September 19, 2025.
We recommend you watch the video below. Then please share your tips so others can stay a step ahead.
Our thanks to Endless RVing for this video.
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RVT1231b
9mm
Are you going to stay put and sleep in your lawn chair?
My transfer switch is so fast, I’d never notice we dropped shore power and flipped to battery.
I’m kinda grateful because if you shoot an unarmed person because they’re holding on to your power cable, he’ll own not just cord he’s stealing but your RV and your savings account.
There’s a time and a place to exercise your 2nd Amendment rights, that ain’t one of them.
If you need power while in storage to maintain the batteries and provide lights, don’t use your expensive shore power cable. Buy a power adapter with the locking ring for your RV to a 15A male plug. They come in both 30A and 50A designs for less than $30. Then use a far less expensive “orange cord” rated for at least 15A.
Examples from Amazon:
50A version
30A version
I do this more now, just because it takes less room and 20 amp cord is all I need.
the place I sell my copper requires a photo id, a photo of the cars license plate and fingerprints.
if you’re a bad person you’ll find someone else to sell to.
This past month we had a sad incident in a small ND town. A medium sized (est. 3′-4′ h x 2′ w), copper bell mounted in a cemetery was stolen and broken up and sold to a junk yard. It had been donated to the cemetery about 100+ years ago! The thief has been caught!
Sad, we have to have cameras and motion flood lights everywhere….Geo. Orwells “1984” and we’re living it in 2025!
I don’t think crime was the main problem in “1984”. It was government surveillance, censorship, and authoritarian groupthink.
HI Bill: I guess I sort of run the crime thing into the GO 1984 comment. It is the surveillance point I trying to make. (“Sad, we have to have cameras and motion flood lights everywhere….Geo. Orwells “1984” and we’re living it in 2025!”). Thanks for the observation and clarification.
The world is so full of scumbags.
And getting worse every day Don.
Unfortunately, the crook is all-too-often back home before the police finish writing their reports. He may get 6 months, serve 2 months, and while there, learn how to not be caught again, and then he’s back in business. Feel-good judges need to be held accountable as well as the crooks they let loose to victimize the citizens!
We have a Class-C. Our power cord is behind a plastic door that is not lockable. Here is an opportunity for someone to make & sell a replacement door that is more substantial than a piece of thin plastic.