# Could thieves use a skycrane helicopter to steal things? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 29, 2004, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383 "2004-07-29T03:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/21 "2004-07-29T17:51:33Z")
_Tree_ theft? That’s it, I want out of this gang. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/22 "2004-07-29T18:14:57Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > Could skilled criminals actually pull this off without being detected at all ? A friend in law enforcement always tells me (when I axe similar questions to yours) that intelligient/skilled folks tend to find ways to make money legally. Those who try crazy schemes tend to be stoopid, or at least it seems that way because of the ones who get caught. ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/23 "2004-07-29T18:31:29Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > It seems it would only be suitable for stealing things that are: > [ul] > [li]Located outdoors in unguarded, unpopulated areas[/li][li]Valuable enough to justify operating cost of helicopter[/li][li]Difficult or impossible to load onto a truck, or very conspicuous on the road[/li][li]Weigh less than 10 tons[/li][/ul] > > Does anything fit those criteria? The only thing I can think of is perhaps some types of trees that cannot be legally cut down. Timber is evidently expensive enough to justify the use of a Skycrane, since logging is a common use of this aircraft. Agricultural equipment, like combines and big tractors, but I’m sure that it would be easier to just put the stuff on a trailer. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/24 "2004-07-29T19:22:34Z")
The big fat John Deere 9620 tractor weighs 39,000 pounds without ballast. So, you’re limited to a much smaller tractor. Which carries a much smaller price tag. Considering that the principle of hot-wiring a tractor is pretty much the same as hot-wiring a car, wouldn’t it be easier just to steal one in the middle of the night and drive it on the road for 5 hours? ---
**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/25 "2004-07-29T20:00:51Z")
don’t mean to hijak too much, but couldn’t you get a tow truck? I don’t think anyone would look twice if you got a bonified tow truck and started towing nice cars off the street. As long as you got some decals on the side and wore appropriate clothing, I think it would work just fine. Has anyone ever seen something like this attempted? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/26 "2004-07-29T20:02:46Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Oh, and if you decide to drive the equipment to another part of the country, realize that the equipment, loaded on a flatbed truck, isn’t exactly hidden. Not too hard to put out an all-points bulletin for a missing Deere 800C excavator. Not to mention that most big, valuable and mobile equipment has Lojack or a similar tracking system installed to assist in recovery if stolen, and simply so its owner can know where it is. As for stealing a tractor-trailer, that funky notch in the Sikorsky’s belly is designed for picking up freight containers, which are nothing more than trucks without their wheels, so yes, a Sky Crane would be very well suited for snagging a truck. ---
**Author:** ![St\_Ides](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@St\_Ides](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/St_Ides)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/27 "2004-07-29T20:45:34Z")
> [@Ross](#): > > re: the noise > > What about this whisper-mode technology beloved of CIA helicopters in conspiracy theories? I realise this is to further complicate the issue, but I’ve heard the “whisper” thing actually is possible, with a loudspeaker playing “negative sound” or something which blots out the actual sound of the chopper. “Negative sound” being the exact sonic opposite (if such a term has any meaning) of the sound of the chopper, played at exactly the right time to coincide with every rumble and clunk. > > So does this technology have a maximum volume or something? Or could we “whisper” up anything we wanted? Our noise-cancellation technology isn’t quite up to that level, it’s pretty much limited to smaller scale, like headsets. When you’re thinking about silent helicopters, you’re thinking [NOTAR](http://www.mdhelicopters.com/AboutNOTAR/About_Notar.htm), which is a system that removes the tail rotor of a helicopter, (the noisiest part) and replaces it with a fan system. That makes these aircraft much, much quieter than aircraft with a conventional tail rotor. If you take a look at the chart linked at the top of the link above, it gives a chart of relative loudness of various helicopters. Something like a ‘Huey’ (Actually a Bell 412, which is about the same size as the biggest NOTAR equipped helo, not shown on this chart.) is a -0.9, while the helos with the NOTAR system are - 4.5 and below. (If you follow the trend of ‘bigger size = bigger noise’, a the bigger notar would probably stay below a ‘4’) Pretty darn cool stuff if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/28 "2004-07-29T20:52:29Z")
So we just need to build a really, really, really, REALLY big headset? Seriously, good answer. 'ppreciate it. ---
**Author:** ![badmana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@badmana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badmana)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/29 "2004-07-29T21:10:25Z")
I got another idea. Why not steal freight? Sure, it’ll be easier to rice out some civics and shoot a grappling hook into the cab, jump into the cab and hijack the truck, but if you wanted to be really cool you could fly down to the truck (while moving even) and line jump your team down to the truck. Decouple the cab and latching onto the freight. Get the right freight might net you a million if it were filled with computer parts. Sure, it’ll be easier to just hijack the truck…but it’s much cooler with a heli. You could even make a movie and make more money! ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/30 "2004-07-29T21:21:42Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > It seems it would only be suitable for stealing things that are: > [ul] > [li]Located outdoors in unguarded, unpopulated areas[/li][li]Valuable enough to justify operating cost of helicopter[/li][li]Difficult or impossible to load onto a truck, or very conspicuous on the road[/li][li]Weigh less than 10 tons[/li][/ul] > > Does anything fit those criteria? The only thing I can think of is perhaps some types of trees that cannot be legally cut down. Timber is evidently expensive enough to justify the use of a Skycrane, since logging is a common use of this aircraft. Trucks full of perscription drugs (I’m thinking like Oxycontin) Tankers full of anyhydus ammonia (closely regulated due to it’s need in methamphetamine production) ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/31 "2004-07-29T21:29:56Z")
> [@](#): > > A friend in law enforcement always tells me (when I axe similar questions to yours) that intelligient/skilled folks tend to find ways to make money legally. Those who try crazy schemes tend to be stoopid, or at least it seems that way because of the ones who get caught. I’m not suggesting that a team be assembled from scratch out of previously-straight people to attempt such a scheme. But if a criminal syndicate had enough money to buy and maintain said Skycrane, they could use it to steal stuff. There are Russian mobsters who could buy 10 Skycranes. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/32 "2004-07-29T23:03:32Z")
Why should they BUY ten Skycranes when they can STEAL them… with a Skycrane! Can you steal a Skycrane with a Skycrane? Or with two? ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Scene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Bob\_Scene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Scene)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/33 "2004-07-29T23:07:06Z")
I read one of those Mexican action comic books once where a gang of thieves caused a traffic jam and then lifted an armored car out of the traffic with a helicopter, flew to the ocean, and dropped the armored car into the water. Then they waited for the heat to die down and went after the money with scuba gear. The authors obviously weren’t thinking about how slow and conspicuous the helicopter would be, but I’ve read **plenty** of Mexican comic books that were **less** plausible. Anyway, Mexican comics always have to have some kind of moral, and in this case not only did everyone die, but it turned out the armored car was empty. ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/34 "2004-07-30T05:49:30Z")
Why would the armored car be any easier to open underwater? I’d imagine it’d be even harder. ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/35 "2004-07-30T05:54:18Z")
I work in Downtown L.A. and I’ve seen these helicopters at work hauling AC units or signage on top of skyscrapers. To say they are loud is an understatement. It’s like standing underneath a lawn mower. Except the lawn mower is a thousand feet up. And it still sounds like a lawn mower! ---
**Author:** ![PaulFitzroy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2acd7d/32.png) [@PaulFitzroy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulFitzroy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/36 "2004-07-30T05:59:39Z")
In that case, probably the best use for a Skycrane would be to steal guitars from rock concerts. There are often trailers full of expensive musical equipment sitting around outside the concert too…those could be lifted right up and taken away. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/37 "2004-07-30T10:43:28Z")
> [@PaulFitzroy](#): > > Why would the armored car be any easier to open underwater? I’d imagine it’d be even harder. It was _hidden_ underwater. ---
**Author:** ![Jabberwocky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@Jabberwocky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabberwocky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/38 "2004-07-30T19:40:36Z")
A few years back I was present when a AH-64 Apache took off and I’m still picking gravel out of my teeth. The sound suppression technology would have to be included in the helicopter’s original design because it unlikely that it could be retrofitted onto an existing one. In any case anything valuable enough to justify using a crane copter would be gaurded and any non-military chopper is fairly vulnerable to gunfire. ---
**Author:** ![Thaumaturge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/858c86/32.png) [@Thaumaturge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thaumaturge)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/39 "2004-07-30T21:54:17Z")
> [@robby](#): > > Military aircraft typically require several hours of maintenance for every hour of flight, by skilled aviation mechanics who **have all the spare parts they need.** Hehe…I just replied in this thread to laugh at the bolded part. I used to be one of these people, and finding the parts we needed was a constant struggle with the budget and supply. When a part costs a few million dollars, things can get tight sometimes. We often had planes grounded for lack of parts. Or we’d steal stuff from planes that were in phased maintenance. Some parts we had fewer of than we had aircraft, and no way to get more, and this cannibalization was a constant process. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383/40 "2004-07-31T01:09:26Z")
I say use the SkyCrane to steal dozens of valuable-cargo-laded Semis, place them all in the bed of [this](http://www.kenkenkikki.jp/zukan/dump/e_032.html), then slowly and stealthily drive away, using the fleeing SkyCrane as a decoy. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-thieves-use-a-skycrane-helicopter-to-steal-things/257383.md?page=3)