(NewsNation) — Tiny homes have become targets for thieves stealing entire houses, Realtor.com reported.
In Oklahoma, a woman’s dream of sustainable living was shattered when her tiny home was stolen from her locked property in Sapulpa, Okla., leaving behind cut wires and crushed cables, a Fox station reported.
Similarly, the Bennet family, who document their tiny home travels on TikTok, also had their home stolen and damaged before locating it with GPS.
Ryan Meagher, who works in business development at tiny-home builder Tinybox Systems, told Realtor.com that homeowners with mobile tiny homes should invest in wheel locks.
“It is super important to lock up the mechanical features of the tiny home,” he said. “You can put a wheel lock on by yourself, and can buy them from any large auto retail store.”
Meagher also suggested using a trailer receiver lock, which is an anti-theft mechanism ensuring that no one can drive off with your tiny home.
Data from market research firm Data Bridge found that the global tiny-home market is currently valued at $5.61 billion and is expected to grow to $7.31 billion by 2031.
Tiny homes cost $20,000 to $50,000, according to Bankrate. And their smaller size makes utilities more affordable.