How not to get your stuff stolen.

[Star_Base_CGI]

I was reading the stolen stuff thread and I thought. Maybe there should be a thread on how to protect your investments.

I am going to the big game in Augest. Its taken me weeks to order my stuff and even though its junk compared to the stuff you guys have, Id be pissed if someone stole it. Ill also have to spend money and time upgrading.

Please post your tip ideas. Soneobe posted a backpack. This seems like a good idea.

1.) get a cheap back pack and put your stuff in it. Your less likely to lay it down.

Okay so how about if your sleeping in a bunk house? Bike lock. The car to me does not seem safe. Even with a $100 or so worth fo stuff, I am sure..

2.) Put your stuff under the seat or in the trunk. Out of sight out of mind.

Any other ideas?

[maglover52]

yeah i have an idea this is in the wrong thread. but welcome to AO!

[Trench]

3) Keep your gear in your sight!

[datapimp69]

well i got a BIG rubbermaid tub.

drilled holes in the handles and put padlocks in them so you cant open it.

then i chain the whole thing to a tree.

well thats what i do, hope it helps.

p.s. i find it much easier to get locks that have combo or the little number turn thingies. so you dont have to keep keys while you are playing, and if you let anyone else keep things in there they dont have to have a key.

[ezrunner]

relevance

Considering the off topic stuff we have in here, this is very relavent.

Protecting your gear:

1. At big events always leave one person with your gear. If you have to walk away keep with in seeing distance and WATCH YOUR STUFF!

2. If you aren't using it (backup guns, etc) lock them in the trunk / toolbox of your car /truck.

3. Don't leave expensive stuff in sight. Put that pretty HALO in your bag when you aren't using it. The freak kit too. Close your bags when you aren't in them. If nobody knows its there they can't get it.

4. Have serial #'s recorded for your guns / tanks. Many of them have #'s on them, keep track of that. If something is missing you can identify it if you see it somewhere else.

People do steal stuff. People should be beaten till their heads are dented for it.

If you leave it where someone can take it, they probably will.

If you have something stolen, then it probably won't come back.


-rob

[shartley]

I have my wife watch all my gear. That works GREAT!

[cphilip]

This is indeed the right place to discuss this. A very timely topic.

[nippinout]

Maybe fields should think about gear check like they have at ski resorts. Only costs me $1 when I go snowboarding for an all day board check.

This would probably be overwhelming at a scenario or big game.

datapimp's idea seems really good. Just lock it all up around a tree. But it's just a plastic bin that't easily defeated.

In addition to keeping your gun safe, there's a big box of paint to keep an eye on. Maybe the best bet is to just find people to split a case with.

My conclusion: Keep your gear locked up, but your gun and air system on you at all times. Split cases of paint with people so you don't have to worry about storing paint.

Or use shartley's approach and bring your wifey along to watch your gear.

[Will Wood]

I am lucky enough to play at a place where things VERY RARELY get stolen..You can leave something out and it will be fine (Hopefully..) But playing at events with alot of people, or at least people I don't know them all, everything stays in the car. Locked up. Normally, everyone knows everyone where I play, so your all set.

But other then that, I'll say what everyone will say:

Lock it up
Record Serial #'s
Don't stuff leave it laying around.

Unless they are going to break into a car, it'll be save. It's happened.. but, it's the best way.

[theraidenproject]

Keep your expensive stuff in a BE bag or case. Who's going to attempt to steal something they think is Brass Eagle?

[deathstalker]

Originally posted by nippinout
datapimp's idea seems really good. Just lock it all up around a tree. But it's just a plastic bin that't easily defeated.

Although you are correct that a plastic bin can easily be defeated, locking it up and to a tree is enough of a deterrent to keep people from trying to steal it. If I was a thief, I would look around for the people who carelessly leave their stuff lying around unsupervised.

[shartley]

Originally posted by deathstalker

Although you are correct that a plastic bin can easily be defeated, locking it up and to a tree is enough of a deterrent to keep people from trying to steal it. If I was a thief, I would look around for the people who carelessly leave their stuff lying around unsupervised.

[synreal]

Originally posted by shartley

agreed, but they are of little use to your gear's safety when they are hunkered down behind a dorito on the 30 keyed up on the guy in the back left beer can

i strongly suggest simply playing with wyn, he breaks his markers so often that chances are good he'll be in the staging area 95% of the time that you are not.

[shade23]

CYA, get insurance for your marker set up, I don't know exactly where or how, but you can get it (several teams I know do this). It just makes sense, if your investing hundreds or thousands (in some rare instances) of dollars into anything insurance is available/good to have.

although this is not theft protection by any means it might help with assuring you'll have a gun to play AFTER the theft

[Magsrule3]

At tournys there are always other teams we know, so we watch their stuff if they watch ours, since u usually dont have the same playing schedule