If you're really wanting to keep your gear working properly and in good shape for as long as possible you won't leave it unattended or out of your possession. This includes churches, practice spaces and studios; every time that you leave your gear anywhere but home you're rolling the dice on your gear's well-being.
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Locking my rig
- Thread starter JoePro
- Start date
If you're really wanting to keep your gear working properly and in good shape for as long as possible you won't leave it unattended or out of your possession. This includes churches, practice spaces and studios; every time that you leave your gear anywhere but home you're rolling the dice on your gear's well-being.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
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- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
@JoePro — First thought. A church that has a 23 piece Jazz Big Band I've played with for about a year (it's Denton TX, after all), keeps all amp/drum/mic gear locked in a room with heavy duty doors. The room is open when musical events take place or worship, otherwise it is locked. You probably wouldn't be asking for ideas if such an easy fix were at hand.
Second thought. Sorry to say this, but you need a hand truck and a willingness to take it home. I NEVER leave gear anywhere except in a trustworthy friend's home. Even then, I would only leave a speaker cabinet, or maybe a small PA. No amp heads, no instruments, ever. Leaving costly (to me) gear with a friend puts that friend in a position of having to accept risk that they probably don't need.
Are you insured? Homeowners probably would NOT do it. I'd go for actual musical instrument insurance.
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In most cases it is due to mental illness. Next in line are those with addictions. These are the ones that we SEE as homeless though. There are a lot of people in the U.S. that are physically homeless but due to holding down jobs and taking measures to appear normal, they sneak by being un-noticed. Chances are we've all worked with at least one person who was homeless and didn't know it. These people have a way higher percentage of folks that just hit a low point in life with finances. A lot of them have kids with them even. I was engaged to a crisis worker for MHMR and the 7 counties around Lubbock. This is where my information comes from.
Put an unlubricated condom in between the power cord and the amp. It will seem like its broken. .if they pull it out to check they will probably be really grossed out.
Or just put gaff tape across the front with a note that says Do not use.
Or just put gaff tape across the front with a note that says Do not use.
I recently had my drafting office/practice studio broken into and have investigated different security precautions. What I've done so far is secured several items with cable locks and these adhesive desktop security anchors.
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The other thing I'm going to do asap is put stuff in one of the larger Pelican cases I have and lock it to either a heavy filing cabinet or a Hilti anchor I'll epoxy into the concrete floor.
It sucks not to be able just to leave your stuff out where you want to use it.....but it sucks a lot more to loose it.
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The other thing I'm going to do asap is put stuff in one of the larger Pelican cases I have and lock it to either a heavy filing cabinet or a Hilti anchor I'll epoxy into the concrete floor.
It sucks not to be able just to leave your stuff out where you want to use it.....but it sucks a lot more to loose it.
Even better would be a used condom hanging over the power switch. Nothing says "do not touch" quite like a used condom.
I've been in IT since 1983. None of the people I've worked with were homeless. Not even close. And I entered that world that brought me into a six figure income before the turn of the century via a $2,100 education.
You might be wrong, I worked with a guy when I was a graphic designer, we both were making about 45k. When he started my friend was home less , you would nt have known it to see him, he wore Armani exchange etc would buy his clothes , then return them at the end of the week, and go buy more somewhere else, then repeat, he was the sharpest looking guy in the office. He washed up aND shaved at the train station, had his hair cut free at beauty school. He confided in me, "when I started here my wife threw me out, I'm from detroit (this was near Philly) and all my family passed away. ". He slept at the bus or train station sitting up for four months before he saved enough for a place. All the running, and having to eat out every meal soaked up most of his check. On the weekend he might get a hotel room. But no one would have guessed he was homeless. And the really messed up part is I had plenty of room, he could have stayed with me, we were fast friends, he would come over for dinner, or to hang out, but he would tell me I couldn't come to his house cause his wife didn't like white people.
So that's another kind of homeless, the prideful, all he had to do was ask to crash.
How did this thread get so strangely hijacked?
Back on topic, cable lock. Or a big chain and padlock.
So that's another kind of homeless, the prideful, all he had to do was ask to crash.
How did this thread get so strangely hijacked?
Back on topic, cable lock. Or a big chain and padlock.
Yeah, I was thinking about that scenario when I posted. But that is something different.
Those silly little cable locks are meant to prevent a quick "grab and dash" from an unsecured location. If the thief is already defeating a decent door/lock to break and enter, something like that won't protect anything.
It's not my equiptment to take home it's the churches. I'm just looking for something so that when people see it they think it's to much of a hassle to bother with
A lot of B&E's ARE basically grab and dash jobs. If you get hit by real pros nothing short of a serious safe is going to protect your stuff but all the security measures you take like cameras, alarms and cable locks do add up and will reduce the freedom even an experienced pro has to do business. They also show due diligence to the insurance company.
Cable locks are worthwhile for my situation because people come and go at all hours here and the typical desperate druggie street guy that's likely to be the perp in this neighborhood is not likely to take the time to defeat them. There's enough unsecured stuff in this office that he's going to do a fast grab for whatever he can flip quick on the street like computer speakers and keyboards and get out. This isn't just wishful thinking either it's based on observation of the patterns displayed in several recent break-ins in the area. So these silly little locks (and I do actually agree with you they're pretty lame) are a useful layer of security as they might well be for for the OP in his church.
I've really missed your always positive well reasoned input dick r. anonymous thanks for dropping in with your two cents.
I'm very sorry for your loss,it really feels frustrating to get ripped off!!
I'd say the poor are more desperate but there's probably a higher percentage of the ultrawealthy with low character,they either steal it legally by buying politicians(think Cheney w/Halliburton)or do the wall street theiving where even if they're caught they'll probably get away with it.
Just as every wealthy person isn't a bad person,most poor people aren't bad either,many would share their last bit of food w/you.
Gear has always been a target of theft. People even have gear stolen off the stage while they are on break. Ian Anderson's flute is a good example.
Leaving gear in any open space such as a church or a community center is a risk. You have to do what you can to mitigate damage and loss. Even the smallest deterrant can make a difference. I lock my bike. I have a password on my computer. Churches with Hammond organs often lock them. If an anti theft cable helps with snatch and grab, it's worth it.
Leaving gear in any open space such as a church or a community center is a risk. You have to do what you can to mitigate damage and loss. Even the smallest deterrant can make a difference. I lock my bike. I have a password on my computer. Churches with Hammond organs often lock them. If an anti theft cable helps with snatch and grab, it's worth it.
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I'm with you. The thing is, the "ultra wealthy" rip off artists don't really care about me. They are not a risk I can mitigate. The poor are different. It's why I lock my car and don't leave American Eagles sitting on my dashboard.
My brother in law is among the "ultra rich". One of the nicest guys I know. Started out as a trophy shop. But he worked harder than the competition and honored his commitments. That did it. Dead serious.
You've missed my point. If a criminal is making it past deadbolts and locked doors to get to your stuff, then those cables are worthless. Money better spent in proper deadbolts, beefing up doors or adding real security.
I was assuming cable locks were in addition to heavy doors with multiple deadbolts and window bars. I agree you'd be a fool to have a wimpy cable lock as your first line of defense. Some of the street guys have been pretty creative in getting in around here though.....
