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bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftMany of us take risks we should not (regarding where we leave our instruments laying around, leaving instruments in vehicles, etc., etc., etc...) that increase the likelihood of theft.
How about some brainstorming regarding alternate behaviors in which we should engage, and that we should teach our students/offspring regarding theft prevention/discouragement...??
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftOne big thing...don’t have a ‘vanity’ license plate on your car saying “Tuba,” ILUV2BAH,”, etc., etc., etc...open invitation to break in.
And don’t be lazy...if coming home from a late night gig, and out back in the morning for another rehearsal/gig...take the horn(s) inside....
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
Hadn't thought about the vanity tag risk. Last edited by Rick F on Mon Sep 25, 2017 11:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
Miraphone 5050 - Warburton (Brandon Jones)
YEP-641S (on long-term loan to grandson) DE mpc (102 rim; I-cup; I-9 shank)
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftJust put a towel over the tuba in the backseat. That'll fool them.
Cars most-often messed with are trucks, SUVs, "tuner" cars, and japanese sedans (for parts). So the cars with the lowest profile, to the criminal mind, are probably American sedans and any minivan.
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftMy wife spent 30 years as a police officer. Thankfully retired now.
Her words...... "Never leave anything in the car you don't want to have stolen" Eric Hunter
186CC 5U (gone) Rudy Meinl 5/4 CC (gone) Silver CC Piggy (gone) Meinl Weston F Model 45 (Gone) B&S 5/4 CC Prototype Yamaha 822F York 6/4 CC (yes a real York BAT)
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftTruer words have never been spoken. Also if you drive a $#!+ box no figures you have any money. ![]() Conn 20-21 J
Conn 22 J Conn 10J, Conn 26 K, Martin Mammoth, Holton Mammoth, Reynolds Contempora, Mirafone 186, Soviet Helicon, F. Schediwy Kaiser
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftOne good thing about gig bags:
They increase the chance of the tuba(s) fitting in the trunk... ...and again, (just like Wade) I drive manual transmission cars. another rule: There's no such things as "good neighborhoods" nor "security". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ leaving your instrument in a locked room in the hall: insanity, imo
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftSort of related ... Make sure your tuba is insured! Not "maybe" or "it should be"... Make sure that if something happens, you are covered.
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
A guy I know, not the sharpest tack, had a red hatchback with a BAND MAN plate. And one late night left it parked on the fringes of downtown Indianapolis, with a MW 25 quite visible, while he had a few post-concert frosties. You all can surmise how this turned out.
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
The less time the horn is in the car the better, and I am sorry for the person who can't do anything to conceal it (in the car at least). I observed a prominent musician in the area carry his tuba into a church, where he didn't have to worry about it. MORE AIR
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
How do transmissions figure in tuba thefts?
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
Not sure, but I bet most car theives can't drive stick!
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
Brett just explained it - plain-and-simple: In other words... If a tuba is hidden in the trunk - but is stolen, simply, because the entire car is stolen, very few thieves steal manual shift cars. There aren't any good statistics on this, but there's strong evidence. Here's just one article: http://www.foxbusiness.com/features/2011/03/28/stick-shift-anti-theft-device.html I believe most of us suspect that the demographic that tends to steal cars (young/stupid) mostly don't know how to drive manual shift cars.
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftAnd I'll bet fewer of those standards are stolen if they have a 3-speed on the column.
I'm just crazy about dementia.
BBb Helicon built by Harvey Hartman (for sale) Miraphone 496 York "Master" (pre-1961) Yamaha YBB-103 Conn 20K Sousaphone (no worky) Frank Holton Sousaphone (no valve cluster)
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
I've carried my tuba into church for the last 28 years now (not too bad for something I thought might be a flash-in-the-pan fad for me to get over). To date, I've not had any issues. However, the late Charlie Krause had his get knocked over by a lazy janitor at his church. The bell had to be replaced. Watch how and where you leave them and don't leave them at church just because you think it's secure. I'm just crazy about dementia.
BBb Helicon built by Harvey Hartman (for sale) Miraphone 496 York "Master" (pre-1961) Yamaha YBB-103 Conn 20K Sousaphone (no worky) Frank Holton Sousaphone (no valve cluster)
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftPeople steal stuff from churches all the time...and occasionally mass-murder people in churches.
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
LOL The last car I owned like this was made in 1979.... Even though NYC is much improved in recent years (I remember very well the "bad old days") I never leave my horns in the car (I guess old habits die hard.....) OT - I actually preferred the "bad old days", FWIW..... Last edited by roweenie on Sun Sep 24, 2017 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
heyyeyaaeyaaaeyaeyaa
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theftDo you think if we had "Hohner" stitched on our bags, thieves might think they're just accordions...??
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Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
I'm curious, how many manual transmission cars have trunks big enough to hold a tuba? Mark Wiseman
Re: bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft
If I do it slowly and carefully, I can slip a M-W 5450 (in it's bag) and a B&S F tuba (in it's bag) in the trunk of my old Corolla. They easily fit in the back of my Matrix...I put the grey plastic whachamacallit ("cargo cover"...??) over the tubas. Admittedly, if I'm in the Corolla, I'm usually the last person that makes it to the restaurant after the gig.
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