bad habits we should all break to avoid instrument theft

[bloke]

Many 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...??

[bisontuba]

One 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....

[Rick F]

One 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....

Hadn't thought about the vanity tag risk.

[TheGoyWonder]

Just 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.

[Oldschooltuba]

My 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"

[edsel585960]

My 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"

Truer words have never been spoken. Also if you drive a $#!+ box no figures you have any money.

[bloke]

One 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".
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leaving your instrument in a locked room in the hall: insanity, imo

[bort]

Sort of related ... Make sure your tuba is insured! Not "maybe" or "it should be"... Make sure that if something happens, you are covered.

[aqualung]

Hadn't thought about the vanity tag risk.

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.

[swillafew]

"Never leave anything in the car you don't want to have stolen"

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.

[Donn]

...and again, (just like Wade) I drive manual transmission cars.

How do transmissions figure in tuba thefts?

[bort]

...and again, (just like Wade) I drive manual transmission cars.

How do transmissions figure in tuba thefts?

Not sure, but I bet most car theives can't drive stick!

[bloke]

...and again, (just like Wade) I drive manual transmission cars.

How do transmissions figure in tuba thefts?

Not sure, but I bet most car theives can't drive stick!

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.

[Schlepporello]

And I'll bet fewer of those standards are stolen if they have a 3-speed on the column.

[Schlepporello]

"Never leave anything in the car you don't want to have stolen"

I observed a prominent musician in the area carry his tuba into a church, where he didn't have to worry about it.

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.

[bloke]

People steal stuff from churches all the time...and occasionally mass-murder people in churches.

[roweenie]

And I'll bet fewer of those standards are stolen if they have a 3-speed on the column.

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.....

[bloke]

Do you think if we had "Hohner" stitched on our bags, thieves might think they're just accordions...??

[Mark]

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.

I'm curious, how many manual transmission cars have trunks big enough to hold a tuba?

[bloke]

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.

I'm curious, how many manual transmission cars have trunks big enough to hold a tuba?

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.