Why do they always steal my stuff.......

[trumpetadam]

Beginning of this month some people broke into our studio and stole my bands gear; taking a 1980's custom shop warwick thru-neck thumb, 80's fernandes guitar, 70's fender bassman head, mixer, pa, etc etc
to add insult to injury they cr@pped in a towel a left it there for us.......
We havent been back to the studio.

Then they broke into our van a few days later and stole our suits that we wear for gigs, our cd's etc............

They tried to break into my house the other night. Smashed open my back gates and tried to crowbar open my back door. They're after me lucky charms I think............

This is a bad month. Our main UK distributor went bust owing us 3000 quid and lots of cd's that we are not going to see again.

Anyone got any interesting tales of gear loved and lost?

Adam

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by trumpetadam

Beginning of this month some people broke into our studio and stole my bands gear; taking a 1980's custom shop warwick thru-neck thumb, 80's fernandes guitar, 70's fender bassman head, mixer, pa, etc etc
to add insult to injury they cr@pped in a towel a left it there for us.......

Apparently this is a common thing that happens to people who haven't much experience in "break and entering"- they are really scared and nervous and ... well you saw the result.

Sorry to hear about your experience- thankfully I haven't had it happen to me so far.
All I can say is more bars, a big alarm and have insurance.
Also I don't leave my gear anywhere- I load it in and out everytime and keep it in my house which is also my studio- which I do not advertise as being there.
Not fool proof- but has worked well enough so far, touch wood.

[DontLetMeDrown]

Maybe it's time to move?

[MIKEHARRIS]

get a big dog

[dj_who]

i live in a bad area. actually i've lived in bad areas my whole life.

i always put bars on rear windows on the ground floor. of course you need to leave one window without bars in case of fire. i have timed lights so it always looks like someone is home. and i have a pitbull. ( btw, she wouldn't hurt a fly, if someone broke in, they would just steal her too)

but is someone decides to rob you, sometimes there's nothing you can do.

[xmostynx]

why don't you buy a gun?

and when they come to rob you-either shoot them or at them.

then you can rub that shit in their face.

also man-how come your leaving gear in a van?
i think every band has a horror story of their gear getting stolen out of a van..well!! vans are not that fvckkin safe!

and if they are busting in your home or studio- get insurance.

but i'd still get the gun, and blow a knee cap off. then i'd rub the shit in their face and call the cops as i was doing it..

how come we all can't just get a long

[raydo]

a gun's a good idea
except in my case
cause i'd shoot 6 people every day

[MrHope]

Yeah I think you should move too. Too bad you lost all that stuff.
Also, don't make it obvious to the outside world that your studio is a studio; urban camouflage can help reduce unwanted curiousity about your gear.

[octatonic]

Originally Posted by raydo

a gun's a good idea
except in my case
cause i'd shoot 6 people every day

Sounds like he lives in the UK- you can't own guns legally for personal protection.
Most of the police don't carry guns.

[trumpetadam]

No guns unfortunately.

The van thing was stupid I know. When you are coming to do your 3rd night in a row of 3am load out you get a little lazy.

The suits they stole from the van are worthless to anyone except us. I've never seen a crackhead going round the pub trying to sell suits....'sir, I think we may have one in your size'....'the cut on this would really show off your ass etc'

These three things happened all in different parts of the town and my home studio set up is not commercial so no one knows about it...and I have 2 insurance policies.....i just don't like people who steal stuff.

The cops told me they probaby know who it is. Apparently this fella has just been released from prison, has a 200quid a day drug habit and they are waiting on forensics to come back to them to be able to bang him up. UK cops have no power to stop someone like this. Apparently it's all just paperwork and protocol.

Alternatively, whoever tried to break in to my place may have smelled my smug sense of satisfaction as I took home my new R122......

[xmostynx]

sorry you can't get a gun- thats not cool

i'm afraid to buy a gun- because like the one guy said before i'd kill 6 people a day and possibly more.

so instead, i got a 2 foot oak club.
and i would sit there witha 6 pack and bait this dude and wait.

i'd leave something obviously unlocked-or a guitar in the window...sommething to get this bastard to bite.


then i'd beat his ass- and of course rub my own shit in his face.
and i'd call the cops when i was done.




i HATE people who steal- its sooooo easy and lame. and if he's smokin crack on behalf of your nice guitar and gear...i would break his legs..you might go to jail dude- but its worth it. atleast to me it is..

take a picture if you take my advice, i'd love to see you taking a dump on this dude.

[Animus]

Originally Posted by xmostynx

sorry you can't get a gun- thats not cool

i'm afraid to buy a gun- because like the one guy said before i'd kill 6 people a day and possibly more.

so instead, i got a 2 foot oak club.
and i would sit there witha 6 pack and bait this dude and wait.

i'd leave something obviously unlocked-or a guitar in the window...sommething to get this bastard to bite.


then i'd beat his ass- and of course rub my own shit in his face.
and i'd call the cops when i was done.




i HATE people who steal- its sooooo easy and lame. and if he's smokin crack on behalf of your nice guitar and gear...i would break his legs..you might go to jail dude- but its worth it. atleast to me it is..

take a picture if you take my advice, i'd love to see you taking a dump on this dude.

wow, you are really into shit rubbing! I never won't to get into a bar fight with you for sure. :-)

[narcoman]

Originally Posted by octatonic

Sounds like he lives in the UK- you can't own guns legally for personal protection.
Most of the police don't carry guns.

tooo right. thank frick!!! lets compare the gun crime numbers in New York alone to the whole of the UK.........jeeeeeez. Charlton Heston, you are a bad man.....


1997 UK gun murders : 96.
1997 USA gun murders : 10,369.


......hmmmmmmmmmmm

[max cooper]

Originally Posted by MIKEHARRIS

get a big dog

My dog will gladly let you carry out every bit of gear I own if you bring a hamburger.

[alexstringer]

Originally Posted by Randall

my buddy Wino Joe Zaknich who's a photographer for Easyrider mag has a mess of Rattlesnakes he puts in places he needs protected... I'm sure nothing would disturb a burgler more that getting in a place and hearing rattlers go off

He says they are used to him and he has anti-venom in case he gets struck

You friend is a sick individual!

[Kyle S]

wait for them and hack them them up with an axe. i prefer throwing knives and tomahawks.

[H-Rave]

why don't you buy a gun?

and when they come to rob you-either shoot them or at them.

Errr. and what happens if they steal the gun and then Go out and kill someone.

[xmostynx]

Originally Posted by Animus

wow, you are really into shit rubbing! I never won't to get into a bar fight with you for sure. :-)

hahahahahahahahahahaha

dude they left the duke first!!!!! if anyone took a shit after they stole my gear..man thats fvckin WARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.


and i understand there is a gun problem in the united states, but its because we allow people to be uneducated, and stupid.

i have grown up with guns, used guns, big ones little ones, all kinds. not once have i ever thought about shooting someone with one of the guns i own, or anything of the such.

i was taught when a gun is handed to you, you check it a few times to make sure A its unloaded, and B its unloaded.

and ammo- is never stored remotely close the gun..

now if someone was to break in my house, and start stealing my shit.
i'd quietly grab my pistol thats loaded, and the only gun allowed to be loaded in the house, unlock the trigger and put one in the prick.

thats fair.

and if someone wants to say ohh your acting to early..am i supposed to ask nicely with some tea..excuse me sir. are you armed? do you intend to hurt me?

no- i assume all of that this bastard is leaving poo and stealing my gear! tutt.

how many times have you heard this, guns don't kill people...PEOPLE kill people.

[pjplayer]

Originally Posted by xmostynx

now if someone was to break in my house, and start stealing my shit.
i'd quietly grab my pistol thats loaded, and the only gun allowed to be loaded in the house, unlock the trigger and put one in the prick.

that's fair

it's not really though, is it? they'd probably be dead, and you'd still have all your gear.

do you have a mental table indicating which crimes you think should be punishable by death? is it less harsh than even the most draconian country's laws?

[Ken Walker]

Years ago my band was packing up the truck after a gig. For a minute one of my friends was watching the half-loaded truck when a van pulled up. Two guys jumped out and smacked him over the head with a sap. I came outside in time to see these two scumbags trying to load our amp rack into their van (4 Crown amps). I called for help and just as they were about to get back in the van every bouncer in the club ran out, grabbed them and beat the sh!t out of them.

Then the cops came and arrested them.

[FossilTooth]

Get gear insurance.

I'm stunned that their are people who don't have it.

It's really affordable too.

Oh yeah, and who uses a sap these days, anyway?

[Ken Walker]

Originally Posted by FossilTooth

Get gear insurance.

I'm stunned that their are people who don't have it.

It's really affordable too.

Oh yeah, and who uses a sap these days, anyway?

It was many years ago.

[Jbassist]

The crapping in the towel thing kinda made me laugh though hahaha

[WidgetNinja]

Originally Posted by MrHope

Also, don't make it obvious to the outside world that your studio is a studio; urban camouflage can help reduce unwanted curiousity about your gear.

Hell yeah. The last time I moved, my neighbors totally freaked out. I move the gear myself, so I've got two drum kits, 13 heads, 6 or so cabs, some 20 guitars... all sitting outside as I load it.

"Wow, we didn't know you were a musician?!"

"Exactly."

I also make sure that anyone entering my house for repairs, installations, etc. gets the very distinct feeling it would be very bad to tell their friends what they "saw while installing xxxx service at this guys place today."