As the Open House season begins we plan our day to make sure we have train spotters, people to answer questions, someone working refreshments and so on. But Theft is something many people don’t think about or figure it “just won’t happen”, believe me it does happen and the stuff people to take will amaze you. Over the years I have had 5 cars stolen, one locomotive and my last open house a very rare lantern. The cars are N scale so its easy for someone to put them in a pocket but I’m still trying to figure out the lantern and how they did it. Anyway, just because your guests are “Train people” doesn’t mean they are above taking something if they figure no one is watching. Always be friendly but don’t trust anyone you don’t know and never leave someone alone in your train room, always have a spotter assigned to that area. If you have a rare item that can be picked up easy maybe move it to a place where its easy to keep an eye on but people can still see it. Have fun at your Open House but just remember…theft is real.
If caught, please knee cap them with a hand sledge. They will forever limp, it slows them down and also warns other people they may be a thief.
My apology to honest people that have a limp, but you are being watched.
Does finding a Z scale F7 in your bed count? It’s display was 6’ off the floor…
I had to let the perp walk without that limp… seems my bro-in-law held up my great grand nephew, so he could grab it … in his tiny hand.
Hey have fun with your trains!
John
You got Z? We need to talk!
Greg
I hate to ask Greg but have you guys at ZoCal ever lost anything at a show?
I was at a Great American Train Show in Anaheim years ago watching a very long freight being pulled by 3 Rivarossi Challengers (N Scale) and suddenly the train came to a stop. You could here someone yelling “Stop that guy” and all I could see was a guy running to the side door with a Challenger in hand. I’m sure theft at a large train show is high, too many people and not enough at a booth to watch everyone.
We love doing the Open Houses but never again no matter how nice someone looks will I trust someone not to walk out the door with something if they think no one is watching. Its sad but it is what it is.
We’ve never had a real problem with theft, and our railroad is in the front yard.
It’s the little kids that take most of the stuff. They don’t think about it. It attracts their eye and they want it.
The parents need to look after their kids. Luckily, we get a very small percentage of small children and they are well supervised, but even then, they have to be watched like a hawk.
I don’t believe we have lost anything, but must stuff is up high as you know so it becomes pretty obvious.
Most of the guys watch the train they are running, and they run their own trains.
It can be scary, a big boy in Z costs $1,700 and is much easier to take off with than a G scale one
Greg
Pretty sad when people have to steal.
But they don’t “have to”.
I would agree with knee capping someone who decides to take my stuff, or stuff from my club, but I don’t usually carry a hand sledge around with me. Could you imaging someone explaining that they went to jail for grand theft, model train?
Haven’t had any issues with theft from humans yet, but pack rats (bushy-tailed woodrats) have taken several figures and other small details from the layout over the years. Sometimes they leave some turds in exchange (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-yell.gif)
Yes they are pesty critters, but gosh are they cute. I’ve trapped and relocated several over the years. They can’t resist Reese’s peanut butter cups.
I’ve thought of making off with Vic’s hot dog stand.
The only theft I had to deal with was with a family member, the cat. We had a large circus display on the layout with some fancy horses from Germany that were flocked and had real fur manes. Kitty decided that they were her “babies” and carried them all off to a “nest” she made on the floor of a closet where she tried to play nurse maid. After that incident we picked up some rather bland plastic horses to keep her from foraging for babies.
Cheers, Scott
I’ve had stuff disappear during open houses. No trains, but a Hubley car, and a few animal figures. I figured it was kids.