curious about bandits

dman · Post by **dman** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 4:11 pm

We began losing the nicer pieces of art from our Art Exchange tent around Friday of 2003. It wasn't that we weren't open to trades (we did a lot of those) but we didn't think people would go to the trouble of breaking the zip ties holding things down and wander off with the pieces while we were away (imagine, naked people running with scissors in one hand and our photographs in the other).

We ended up thinking of it not so much as theft as much as overzealous fans. Still, we plan to keep things a bit more secure this year.

Luckily, most of the stuff we bring (inflatable chairs, used rug, decorated but barely working bikes, etc.) is such dreck that no one wants it (theirs is probably already better).

Lujak · Post by **Lujak** » Tue Mar 02, 2004 7:46 pm

When we got back to camp from the burn, the camp next to us was in disaray as someone had a purse stolen out of an unlocked car. We all busted out the flashlights and did not find the purse, but did find 3 rifled duffels and a tiolet bag. We soon had a small crowd, it seems we were the end of a looting spree. The toilet bag and one of the duffles weer from surrounding camps, I took the others to BR Rangers an on to lost and found after fileing a report. All of our cars and RV were locked, and not molested. 2 storage boxes we left outside may have been seached but it was hard to tell in our state

Unfortunatly we lost a bike from center camp about a half hour before we left on Monday - not an expensive bike but decked out with personal momentos, bummer.
My take is that most theft is easly grabbable stuff. We watchout for one another, so if it takes long to steal it is probably ok. Take basic precautions, don't leave out stuff you cant afford to lose, lock your bike and car doors, but most of us are cool, so don't forget have fun!!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:51 pm

hageymon wrote: Plus, I have been opening up my HOME, in Sparks, to Burners on their ways to the Burn, also, for the last several years. Over 450 people came through my doors last year and NOT ONE ITEM belonging to me sprouted legs, nor anyone else's stuff either, as far as I know.

Call me naive, if you will, but my experience with Burners is that they are my fucking FAMILY and I TRUST them.

That's MY two cents worth...

Hageymon. www.blackrockburnerhostel.com

Hageymon--wonderful story.
What gets me is that my mother has been on the board of hte Berkeley (CA) Architectural Heritage Association for years and I've helped out at the annual housetours several times and we have to watch out for snatching. I mean think about it--good bourgious people, checking out the neighbors houses and kitchen redos and they have to grab the nicknacks. NOt that some of the nicknacks ain't spectacular, but these people are opening thier homes, for nothing and you're gonna do something so petty! Oh well.

TechKnow_shaman · Post by **TechKnow_shaman** » Mon May 03, 2004 2:24 pm

The one brush I had with thieves was in 2001. After a night out on the playa we returned to camp to find no cold beer left in the cooler. Oddly enough none of the warm beer "on deck" had been taken. The whole camp had been out, so it wasn't one of us. We have no problem sharing our beer, we just want to give it, rather than have it disapear.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Tue May 11, 2004 4:42 am

This old Buckethead suggests that anyone interested in this topic read the thread at 2003>Experiences>Ripoffs:

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=317

My advice is chain down anything of value, especially at unattended, remote art installations. The people who stole our generator and custom kite drove up on the last day and simply tossed them into their ride. This was not a simple act by some fool confused about whose Trek bike was whose. This was real, probably premeditated theft and we were idiots not to anticipate it.

The thing to remember about Burning Man is that it is a city of some 25,000+ inhabitants with all the good, bad, and the ugly that urban life can bring. That means both the joy and exhilaration of being among thousands of like-minded people and the sadness that rare, but inevitable human conflict can bring.

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Tue May 11, 2004 12:41 pm

Last year my bicycle was stolen and I happened to have my camera in the bag on the bike so I lost that too. It was a bummer.

My suggestion is to lock your bike, especially if you will not be able to see it for any real period of time. Don't leave valuable stuff in bike bags. Look out for your neighbors and be smart. Burning Man rocks, but you should take some precautions.

missmann · Post by **missmann** » Wed May 12, 2004 9:08 am

I have heard that if your bike is decorated it is much less likely to be borrowed- thoughts?
I personally am not really concerned with theft on the playa, but at the same time I think it takes a little common sense. Be responsible with your shit. Don't leave your multimillion dollar diamond necklace on the welcome mat to your camp. Don't assume that your $800 cash will be safe inside the red platform boot you aren't wearing with your superhero costume... Just take some smart precautions...

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Wed May 12, 2004 9:56 am

missmann wrote:I have heard that if your bike is decorated it is much less likely to be borrowed- ....

Yes, if it's decorated with a 300-lb geek shackled to the sissy bar.

Browse the lost & found threads?

stuart · Post by **stuart** » Wed May 12, 2004 10:10 am

I decorate mine with a combo lock whenever it is out of my sight. Never had any trouble as a result.

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Wed May 12, 2004 6:33 pm

I have heard that if your bike is decorated it is much less likely to be borrowed- thoughts?

In '02 I hooked up with some folks at Iluimnaughty (sp) and left my bike, unlocked. That was about 1 or 2 AM, at about 10 AM or so I treked back to see if it was still there, I was somewhat surprised that it was. I had decorated it with lights and copper poles with fabric streamers. It may have been the decorations or it may have been that since I am a bike geek I had the seat hight set up to fit me so that anyone under 6 feet probably would have had a hard time riding it. I would recommend decorating your bike simply because it makes finding it so much easier. This year, no matter what else I do to my bike I will attach an emergency flasher to it so I can find it in the dark.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Wed May 12, 2004 6:40 pm

If you left your bike by Illuminaughty '02 all night I'm amazed the sheer sound pressure didn't flatten it!

Silver · Post by **Silver** » Wed May 12, 2004 7:31 pm

Hell no, it was one of those Murry/Huffy/Kmart bikes, a steam roller could not damage it. Granted I tried bike dancing with the Space Cowboys and ended up having to hit the freewheel with a hammer to get it working again. I bought it for $30 in centeral CA and spent about 3 hours getting it half-assed ready to ride (I said I was a bike geek, the bike tool I brought with me cost more than the bike did).

curious about bandits

bandits happen.

Re: Perhaps I/we have just been lucky, but...

Remember, it's a CITY