Stealing gear prevention - any ideas?

**vitamaltz** · 09-07-2010, 21:07

I had someone try to mess with my food bag one night when I was bike camping right on the outskirts of a really sketchy town. They couldn't figure out how to undo my PCT-method bag hoist. This was in an area without rocks, though, and they did steal the baseball I'd been using to toss my bag line.

As for goodies in the car, they go inside a trash compactor bag which gets stashed behind a tree or boulder a few hundred feet from my parking spot. I do this about once a week with my computer, cameras, and other expensive equipment. With a little thought, I can find a spot that's easy for me to locate, but which would be very unlikely for anyone else to find. If anyone did spot the bag, it would look like just another piece of litter near the trailhead.

**Rockdawg69** · 09-08-2010, 17:39

Maybe you can train one of these to follow and be a night watchman. But I would hate to have to carry the tree stand every day!!!!!

**MacEntyre** · 09-08-2010, 21:08

...BURP!

**tiredhiker** · 09-08-2010, 22:29

you can also tie a piece of fishing line to the pack and if it pulls on your toe you wake up and start shooting....LOL
Just joking

**eflat7** · 09-08-2010, 23:06

If I have to walk away from camp I wil put my pack in my hammock and cover it. Looks like someone sleeping peacefully.

**Distortedaxis** · 09-08-2010, 23:31

Originally Posted by Q_x

How do you prevent stealing your backpack/gear/stuff when sleeping?

I bring my 120lbs Chocolate Lab...

**MacEntyre** · 09-09-2010, 04:02

Originally Posted by eflat7

Looks like someone sleeping peacefully.

...a digital recording of snoring would complete the ruse in style!

**TheWild** · 09-09-2010, 06:02

Originally Posted by Distortedaxis

I bring my 120lbs Chocolate Lab...

****... didn't know that they could get that big! What have you been feeding it?

/Wild

**Harpo63** · 09-09-2010, 06:10

Check out the Pacsafe site. I have one that Ive used. It was recommended to me to secure your backpack to a secure place when "in town". Ive used this on my travel bags attached to my motorcycle when I went inside for a meal. Its not for gram weenies, but it got its start in the backpacking arena.

**dkperdue** · 09-09-2010, 06:35

I used one of the PacSafe smaller Tavelsafes when I was travelling in Europe and staying at hostels.
http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php...=detail&id=117
My biggest concern was that I would lose the key, as there was no way I would get in the bag otherwise!

Another option, if you don't mind carrying the gear is one of those small motion detector alarms with a remote. bring 2 and face them 180 out, turn on and off from inside your hammock. Modify the mount and paint everything but the strobe and detector lens with dark camo paint.
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=299506