Stolen Basket solutions

[Bizzle]

Problem is...those who want to steal a basket will find a way. It can't be prevented, you can only slow their progress. In nice neighborhoods and well traveled parks I've seen nothing more than a nut and bolt holding the basket to the sleeve. It's probably harder to have two correct size wrenches to undo a rusty bolt than it is to hacksaw through a lock.

Check out this possible solution to sawing the lock.....not sure if they have one for the types of locks used.

http://www.padlockprotector.com/

[BadVoodoo]

As the sport grows in popularity, the problem grows with it.

If you are like me, you take great offense to hearing about baskets stolen from local and public parks. We all suffer for this.


I'd like to throw out a suggestion, and would ask for serious consideration and discusssion.

- - -

WHAT IF baskets were stamped with permanent ID numbers?

Its not exactly high tech satelite triangulation to locate them, but it would deter theft if they could be positively identified, and provide proof for prosecution.


What would it take?

1. A simple database, to capture the data and generate unique id munbers. (I would think best housed with PDGA as the one and official site.)

2. A request form from the website. If I was a course steward, I could request 9 or 18 at a time.

3. Work with local Police, Fire, or Parks and Rec. departments to stamp the IDs on one weekend. Same method as bicycle registrations. I would think most would like to help to protect public property.

4. Optional.. a warning sign



Thoughts, comments, and more ideas welcome..

[cgkdisc]

Haven't tried it but this technology might be worth it and the network for tracking is already set up: http://www.datadotdna.com/us/brand_datadot.php

[BadVoodoo]

Superberry is right.. "Problem is...those who want to steal a basket will find a way. It can't be prevented, .."

Without electrified barb wire and boobie traps, the problem will always exist.

But I still really like the idea of positive identification on baskets. If not pursued to point of prosecution, it is at least proof of ownership.

If the goal was to sell it, it prevents them from showing up on places like E-Bay and Craigslist.
But most likely, these end up in someones backyard for practice. Only hope for recover there is the snitch factor, but again, it would be provable now.



Perhaps the positive ID idea belongs with the Basket manufacturers.

Each Vendor would have they own id system.
Stamp them with serial numbers before they leave the factory.
And provide a page on their website for product registration.
(what company would not want to collect consumer information?)

This seems like a no brainer to me.

It would only take the voice of the customer feedback to let them know this is a serious request.

[tengstrom]

Electrify the baskets!

Oh, wait ...

[underparmike]

Definitely interesting. Good find Chucky!

[jackinkc]

We have used the metal pin and drill a hole through the basket, and then a trailer type of lock on the end. We use metl sleeves that have holes that align with the basket pole hole that we drilled.

We have had probably close to 5 stolen over the last decade, of which 3 have been returned, because its pretty easy to identify that pole with a big hole in it came from on of the KCFDC courses.

This allows for multiple pin placement within parks. The bigger issue though is the moweres hitting the poles and thus destroying the "sleeve", but replacements are a bag of quickrete, re-bar and $25 pole.....

Bottom line, if someone wants it bad enough they will steal it though....