Stolen Equipment

A snowHead

So me and a pal had our ski’s stolen while away last week in Andorra – two sets locked together and to the ski rack also a few days later a guy came into the same bar saying his board had gone missing

So I’m wondering

How rife is ski/board theft?

And what do you think happens to the skis/boards – just used by the thief - sold second hand – would I be too sceptical in thinking they could end up in hire shops?

Any thoughts?

A snowHead

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Unless the lock was one of the cheap combination jobs with a thin cable, it sounds like a case of being tooled up looking for something to take. A thin cable would only take a pair of pliers ( which most multi tools have), whereas something thicker would need a hacksaw or bolt croppers.

Were the skis particularly new, expensive, unique, etc. I have heard of a few cases of people being followed to see where skis are being left, so if you went to the same bar every day, they knew where to look.

Expensive/desirable equipment probably targeted for resale on eBay or equivalent, lower spec stuff taken by opportunist and sold for fraction of worth.

I use a thick cable lock for any location with access by foot, whether on the mountain or resort.

You need to Login to know who's really who.

Makes me wonder if Fischer are missing out on a sales pitch since re-introducing the cutout tip on there race skis. You could easily pass a good quality "D" lock through them and around soemthing to secure them.

Re ski shops and theft if found out it would destroy their business never mind the legal implications so very unlikely they would knowingly be involved in any theft's. and as under a new name, has said the price they pay for rental gear is cheap enough anyway. I think PowderAdict, has it right most are stolen for resale on sites like fleebay, plus a few who maybe because they had theirs stolen or lost one ski etc.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

I use a thin lock, really don't want to be skiing around with a big heavy cable lock on me, and for me its the deterrent really, and more importantly the token effort means the insurance company will pay out.

Were your skis the only ones around at the time? Always feel a bit uncomfortable if that is the case, and try to leave them at least somewhere well lit.

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I'm afraid it's almost a daily occurance during the season in most resorts, the ones which are really bad are when a gang clears out an apartment blocks ski lockers overnight!

Personally I suspect that skis are stolen in one resort and then resold in another region, say a gang starts in Chamonix clears a few ski lockers, moves on to PDS sells what they stole in Chamonix ditching the crap on their way, clears a few ski lockes in PDS and moves on to say 3Vs, repeat and rinse.

In most resorts there's an usually an agreement that if a shop gets anothers gear they just give it back and little point in stealing it.

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

cheers guys - I think you are right about the hire shops - they were new this year and it was a cable type lock which wouldn't have taken much to cut. The police said it happens often which made me think it was a local racket, It just got me thinking if so many are stolen where they all end up Sad

After all it is free

Ive been in Austria for the season, we regularly get hire skis going missing from apres bars, but its usually a mistake and they get returned the morning after.

We have also had a few pairs of private skis go missing, usually nice, high end newish stuff. I personally think its just light fingered holiday makers who see a pair of skis they want and take them (Fuelled by 6% beer and Jaeger). Non of the skis were locked, not even a cheapy retractable. You have to wonder how may people would leave a £600 mountain bike unlocked outside a pub in the UK ?

But skis being stolen with a lock sounds like prior planning, i would guess you could make a good living driving round ski resorts and nicking 1 pair of skis a night.

I use this Dakine lock http://eu.dakine.com/p/backpacks-and-gear/accessories/snowboard/cam-lock

It isn't that heavy fits easily in a pocket, and would take more than a casual attempt to cut through. I've also used it to lock bags together during long waits at airports etc, or on trains when bags are out of sight.

*Ski* the Net with snowHeads

Sounds like a bigger problem than I realised. Something to be said for hiring crappy skis.

Seems like a decent lock works, but maybe a light-weight lock just highlights its valuable, might be good enough to halt the inadvertent taking but not good enough to deter a determined thief?

Assume the old trick of splitting the skis still works as long as the thief isnt a vindictive b**tard and you can remember where the other one is after a few sherberts.

Anyone ever stop to think about those "bargains" on fleabay?

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We had our gear stolen out of the back of a transfer bus. Put it in the luggage as instructed then got on the bus at the airport. Apparently this sort of thing is rife at some of the airports, after all, who questions someone carrying a board bag at Chambery? Needless to say, if we do go on a bus now, one of us will stay outside until the luggage hold is closed and the bus about to leave. It has made me very untrusting and I always lock up the skis if we stop anywhere

snow reports

I'm careless, I'm afraid. I did have a pair of skis stolen once but I'd left them at a bus stop, on the road through the village, on a Sunday, then gone down for a beer. Stupid (though they did have a broken binding, which is why I was taking the bus, so not a great haul for the thief). I leave skis on my terrace for weeks on end (garden floor, accessible on foot), never lock them outside restaurants (sometimes swap if someone else suggests it) and in many years of skiing have never had any stolen, and neither has anyone I've been skiing with. I've been lucky, though I also ski in an area with very little theft. I am also careless with my doors and windows at home in the UK and have no burglar alarm. Also been lucky.

One day I will be burgled, or have my skis stolen, but meanwhile I've spent over half a century not fretting! Little Angel

If my memory is right was there not a situation in st Anton at the crazy kanguru were some of the bar staff were caught stealing customers skis,I think they were caught.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

If my memory is right was there not a situation in st Anton at the crazy kangaroo were some of the bar staff were caught stealing customers skis,I think they were caught.

A snowHead

Sorry the mooserwirt.

Help!!

Stolen Equipment

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