theft on the drop zone

[SkymonkeyONE 4]

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I've met some of the greatest people in the world and some of the biggest scumbags at dz's, seems to be more good folks around, but it only takes one scumbag to ruin a good day!
~

That is the absolute truth! As much as we would all like to believe that "a skydiver would never do that", it is simply not the case. A thieving crackhead has no problem kicking in the doors of his best friends and robbing them blind, regardless how many jumps he has. I have seen it first hand right here in North Carolina.

Another time, my father very-nearly executed a guy who decided it was cool to back a truck up to his house in the middle of the night after a big DZ party held there. This transient skydiver was caught red-handed with about eight rigs in the back of the truck. It took my dad every ounce of restraint in his body to keep from discharging that firearm in front of about 20 people. You simply do not take advantage of southern hospitality in that manner and expect to get away with it.

Bottom line: secure your shit, no matter how safe you think it is to leave it laying around.

Chuck

[stratostar 5]

That was kind of my point, I met you both and known scotty for a number of years, most people love him, some hate him, but I have found you both to be nice and caring people who go out of your way to see that everyone has something to eat,drink and has a good time. I think you both would give the shirt off your back to help someone in need, so to think someone steal from you two shows indeed there are scumbags out there that don't care who they fuck over, more today then back in the day!

P.S. hope you both are well....
~

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[op5e 0]

I do not lock my stuff up but I have a waterproof bag that I place my logbook in (incase it rains when im riding my motorbike) and I keep all my belongings in that bag when I am jumping. I believe this serves two purposes. First is I will know if something goes missing because there is only one place it can be. Second is out of sight so less chance it will be an opportunity nic. Third is if I know it is in that bag to the side, I know I did not pack my wallet into my canopy.

[cvfd1399 0]

I dont worry as much about the regular jumpers at the dz, but all the little tandem observers that run around 16 years old and smoking and looking suspect that worries me.

[Brian425 0]

I do not lock up my stuff. I put all my valuables in my gear bag. I trust the club members. I do not leave my wallet, keys etc out over on the student side. I trust the students and staff; but, there are tooo many tandems and friends that just pass through.

I also for that when I got hurt, it was nice to have everything where people could gather my stuff. This allowed to take my truck to the hospital for me and to have acces to my phone to call my family.

I trust the people at my DZ 100% If I did not, I would look elsewhere. Plus in general, if you want something I have you can use it or have it if I have extra.

B

The only time you should look down on someone is when you are offering them your hand.

[beowulf 1]

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I know a guy that lost his very first rig at a DZ in Spain (I think, or maybe it was France) without having put 1 jump on it.... And the insurance company said he left it alone, even though everybody leaves his/her gear in the hangar. No coverage so he was out the money! This was during a jump-day, BTW...

That really sucks. I had my first rig stolen out of my apartment, by whuffos who most likely pawned it for $50. My current rig is very unlikely to be stolen by another jumper, as it is very easy to describe and very noticeable. It is my avatar.

[carbonezone 0]

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My current rig is very unlikely to be stolen by another jumper, as it is very easy to describe and very noticeable

Dont count on it. Years ago Scotty had a rig stolen that looked like a giant Skydive Gear Warning Label....you know the orange one on all our stuff.
If a thief is lurking nothing is safe....
Sad but true
<>
Tami

[britboynz 0]

I've not been in the sport long, & have already had something nicked. First day jumping my brand new jav, some light fingered fucker nicks the hook knife I'd put on one of the legstraps. It's only a hook knife I know, but thats not the point. Man was I pissed off.

This really woke me up & I checked the fine print of my insurance. It states: "You are not insured for: Loss of or damage to or theft of any item left unattended in a public place" Its very probable most insurance companies will have a similar clause in their policies - If you leave your rig in your usual corner once its been packed and it goes missing while you're buying a coke/having a smoke/chatting up that cute whuffo student then you very likely are not insured. Not a pleasant thought.

Someone recently told me: Don't trust ANYONE these days. Sad i know, but unfortunately a sign of the times

From now on, my rig doesn't leave my sight. Check your insurance people, and take care of your gear.

Russ

[nacmacfeegle 0]

There is another even less savoury aspect to leaving your gear unattended, it is one involving possible sabotage, or other malicious tampering.
Last year there was a case of a jumper in England who went in after his pilot chute bridle was cut along with his reserve risers. The cutting was done in such a way to avoid detection on a routine flight line check.
After much head scratching the Police determined it was a case of suicide, but I remain unconvinced. There have been cases in the US of equipment tampering but I recall they were on military systems, Chuckie probably knows the details of that one better than I.

At the end of the day folks you pays your money, you takes your chances. Its not nice to think that our wee family would behave like this, but you have to consider it.

Personally, I no longer leave my rig overnight at DZs, and during the day I tend to stash stuff that is attractive in my rig bag, out of sight. But it shouldn't have to be like this.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[stratostar 5]

(quote)
cases in the US of equipment tampering
(QUOTE)

Kirk Verners rig with the reserve riser cut, lucky for him he didn't
jump it, bad for the dude that did and need to use plan B.

~

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[PhreeZone 20]

Don't count on someone stealing your hook knife, I've seen more then one of them retrieved from the fields around the DZ. They have a nasty habit of falling off in freefall sometimes. I lost one that way.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[DShiznit 0]

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Don't count on someone stealing your hook knife, I've seen more then one of them retrieved from the fields around the DZ. They have a nasty habit of falling off in freefall sometimes. I lost one that way.

I've lost two within 10 jumps of each other.

Thank God CRW peeps have plenty!!

[PhreeZone 20]

I highly, HIGHLY reccommend the Pac-Safe protector bags. http://www.pac-safe.com/viewallproducts.aspx These things will let you attach your bag to anything you want to and they are made of a fairly heavy duty stainless steel mesh. Its going to take full on bolt cutters to cut through them, no little wire cutters will do it.

I've seen them used extremely successfully in the backpacking world and I'm planning on having one this year for my gear bag. Its got a padlock so all you need to do is remember the combo and you are in, no keys to lose.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[britboynz 0]

Trust me, someone nicked the damn thing . Beer light was on, my rig had been packed & was sitting in the corner with everyone elses rigs. DZ shuts for the night, went to pick my rig up & head home - right legstrap had been undone (left one still done up)...hook knife was missing

Since then it amazes me how careless a lot of people are with their gear. Everyone moans and bitches how expensive the sport is yet people leave their gear/personal stuff lying around without a 2nd thought

[stratostar 5]

Yea, but in the good old days you could do that over night along with your wallet and it would all still be there in the morning.
At least all you lost was a knife and not your whole rig.
And today you have make sure that knife wasn't used on your rig where only a rigger will find it.

~

you can't pay for kids schoolin' with love of skydiving! ~ Airtwardo

[cloudseeker2001 0]

I once left my helmut and alti at the DZ for about 7 month break and when I came back both were hanging on the rack together. I thought that cool.

"Some call it heavenly in it's brilliance,
others mean and rueful of the western dream"

[Michele 1]

I discovered a very full wallet once. I was camping at the DZ that night, and checked ID for whose wallet it was. I told a few people to find XX person, and let them know I had something which belonged to them, but not what. And I sure wasn't going to leave it out. I brought it over to manifest the next morning, 'cause I was gonna make a jump and then leave...I got a sweet note here from the person who owned the wallet, thanking me.

So maybe there are still good people, and not just fucktards hanging out. Or maybe I'm simply anachronistic. I like to think there are more nice people than not, but I've had my share of disillusionment with skydivers, so who knows in the end.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~