Community Theater Green Room Discussion Board: Our theatre was broken into

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Kathy S
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Topic: Our theatre was broken into
Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:25am

Our theatre was broken into a few nights ago. A great many power tools and electronic equipment were stolen. Others might learn from our unfortunate experience to keep a record of serial numbers of power tools and electronic equipment, as well as other valuables. We are quite certain our insurance will cover this once the deductible is met. Real bad bummer.

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th8rguykc
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Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:31pm

This breaks my heart-

It reminds me of a recent event here where someone stole a van with the baseball equipment from the local Boys and Girls Club team!

I say you follow in their example (the B&G club) and use it as an opportunity to reach out to people and business in your community.

Maybe the old adage is true, "even bad publicity is good publicity."

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Dustmac
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Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:39pm

We change the locks once a year. We have had things stolen a lot of times so we now restrict where people can go, etc. Even in community theater you need to limit how many people go up in the sound booth, etc. Things come up missing.

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Kathy S
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Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:21pm

A lady at church the next Sunday handed me a check for $100 and said "This is to help meet the deductible". An angel in our midst - they do exist.

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POB14
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Posted: 7/20/05 at 5:35pm

Sorry to hear that - but you will be surprised at the generosity of your patrons and friends.

The theatre I was involved with about 10 years ago had a light board stolen from the booth (outdoor theatre in the park) and had the winter Lab theatre burn down.

In the same season.

Yes, I was involved with both productions.

No, I wasn't responsible!

Your patrons think of themselves as part of your family. Let them be. They'll respond. Our theatre came out better and stronger, and yours will too.

POB
Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard

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Kathy S
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Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:01am

Thanks for the pep talk. I think you're right.

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Wishbone
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Posted: 8/26/05 at 3:20pm

Our theater was broken into too, last year. They stole about $500 worth of stuff. It was very bad because our theater doesn't have a lot of money.

WISHBONE

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Spectrum
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Joined: 4/16/04
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Posts: 176

Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:54pm

It breaks my heart to hear about this as well. It also makes my blood boil. How can creeps be so small? Speaking of B & E and theft of theatre assets, I'm reminded of another form of "theft." It's the outright waste of lumber and materials some people do in the noble cause of helping out with the construction of a set. If they need a two-foot piece of 2x4, rather than look for a short scrap to cut it from, they'll cut it off of a full-length (8 foot) 2x4. Or how about the guy who needs a small triangular piece of plywood so he cuts it from the corner of a full sheet of plywood? It's like they never give any consideration to the people who will need materials in the NEXT show. I've asked people why they do such things and the response has been "Who cares? It's not like we have to pay for it." That's right. It was usually ME paying for it and donating it to the theatre. THINK! If you want your materials to last, and your donors to continue contributing, it's best you use the assets of your theatre as if you DO have to pay for them. Sorry for the rant. Reading about this theft clearly struck a raw nerve.

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

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Kathy S
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Joined: 8/21/04
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Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:01pm

When we reported the break in and theft, the law enforcement officer advised us that in order to recover any items we should report the serial numbers of the items that were stolen. Right...who keeps a record of those? We had one or two serial numbers but certainly not all. THEN, when we replaced some of the expensive 2-way radios I was going to start a record of the numbers only to find that the serial numbers were printed on an easily removed sticker!

I estimate that the dollar value of the items stolen was about $2000 but our insurance deductible is $1000. Any items belonging to a volunteer which were stolen are not covered on our policy -- the volunteer would have to claim them on their own policy...a bit of a rip it seems to me because in this case they would not have met their deductible so it's just a loss to the kind volunteers who brought in tools to be used by the theatre...

I guess you can learn from our experience and check into your insurance policy, but better still be sure you have a good security system.

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Scott B
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Joined: 12/08/04
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Posted: 9/02/05 at 12:43am

Kathy ...

So sorry to hear about this. As I recall you're in a rural area. Who knows ... mayb they'll actually find the ones that did this.

As for the serial numbers ... you might be able to etch the numbers on them. Although I suppose any of them could be removed. Still ... people videotape their crimes, so I guess they could be stupid enough to leave the serial numbers on them.

Maybe a special Cabaret Night promoted as a fundrasier to replace the stolen equipment could help.

Best of luck

Scott

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Author	Message
Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Topic: Our theatre was broken into Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:25am
	Our theatre was broken into a few nights ago. A great many power tools and electronic equipment were stolen. Others might learn from our unfortunate experience to keep a record of serial numbers of power tools and electronic equipment, as well as other valuables. We are quite certain our insurance will cover this once the deductible is met. Real bad bummer.

	IP Logged

th8rguykc Player Joined: 5/27/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 28	Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:31pm
	This breaks my heart- It reminds me of a recent event here where someone stole a van with the baseball equipment from the local Boys and Girls Club team! I say you follow in their example (the B&G club) and use it as an opportunity to reach out to people and business in your community. Maybe the old adage is true, "even bad publicity is good publicity."
	IP Logged

Dustmac Lead Joined: 5/25/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 42	Posted: 7/18/05 at 10:39pm
	We change the locks once a year. We have had things stolen a lot of times so we now restrict where people can go, etc. Even in community theater you need to limit how many people go up in the sound booth, etc. Things come up missing.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:21pm
	A lady at church the next Sunday handed me a check for $100 and said "This is to help meet the deductible". An angel in our midst - they do exist.
	IP Logged

POB14 Celebrity Joined: 7/01/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 349	Posted: 7/20/05 at 5:35pm
	Sorry to hear that - but you will be surprised at the generosity of your patrons and friends. The theatre I was involved with about 10 years ago had a light board stolen from the booth (outdoor theatre in the park) and had the winter Lab theatre burn down. In the same season. Yes, I was involved with both productions. No, I wasn't responsible! Your patrons think of themselves as part of your family. Let them be. They'll respond. Our theatre came out better and stronger, and yours will too.
	POB Old Bugger, Curmudgeon, and Antisocial B**tard
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 7/21/05 at 12:01am
	Thanks for the pep talk. I think you're right.
	IP Logged

Wishbone Player Joined: 8/05/05 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 22	Posted: 8/26/05 at 3:20pm
	Our theater was broken into too, last year. They stole about $500 worth of stuff. It was very bad because our theater doesn't have a lot of money. WISHBONE
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Spectrum Celebrity Joined: 4/16/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 176	Posted: 8/27/05 at 4:54pm
	It breaks my heart to hear about this as well. It also makes my blood boil. How can creeps be so small? Speaking of B & E and theft of theatre assets, I'm reminded of another form of "theft." It's the outright waste of lumber and materials some people do in the noble cause of helping out with the construction of a set. If they need a two-foot piece of 2x4, rather than look for a short scrap to cut it from, they'll cut it off of a full-length (8 foot) 2x4. Or how about the guy who needs a small triangular piece of plywood so he cuts it from the corner of a full sheet of plywood? It's like they never give any consideration to the people who will need materials in the NEXT show. I've asked people why they do such things and the response has been "Who cares? It's not like we have to pay for it." That's right. It was usually ME paying for it and donating it to the theatre. THINK! If you want your materials to last, and your donors to continue contributing, it's best you use the assets of your theatre as if you DO have to pay for them. Sorry for the rant. Reading about this theft clearly struck a raw nerve.
	Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
	IP Logged

Kathy S Celebrity Joined: 8/21/04 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 303	Posted: 8/28/05 at 11:01pm
	When we reported the break in and theft, the law enforcement officer advised us that in order to recover any items we should report the serial numbers of the items that were stolen. Right...who keeps a record of those? We had one or two serial numbers but certainly not all. THEN, when we replaced some of the expensive 2-way radios I was going to start a record of the numbers only to find that the serial numbers were printed on an easily removed sticker! I estimate that the dollar value of the items stolen was about $2000 but our insurance deductible is $1000. Any items belonging to a volunteer which were stolen are not covered on our policy -- the volunteer would have to claim them on their own policy...a bit of a rip it seems to me because in this case they would not have met their deductible so it's just a loss to the kind volunteers who brought in tools to be used by the theatre... I guess you can learn from our experience and check into your insurance policy, but better still be sure you have a good security system.
	IP Logged

Scott B Celebrity Joined: 12/08/04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 239	Posted: 9/02/05 at 12:43am
	Kathy ... So sorry to hear about this. As I recall you're in a rural area. Who knows ... mayb they'll actually find the ones that did this. As for the serial numbers ... you might be able to etch the numbers on them. Although I suppose any of them could be removed. Still ... people videotape their crimes, so I guess they could be stupid enough to leave the serial numbers on them. Maybe a special Cabaret Night promoted as a fundrasier to replace the stolen equipment could help. Best of luck Scott
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