how to secure rugs against theft?

[ThePony]

Hi,
Seem to be loads of thefts in my area at the moment. The tack room is well secured. But my rugs and all other paraphenalia are kept in a small area to the side of my stable. Obviously I wouldn't want to lock the stable, and there is only a lower stable door between the stable and store room. How on earth could I secure my rugs? I can't take them home as there must be about 40 rugs (for more than one horse!), and I wouldn't be keen about locking them in a chest as the winter stuff seems to go mouldy quite quick. Which leaves me short of ideas! Can anyone suggest anything?
Thank you!

 

[Scheherezade]

Paint your postcode on them in big letters? I've seen a few people who have done that.

 

[Pilib]

How about padlocking them all together perhaps with a chain and then putting the chain around something substantial?

 

[Scheherezade]

Get a big, big dog!

 

[Geraldine]

I've just put this on another post. Home postcode on the shoulder of the rug in large letters, farm name across the bum. Done in black permanent marker.

 

[hendrabonnie]

I bought one of these and chained it up outside my stables and then padlocked the box! Quite expensive but it is waterproof and i can fit nearly 30 rugs in mine, its the best thing i have ever bought!

http://www.shedstore.co.uk/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/cha52jum

 

[beckieswann]

They sell those at Homebase too. Good idea!

 

[Maesfen]

[ QUOTE ]
I bought one of these and chained it up outside my stables and then padlocked the box! Quite expensive but it is waterproof and i can fit nearly 30 rugs in mine, its the best thing i have ever bought!

http://www.shedstore.co.uk/itemdetl.php/itemprcd/cha52jum

[/ QUOTE ]

They were on offer last week in Countrywide at £35, don't know if it's still on!

 

[alsxx]

Postcoding is a very good deterant, I post code ALL of my rugs.

The yard I have just moved from was broken into in December, I keep most of my rugs at home anyway unless they are in use, however I had one that was hung up (postcoded) in the barn and it was taken then chucked back on the floor, I am guessing because it was postcoded.

Everyone else however had all their rugs nicely cleaned and folded (some even brand new in bags) just waiting for someone to come along and help themselves. They were just left in the barn in clear view for anyone who walked in. Madness.

 

[kirstie]

When my old horse was living out I postcoded his rugs in huge letters with paint. This did not deter the thieves, they stole the rug from his back on a FREEZING cold xmas eve. Poor boy was shivering when I found him, not easy to find a replacement rug on xmas day.

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

Postcoding usually works altho a local stables had all their rugs stolen and the rugs reappeared on the backs of the horses at the local travellers site, complete still with the postcodes. The police werent interested and the horse owners felt sorry for the travellers horses so they got to keep them.

The storage containers above are OK but wouldnt provide much security, also I wouldnt want to keep 20+ rugs in one place as the prize would make it worth the while stealing, postcoding is the best deterrent even if not perfect. that and large black and tan breeds of dog (they dont know my Doberman is a dopey dork ), the dogs are the one thing they are really afraid of, they nicked the CCTV cameras!

 

[Donkeymad]

[ QUOTE ]
Done in black permanent marker.

[/ QUOTE ]

Best done in something bright, such as yellow. Black will not show in the dark when the majority of rugs are stolen.

 

[Passtheshampoo]

Sorry but I get so annoyed when the Police aren't interested in anything horse related. Many of the travellers work on the side and don't pay taxes so they're probably better off financially than most regular horse owners (just look at the vehicles some of them drive). I'd have been asking for the Chief Inspector's details and contacted him/her re lack of police response.