Anyone Ever Have Any Fishing Gear Stolen When Parked At A Store Or Restaurant? 2025
tcbass reply :
I'm always worried about someone stealing my rods or tackle boxes when parked at a store or restaurant such as on our trip to the lake, stopping at like a Cabelas or restaurant and coming out and finding someone has stolen my stuff out of my boat.
Luckily, my old Crestliner has a latch lock on the rod case and I was fortunate enough to get the key from that from the previous owner. So if I stop at a store, I lock the rod box and put my big tacklebox in the truck. I could put all of the rods in the truck but it's a pain and car doors and rods always scare me. I wish all of the compartments had lockable latches, because I'd lock my free floating tackleboxes up too.
Locks won't keep out a determined thief, nothing will. But they are a deterrent. And when eating I always try to sit where I can see my boat and truck. Obviously this doesn't work when you go into a Cabelas or a Fleet Farm.
Has anyone ever had their fishing gear stolen out of their boat or vehicle while stopped at a store, restaurant, or other place?
Dwight Hottle reply :
I haven't but I don't expose myself to that chance unless I can see the boat while I'm eating. I know several individuals who have had all their stuff cleaned out while making a quick trip into walmart or stopping to eat. It does happen even with locked compartments.
J Francho reply :
I try not to leave anything in plain sight that's worth more than a broken window.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Yes I am afraid so..... Also good to lock, yes, but a lock will slow it down. I got a story but it's too long but I was jacked bad.
Catch and Grease reply :
Two punks took a 4$ pack of worms from me and ran off from a dock I was fishing real quick haha just glad nobody's ever took anything of real value from me...
aavery2 reply :
Two years ago I had about 4000 dollars worth of gear stolen, the only way I can describe the feeling is it reminded me of when I was a kid and someone stole my bicycle. My insurance covered most of it.
tcbass reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 7:46 AM, aavery2 said:Two years ago I had about 4000 dollars worth of gear stolen, the only way I can describe the feeling is it reminded me of when I was a kid and someone stole my bicycle. My insurance covered most of it.
What happened?
Why didn't insurance cover some of it? What was it?
aavery2 reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 12:07 PM, tcbass said:What happened?
Why didn't insurance cover some of it? What was it?
Returned from a fishing trip with friends, decided we would stop and eat at a small diner with plenty of windows. Pulled the truck and boat up to the window where we could clearly see it. I had a large tackle bag that was placed up under the console, it was heavy and a tight fit. There were also several thousands of dollars in rods and reels on the deck the of the boat. Came out from eating a gave everything a quick check and noticed the bag was gone, have no idea how someone was able to get it out of the boat unnoticed but they did. My home owners insurance covered it, but I had to itemize everything lost, think about what you have and try to image how hard that was, how do you value custom baits to an insurance company representative, that has no idea what is what. Anyway they devalued a lot of stuff and depreciated things like knives and pliers. I came out OK but it was almost enough to make me want to quit. It had to be someone who had no idea, because the rods and reels would have been worth more and easier to get. Learn from my mistake, lock your stuff up.
Missourifishin reply :
One time I ate at a restaurant with my two nicest rod n reel combos in the bed of my truck. It must have been the most uncomfortable meal I've ever eaten, standing up every 90 seconds or so, so I could see the parking lot. It's the only time I've ever taken a risk that stupid with valuable possessions, and I'll never do it again. They weren't stolen though, thank God.
tcbass reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 12:29 PM, Missourifishin said:One time I ate at a restaurant with my two nicest rod n reel combos in the bed of my truck. It must have been the most uncomfortable meal I've ever eaten, standing up every 90 seconds or so, so I could see the parking lot. It's the only time I've ever taken a risk that stupid with valuable possessions, and I'll never do it again. They weren't stolen though, thank God.
I bet. When I have to do that I put them in the truck and lock it. Not much better, but at least a little better. Even when I lock them in the truck I'm worried.
WRB reply :
Don't be naive, lock up everything and keep a low profile, out of sight is out of mind.
If you don't have locked storage compartments, get locks!
More thrift occurs at the launch ramp by your fellow angers than you can imagine!
Lock your boat trailer onto your vehicle, never trust anyone around your gear unless you don't want it.
Tom
Sam reply :
All rods and reels in the vehicle along with the electronics that I install and remove at the ramp.
Keep compartments locked when traveling just in case there is an accident so the items don't fly out of the boat.
Always go directly to the ramp and directly home after fishing. May stop at post office or go through bank drive through but that's it.
To avoid a theft you have to think like a thief. Once you do this you can reduce your chances of a bad experience.
RAMBLER reply :
No, I haven't. I have an open boat with no locked storage, so, I just don't stop between the house and the boat ramp.
I have had the trailer license plate stolen, at the boat ramp.
PersicoTrotaVA reply :
I've never had anyone steal my stuff outta my truck or boat at a store but I got all my gear stolen back in 2010 around Christmas along with everything else in my house. They drugged my dog to get in but not before he bit one of them. I quit fishing and pretty much doing anything til about May of last year. I never felt so invaded in my life, never felt so vulnerable, and so depressed. It's not easy to pick back up when someone takes your bed and clothes and everything else you own. I picked back up with fishing this spring, glad I did, I forgot how much I love to be on the water.
Alonerankin2 reply :
Exactly, Exactly.... At the Ramp... Yep... Pretty sad...On 6/28/2014 at 1:39 PM, WRB said:Don't be naive, lock up everything and keep a low profile, out of sight is out of mind.
If you don't have locked storage compartments, get locks!
More thrift occurs at the launch ramp by your fellow angers than you can imagine!
Lock your boat trailer onto your vehicle, never trust anyone around your gear unless you don't want it.
Tom
bigbill reply :
Someone did take my lunch and bag of chips once.
But someone did steal my brother's custom built 13' harnell surf rod. We been looking for it, it's one of a kind. But never seen it yet.
airborne_angler reply :
I had an issue once where i believe a fellow angler (who I fished with on his boat in the past) attempted breaking into my stuff.
I was in my boat he was in his with a partner. I came in off the lake and his partner, who was watching Fellow Anglers boat, mentioned it had been taking a real long time for this guy to get his truck/trailer. I went up to retrieve my vehicle and noticed the back lock for my hatch had been monkeyed with (I always lift my hatch first thing when I get in my vehicle as it aids me to see when I back down the ramp)
I drove down to talk to this "fellow angler" and let him know what I discovered. It was about 8 pm with no illum and the guy has the nuts to gander a guess of "Looks like someone had a drill"...He then cups his hands and looks in my back window and "jokingly" says "So what you got back here anyways..."
I called the lake the next day and the store owner, without even knowing who I was, surmised I drove a blue Jeep when I asked if any reports of breaking ins had occurred recently.
Store owner told me the Red truck parked next to me had the rear window busted out and a purse and camera equipment were stolen.
Funny how when I went to retrieve my vehicle that might, there were 3 vehicles in the lot. Mine, the red truck and this "fellow anglers" vehicle.The red truck got broken into, my vehicle got tampered with but by his own admission...this " other" guys (fellow angler) vehicle was untouched...Needless to say, things get pretty tense now at the lake when I see him...it's driven me to pack it in and head home as I'm afraid of him either doing it again or confrontation as I filed a police report and he's on the radar.This guy has an extensive criminal history of Burglary and drug use and as they say..."A leopard doesn't change its spots" I don't trust this dude as far as I can throw him...same guy that when I went out with him one day, broke open a 40 of Miller and consumed it as he was behind the wheel driving us to the lake.
tcbass reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 10:26 PM, Alonerankin2 said:Exactly, Exactly.... At the Ramp... Yep... Pretty sad...
I was using my moms old suburban and we parked our trailer at the ramp and left to older life jackets in the back of the truck by mistake. This was an old rusty '89 suburban with extremely dark window tint that you couldn't see into. Someone stole those two life jackets out of it. Firstly you couldn't even see in there. Secondly who'd think there would be anything of value in there to steal.
1099gl reply :
No but I always worry about it
Bluebasser86 reply :
I had all my gear stolen once and a 2 man stolen another time, both were stored in a shed at the lake under lock and key, didn't matter. That gut punch feeling of knowing everything is gone is one that no one should have to go through.
All my gear goes in the cab of the truck if I have to go in somewhere or even better I'll go somewhere with a drive through so I don't have to leave it unattended.
OK Bass Hunter reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 8:04 PM, PersicoTrotaVA said:I've never had anyone steal my stuff outta my truck or boat at a store but I got all my gear stolen back in 2010 around Christmas along with everything else in my house. They drugged my dog to get in but not before he bit one of them. I quit fishing and pretty much doing anything til about May of last year. I never felt so invaded in my life, never felt so vulnerable, and so depressed. It's not easy to pick back up when someone takes your bed and clothes and everything else you own. I picked back up with fishing this spring, glad I did, I forgot how much I love to be on the water.
That fact that they drugged the dog would make me mad enough to inflict grievous bodily harm much less the stuff they stole. You can do a lot to a man. Touch my dog and it's on.
skeeter1980 reply :
Back in the eighties I was in a bass club.Every year we held a kids day,where boat owners would take the local kids fishing on the water.One year I didn't take my tackle out of the boat,and it was all stolen.At the end of the day,we'd give out awards.Well I had my boat and truck parked in the parking lot,and somebody stoled all of my tackle.The next day was Sunday,and we had a club tournament.I had to run around and buy some new tackle real faast.
Felix77 reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 1:39 PM, WRB said:Don't be naive, lock up everything and keep a low profile, out of sight is out of mind.
If you don't have locked storage compartments, get locks!
More thrift occurs at the launch ramp by your fellow angers than you can imagine!
Lock your boat trailer onto your vehicle, never trust anyone around your gear unless you don't want it.
Tom
What he said ...
kayakkrack reply :
i had a cooler full of snacks and drinks somebody stole from me lol good thing it was none of my poles or tackle. That would have sucked big time!!
Catch and Grease reply :
On 8/14/2014 at 11:56 AM, kayakkrack said:i had a cooler full of snacks and drinks somebody stole from me lol good thing it was none of my poles or tackle. That would have sucked big time!!
Hmm I wonder if he wanted the cooler or the snacks....
iabass8 reply :
On 6/28/2014 at 7:13 PM, Sam said:All rods and reels in the vehicle along with the electronics that I install and remove at the ramp.
Keep compartments locked when traveling just in case there is an accident so the items don't fly out of the boat.
Always go directly to the ramp and directly home after fishing. May stop at post office or go through bank drive through but that's it.
To avoid a theft you have to think like a thief. Once you do this you can reduce your chances of a bad experience.
X2
All rods/reels come inside and in vehicle when leaving ramp. Jigs/hardbaits/terminal tackle /electronics come in due to cost. Plastics and such i leave in. If you want to break a latch for some soft plastics....lol
related Fishing Tackle topic
previous topic
next topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.