Do Expensive Strollers ever get Stollen?

[babiesX2]

The way I figure, locking the fold joint makes it very improbable that your stroller will get any further than the parking lot, even if someone does take it deliberately. If they cannot fold it, they can't easily get it into a vehicle, therefore it becomes a much less attractive target for theft than the unlocked stroller that is a bit further down the line. If someone did take it just for convenience, they would undoubtedly abandon it somewhere in the park or in the parking lot, and the efficient folks at Disney would get it back to me if that happened. Just in case, I used clear lacquer to stick about 5 small address labels on various parts of the bottom of the frame, so that I could easily identify them if they turned up in lost and found. (The labels have the cell# on them, too.)

I think the lock to prevent folding is a good idea, but my stroller is quite large (front to back double), and I can fit it into my Dodge GC easily without unfolding it. I also keep an umbrella stroller that is unfolded in the van at all times, too. Lots of vehicles are big enough these days that an uncollapsed stroller could fit with no problems. Besides, it could be thrown into the back of a truck without much difficulty at all. We are bringing our stroller for OUR children to use, not someone else's. Someone else's lack of planning should not have to become our emergency, and that is why I bought a $2 insurance policy. Our stroller will be a pain in the neck to "borrow," so the "borrower" will just move down the line to one that is not locked and easier to push.

I don't think I would put my home address all over my stroller. Maybe a work address or a close family member's address. I think it would be OK to just put your cell #.

 

[bdg100]

On one of our first trips we parked in the lot at MK to take the boat to the front gate. Right next to us was a van full of strollers with a guy who was selling them dirt cheap. The big sturdy expensive looking ones he was selling for $25. Other cheaper ones he was selling for $4. Our kids were too old but I did think it was too good of a deal. I wonder where he got them all. He must have had 50 - 75 stollers in that thing.

 

[babiesX2]

On one of our first trips we parked in the lot at MK to take the boat to the front gate. Right next to us was a van full of strollers with a guy who was selling them dirt cheap. The big sturdy expensive looking ones he was selling for $25. Other cheaper ones he was selling for $4. Our kids were too old but I did think it was too good of a deal. I wonder where he got them all. He must have had 50 - 75 stollers in that thing.

I wonder, too!

 

[welovedis]

On one of our first trips we parked in the lot at MK to take the boat to the front gate. Right next to us was a van full of strollers with a guy who was selling them dirt cheap. The big sturdy expensive looking ones he was selling for $25. Other cheaper ones he was selling for $4. Our kids were too old but I did think it was too good of a deal. I wonder where he got them all. He must have had 50 - 75 stollers in that thing.

Perhaps he was able to purchase them at the Disney employee store, I've heard from friends that go there with a CM that the strollers are prices starting at $2 or so!


We are one of the families that posted about having a stroller stolen at the MK near Splash & BTMRR. It was our MacLaren & we checked repeatedly over & over with L&F to see if it had been turned in, but sadly it wasn't. I'm certain it was stolen & not a case of mistaken identity because my DS' cup and a tiny bag we had in the bottom were found later but not the stroller.

I would say that our experience is not the "norm" but that it can happen. At that time we really needed a stroller for our DS because of his special needs, in addition to his age. If that is the case and rental strolelrs won't fit the bill if something happened to yours then look into a lock. The chances of it getting stolen are slim, but it does happen.

 

[MomDad&2boys]

After reading this thread, my eyes are wide open for our upcoming trip. Last trip, we took our Peg & had no problems but this time around we will be taking two strollers (a Quinny Zapp & Cosatto Solaris). It would make for a difficult if we were to lose one of the strollers not to mention the fact that they are both brand new. I'm wondering if locking our two strollers together would work? I'm sure that the CMs wouldn't appreciate it but I'm certain that no one would run off with our strollers bicycle locked together. Is this a good idea?

 

[beattyfamily]

Just an fyi...several years ago I read a thread like this (I think it was our 2nd trip in 2000) and I bought a bike lock and you know what? I used it for ONE day and then got sick of taking the time to lock the wheels!

It just took too much time away from running to rides and what not so we threw caution to the wind and have never looked back! Just thought I'd share my experience but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

 

[NotUrsula]

Lots of vehicles are big enough these days that an uncollapsed stroller could fit with no problems. Besides, it could be thrown into the back of a truck without much difficulty at all.

Of course, but impossibility isn't really the point, improbability is. Even if you remove it from the park, you still have to take a hacksaw to it before you can use the thing comfortably or resell it. That makes it unattractive to a deliberate thief, and raises the probability that someone who really had good intentions but took it by accident will not decide to just keep it anyway because that is less trouble than taking it back to L&F after a long exhausting day in the parks.

After I had my house broken into once, the police officers explained to me that in the game of preventing theft, making the item impossible to take is usually not worth the bother. The key is to make your item a more difficult target than the next one over, and that is good enough. They explained to me that thieves are in a risky business, and anything that slows down or complicates a theft raises the risk, lessens the return and makes it not worth stealing, unless the item is rather unique and the profit potential is quite large. A locked-up Ferrari is still worth stealing, but a locked-up Mac isn't, especially not at WDW where you can just move down the line to find one that is totally unprotected.

BTW, the address labels on my strollers don't have my home address on them; just our names and our cell phone numbers. It cost me all of $5 to have a batch made specially just for marking items we commonly travel with. They have lasted nearly 10 yrs now, and we use them on things like cell phone chargers, extension cords, laptops, portable games, etc.; anything that is easily misplaced while travelling or at camp.

 

[TravelinGal]

Just an fyi...several years ago I read a thread like this (I think it was our 2nd trip in 2000) and I bought a bike lock and you know what? I used it for ONE day and then got sick of taking the time to lock the wheels!

It just took too much time away from running to rides and what not so we threw caution to the wind and have never looked back! Just thought I'd share my experience but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

Fortunately we will have 3 adults with us (making baby swap easier and more enjoyable since we will have each other to ride with) so many times the stroller won't be left alone. But on things where we can all go in I will lock it. I don't care if it's inconvenient - losing our stroller would ruin the whole trip (or at least it would ruin DH's trip - and he'd ruin the rest of the trip for us...)

My plan is to lock one front wheel up around the "bumper bar" of the stroller (the bar in front of the seat) - keeping the lock up high so we don't have to get on the ground to unlock it. Cast Members can still tip it back to move it if need be, but nobody is going to walk off with it - accidentally or otherwise - if they can't roll it normally.

 

[babiesX2]

My plan is to lock one front wheel up around the "bumper bar" of the stroller (the bar in front of the seat) - keeping the lock up high so we don't have to get on the ground to unlock it. Cast Members can still tip it back to move it if need be, but nobody is going to walk off with it - accidentally or otherwise - if they can't roll it normally.

Will you report back, and let us know how it works out (ease of use vs. inconvenience, etc.)? I think it sounds like a good idea.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Just an fyi...several years ago I read a thread like this (I think it was our 2nd trip in 2000) and I bought a bike lock and you know what? I used it for ONE day and then got sick of taking the time to lock the wheels!

It just took too much time away from running to rides and what not so we threw caution to the wind and have never looked back! Just thought I'd share my experience but if it makes you feel better, go for it.

That is my thing. I would rather take my chances then bother. I would not have the patience to lock it again, heck my kids are out and running towards the actration (now that the youngest can run.) I need to run to cacth up.

 

[Goofygirls4God]

yes they do. It happened to us about 4 yrs ago...they traded their old raged model for our nicer, newer one...even switched our nametags. Can you believe?
We rent now and are happier.

 

[sanjoe]

Thieves still lurk at Disneyworld. Our digital camera was left on the counter in Epcot while buying a beer in Germany. Not 5 minutes later, it was never seen again. Lost and found for days...no luck. It did put a damper on our trip that some of our family pictures were on that camera-although we were only on day 2. I kept my glass half full the whole trip, assuring myself and our family that someone will turn it in...no such luck.

 

[MyZoeJane]

I took our Peg Pliko M3 which I LOVE, seriously, if you're in the market for a stroller, this one does it ALL!

Anyhow, I anticipated the possibility of theft so what I did was make it OBVIOUSLY mine... Like other posters, I put brightly color ribbon on the handbars... but I also used "zip ties" to secure those little metal license plates to each side at the bottom of the stroller! Zip ties are NOT easy to cut and it cannot be done with a knife or other sharp implement.

My thought was that a person would be less likely to take a stroller that was clearly marked as belonging to a person for fear of bumping into that person in the park. Also, I left stuff in the stroller, like the backpack with the extra clothes, sippy cups, and other stuff I wouldn't cry about if stolen. I figure a person is less likely to take a stroller that is weighted down with other people's crap, preferring instead to snatch the empty stroller instead, you know?

I would never forsake my Pliko for a rental. The rentals do not lay down and the shade does not come all the way forward to create a "nook" for a sleeping babe to rest in complete shade....

 

[Aristomommy]

We've had a stroller with us 2 times, and have not had any problems. I bought a big luggage tag from Walmart that was bright yellow and used cable ties to secure it to the stroller. Someone would need a knife to remove it, and I thought it would alert a CM if anyone tried. More than stealing, I would worry about CMs moving strollers to keep them closer together and organized. It seemed they did this less and less during our last trip.

 

[jj1403]

You guys are scarying the heck out of me!! We just bought a double Baby Jogger (city series). Really with the sole purpose of bringing it on our trip to Disney. Now I'm freaked out! I guess I was naive in thinking people wouldn't steal in the "happiest place on Earth!"

But in saying that I do think I will look into the bike locks. Does anyone know if you can purchase actual stroller locks?

 

[eeyoresfarmfriend]

You can always tag your strollers. BY making a nice sign and sewing it on the back of seat. Just take some heavy weight material and either embroider on it or use waterproof markers or iron on letters. Might deter anyone as it will be an obvious personalized stroller. Of course finding your stroller in a sea of thousands might be tricky if they do steal it anyway but at least it might cause the thief to think twice before he snatches yours.
We never had anyone take ours although like it said in other post we thought it was stollen when we exited rides and could not find it. Then found they had moved them all to another location.......
You could always go to a garage sale or thrift store and find a good used one and then not worry so much about it being stollen.....anyway good luck to all stroller pushers this season.

 

[TravelinGal]

But in saying that I do think I will look into the bike locks. Does anyone know if you can purchase actual stroller locks?

If there is such a thing, you can bet it's just the same as a bike lock, but at 3 times the price since it's now a specialty item since they tacked "baby" on the name.

Just find an easy way to secure one wheel. It's not going to go far!

Yes, things DO get stolen at WDW - but when you compare it to the "real" world, the incidence of theft is drasticly lower. Look how many people have said they had NO problems compared to the few that had a problem.
It's a numbers game. The numbers are in your favor. But there's always a slight chance they will go against you.

 

[momamy]

I dont think your allowed to lock the strollers in case they have to be moved.

We used to carry around an umbrella stroller! but now that dd is older im loving the rentals big enough to np in while mom and dad shop!

 

[TravelinGal]

I dont think your allowed to lock the strollers in case they have to be moved.

We used to carry around an umbrella stroller! but now that dd is older im loving the rentals big enough to np in while mom and dad shop!

You can lock either the front or back wheels so they can still be moved. You just can't lock them TO something or lock both front and back wheels.

Locking one front wheel still allows CM to move the stroller if necessary, but prevents some selfish pigheaded jerk from taking it because their kid is tired of walking.

 

[SueM in MN]

We never had anyone take ours although like it said in other post we thought it was stollen when we exited rides and could not find it. Then found they had moved them all to another location.......

On our last trip, I had taken my youngest DD to the bathroom while some of the rest of our party had gone to Small World and my DH had gone to get Fastpasses. While I was waiting at the SW exit for the rest of the party to come out, I watched the CM moving strollers from the area right outside the SW stroller area in to the stroller area. It seemed like every time she was busy moving 2 into the correct area, 3 or 4 more people would come along and park their strollers into the area she had just cleared. She seemed to have a never ending task ahead of her. I kept thinking of all the parents who would come out and find their stroller not where they left it (and would probably think it had been stolen).