Keeping a stroller from being stolen?

[todzwife]

I only have 1 double stroller. It's a very nice Britax B-Ready that cost about $500 w/ both seats (on sale). It's an absolutely PERFECT Disney stroller though because it's inline (not wide), 2 seats, HUGE basket and easy to push when fully loaded down w/ kids and bags.

I am afraid to bring it because I wouldn't be able to replace it if it was stolen.

I've heard to run a cable lock through the back wheels but that seems like a HUGE pain in the bum, plus if someone really wanted to steal it, the cables could be cut easily.

I've heard to make it easily identifiable by putting signs, ribbons etc. on it but a thief could just take those off.

Is there really a way to deter a stroller swiper other than not leaving it alone ever? (which as we know, isn't really a very fun way to go).

 

[DBMC]

I only have 1 double stroller. It's a very nice Britax B-Ready that cost about $500 w/ both seats (on sale). It's an absolutely PERFECT Disney stroller though because it's inline (not wide), 2 seats, HUGE basket and easy to push when fully loaded down w/ kids and bags.

I am afraid to bring it because I wouldn't be able to replace it if it was stolen.

I've heard to run a cable lock through the back wheels but that seems like a HUGE pain in the bum, plus if someone really wanted to steal it, the cables could be cut easily.

I've heard to make it easily identifiable by putting signs, ribbons etc. on it but a thief could just take those off.

Is there really a way to deter a stroller swiper other than not leaving it alone ever? (which as we know, isn't really a very fun way to go).

I brought my nice double stroller to DLR on our last trip. I didn't have any issues. I did put some flag things on it to make it easily identifiable. I wound them all through the handle bars, so it would have been a pain to take them off. I figured a thief would go for the easiest target, and having hard to remove flags on the handle bar wouldn't be the easiest target. I also made sure not to leave anything that looked valuable in it. I think most thieves would be more interested in the stuff they can steal out of it than the actual stroller. I wouldn't put a wire through the tires or anything like that, the CMs are constantly moving the strollers, and I think they will cut them off if they need to.

I am sure strollers get stollen occasionally, but I felt safe leaving mine in the stroller parking. I will be doing it again in September.

 

[lalasmama]

I think I recall hearing about someone placing a faux dirty diaper in the seat of the stroller to discourage would-be takers.

Honestly, this is always my fear--that we would bring a nice stroller and it would get stolen if/when a baby comes to us--so, early on in my thoughts/planning, I just accepted that I would be taking a sucky-ish stroller (basic Graco instead of whatever higher-end one we had at that point) to avoid someone mistaking my good stroller for their lame stroller.

Now, after all that being said... there are a lot of crappy strollers there, as well as a lot of higher-end strollers. We saw $15 Wal-mart specials next to BOBs, strollers from 1987 next to an Orbit or two. In other words, your Britax isn't going to be the only alluring stroller. A slight risk? Yes, of course. But probably not the risk we (you and me alike!) think it is!

 

[Lucille1963]

We ran a bike lock through our back wheels and did our best to try to find the more official looking parking so it would be in a group and less likely for the CMs to need to move it. Ours was a pricier stroller too (an Orbit) and I remember looking for it the first day from our ride on the Mark Twain to make sure it was there. It did slightly worry me, but I was happy to have the extra features.
Buy a sturdy lock and relax.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

Disneyland can control its operations but they can't control guest ethics. No matter how low the risk seems, don't leave anything unattended if you can't replace it, even if you lock up the wheels. If it's just inconvenient to replace? Then go for it.

 

[01spirit750]

My co-worker gave me an old beat up graco that we took to the parks. My wife had someone gave her junk stroller. They both worked fine and we didn't mind if they were taken. Most thiefs are interested in the stroller contents (purses, phones, wallets, etc).
When my daughter got older and was outgrowing a stroller we considered just leaving it at the park on the last day so we wouldn't have to haul it home on the plane, we didn't but we thought about it.

We liked the graco better then our expensive britex. The graco had a larger basket in the bottom and it was easier to get a backpack in and out of.

The suggestion about the fake dirty diaper filled with chocolate pudding was a novel idea.

Chris

 

[todzwife]

My SIL gave us a graco quattro. It's a BEAST, but it seems comfortable (fully reclining seat, HUGE basket, decent sunshade, cupholder, snack tray etc) and it's well loved with some small holes in the canopy and basket. We'll probably end up bringing it and a $20 wal-mart mickey stroller for the other kid but I'd rather deal with ONE stroller, not 2. If either (or both) didn't make it home with us, I wouldn't be disappointed.

 

[DBMC]

My SIL gave us a graco quattro. It's a BEAST, but it seems comfortable (fully reclining seat, HUGE basket, decent sunshade, cupholder, snack tray etc) and it's well loved with some small holes in the canopy and basket. We'll probably end up bringing it and a $20 wal-mart mickey stroller for the other kid but I'd rather deal with ONE stroller, not 2. If either (or both) didn't make it home with us, I wouldn't be disappointed.

I hated taking my cheap stroller to DL. My husbands wrists were sore for weeks afterwards. I specifically bought a $400 stroller to use at DL. It is so much easier to push. But we have older larger kids, so it probably wouldn't be too bad if you have a baby, or very small toddler.

I honestly don't worry too much about mine being stollen. I would be really upset if it was because I wouldn't be able to get another. But I see it as a very small risk.

 

[ValpoCory]

I hated taking my cheap stroller to DL. My husbands wrists were sore for weeks afterwards. I specifically bought a $400 stroller to use at DL. It is so much easier to push. But we have older larger kids, so it probably wouldn't be too bad if you have a baby, or very small toddler.

I honestly don't worry too much about mine being stollen. I would be really upset if it was because I wouldn't be able to get another. But I see it as a very small risk.

If you want a nice stroller but mainly want it for DL, consider renting one from here:

http://www.citystrollerrentals.com/OC.html

We rented a City Mini Double Stroller from MagicStrollers for our last WDW trip. I am the cheap one in our family, and even I recommend doing this if you have 2 kids 5 and under.

 

[DBMC]

If you want a nice stroller but mainly want it for DL, consider renting one from here:

http://www.citystrollerrentals.com/OC.html

We rented a City Mini Double Stroller from MagicStrollers for our last WDW trip. I am the cheap one in our family, and even I recommend doing this if you have 2 kids 5 and under.

I considered it, but it was cheaper for me to buy one because we needed it for multiple trips. And I can resell it when we are done with it.

 

[everwondering]

It's been a few years since I needed a stroller at Disneyland (though I'll need one next year again!!), but we used to put a folded up diaper or two (not dirty) or a an old rag into a plastic grocery bag and then tie the bag to the handle of the stroller. Not only did it make the stroller pretty easy to spot, but I think (hope!) it kept any potential thieves at bay.

 

[BoltzNBrew]

Only issue we have had was we rented a stroller from Disney last time and someone stole it while we were in Redwood Creek. I mean it had a card with our name on it and someone just took it. I think people are more inclined to steal those because everyone else has one that looks just like it. Much easier to just take one and dump it when you are done.

 

[cp11]

We were one of the unfortunate ones that had ours stolen. And it wasn't for the content since for some reason I had the inclination to go back and retrieve everything out of it for dinner that night, and I had been leaving it in the stroller all day long. And it was one of the expensive hard to replace strollers, stolen the first night we were there. Of course, CM's referred to it as misplaced not stolen. Heehee

My husband nearly made us go home he was so mad. DL did give us free rental stroller for the rest of the trip, but it kind of put a damper on the whole thing and our daughter didn't have the luxury of our own personal stroller.

So after that we only took a cheap stroller or rented. Just isn't worth it to us.

Good luck.

 

[kaci]

I intend to take our BOB Duallie (if I can find a bag to use for gate checking it, if anyone knows of one I'd love to hear it!) and my plan is to decorate the snot out of it. Nothing permanent, but time consuming to remove and maybe run a stroller lock through a wheel and over the handle bar so it's easy enough for a CM to move but would look awkward if someone was pushing a 3 wheeled stroller on 2 wheels for any distance.

I think most thieves are looking for quick and easy so just a couple of small roadblocks will hopefully get them to look past out stroller.

 

[DBMC]

I intend to take our BOB Duallie (if I can find a bag to use for gate checking it, if anyone knows of one I'd love to hear it!) and my plan is to decorate the snot out of it. Nothing permanent, but time consuming to remove and maybe run a stroller lock through a wheel and over the handle bar so it's easy enough for a CM to move but would look awkward if someone was pushing a 3 wheeled stroller on 2 wheels for any distance.

I think most thieves are looking for quick and easy so just a couple of small roadblocks will hopefully get them to look past out stroller.

I completely agree. They will most likely want the easiest target, so make sure your stroller isn't it.

 

[ValpoCory]

I intend to take our BOB Duallie (if I can find a bag to use for gate checking it, if anyone knows of one I'd love to hear it!).

Have you had trouble gate checking that stroller before? I've taken several different stroller models (single and double) with me to airports and never had a problem gate checking any of them for any airline. Or maybe I am misreading your post. Do you just want the bag to keep it from getting dirty during the transfers and on the plane?

 

[kaci]

I've never actually gate checked the Duallie. I've heard certain airlines won't gate check extra large or heavy strollers (including duallies) anymore, but it wasn't any that we were considering so that info has left my brain.
I mostly want a bag for protection. On our last flight our Mac umbrella stroller got beat up pretty bad and my friend has lost a carseat (was destroyed, unusable) to gate-checking so I'm on the cautious side now.

 

[mzozzietj]

We bring our Baby Jogger City Mini on every trip but it was only half the price of your Britax. I also decorate and I make a stroller tag but I used those laminating sheets you get at walmart to laminate it and attached it to the handles with zip ties. I did paper and strings on previous trips and they got destroyed from folding the stroller, rain, etc. Since they'd need to be carrying scissors to get the zip tie off it's not as easy to remove. In our case, there are tons of other baby joggers around so ours blends in which makes it less appealing. I make sure to differentiate it so people don't accidentally take it thinking it's their rental stroller.

 

[todzwife]

We were one of the unfortunate ones that had ours stolen. And it wasn't for the content since for some reason I had the inclination to go back and retrieve everything out of it for dinner that night, and I had been leaving it in the stroller all day long. And it was one of the expensive hard to replace strollers, stolen the first night we were there. Of course, CM's referred to it as misplaced not stolen. Heehee

My husband nearly made us go home he was so mad. DL did give us free rental stroller for the rest of the trip, but it kind of put a damper on the whole thing and our daughter didn't have the luxury of our own personal stroller.

So after that we only took a cheap stroller or rented. Just isn't worth it to us.

Good luck.

Can I ask what stroller it was? I'm wondering if certain brands are more likely to be stolen than others?

 

[jsoren11]

get a cable lock like this
http://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-7...F8&qid=1344451894&sr=8-11&keywords=cable+lock
put it through the wheel spokes. no ones gonna steal a stroller that doesn't roll, too much of a pain to carry.