Stroller stealers?

[aidtrismommy]

We have a Peg Perego (over $300) and we use a MasterLock Retractable Cable Lock. It's easy to carry around (far less bulky than a bike chain!) and we choose the 3 digit code for the lock. I put it through the front wheels and go knowing that it's far safer than any that has no lock. Yeah, those jerks who steal just to resell could still take it, but that goes back to taking items that are easy.

It is very thin and easy to feed through most any wheel.

(It's also yellow - which is not a common color)

I would be very upset if our stroller was taken - not just because of the investment, but because of the time we'd lose having to go get another one. (we both have back issues and cannot push those short umbrella strollers)

I think this cable lock thing will definately fint through the spokes in my Mac. Thank you so much, this is what I have been searching for.

 

[Mississippianna]

We have a Maclaren, and I took the canopy to a local lady and had our last name embroidered on it in 3" letters. It cost about $15 to have it done. Call baby boutiques in your area, and they usually have a recommendation. It really helped to identify it easily in the crowds.

I also tied on a bunch of bright green ribbon, and attached a luggage tag with our contact info. It also helped that I got a Maclaren from a couple seasons ago off ebay, so it was a bright pink and grey. I didn't see another one like it on our whole trip. What I mainly saw were brand new models.

I figured a majority of lost strollers are because they all look alike and someone took the wrong one, or yours got moved around in the huge crowd and is harder to find. Believe me, if you park it at Fantasyland, or at DHS outside Playhouse Disney, you want that sucker to stand out.

 

[TravelinGal]

We have a Maclaren, and I took the canopy to a local lady and had our last name embroidered on it in 3" letters. It cost about $15 to have it done. Call baby boutiques in your area, and they usually have a recommendation. It really helped to identify it easily in the crowds.

The main reason I'd never consider this is that it puts tiny holes all around the lettering and the canopy would no longer be water proof (at least mine is... don't know about the Macs...)

It also kills any chance of reselling it when one doesn't need it anymore. I certainly don't expect to get my $300+ back but I want to recoup a little of the cost.

 

[TravelinGal]

I think this cable lock thing will definately fint through the spokes in my Mac. Thank you so much, this is what I have been searching for.

Glad I was able to help!!

 

[loveysbydesign]

The main reason I'd never consider this is that it puts tiny holes all around the lettering and the canopy would no longer be water proof (at least mine is... don't know about the Macs...)

It also kills any chance of reselling it when one doesn't need it anymore. I certainly don't expect to get my $300+ back but I want to recoup a little of the cost.

That's why ironed mine on! I can get it off later if need be, I have a Silver Cross and will probably resell it in the future too!

 

[taymacsmom]

If you are interested, last weeeknd I found a cable bike lock with 2 keys at the local Dollar Tree. I have a BJCM so I may just remove a wheel instead but for a dollar it is another option. Better safe, than sorry!

 

[Saturn23]

This looks like a good idea. Is the cable wound up inside the lock? Where did you buy it?

 

[TravelinGal]

This looks like a good idea. Is the cable wound up inside the lock? Where did you buy it?

I don't remember where I got mine, but you can search ebay and amazon for them. (If pushed, I'd have to guess Amazon is where I got mine, but not positive) There are 2 styles - the one pictured is smaller (2 ft cable). The one I have is actually a little bigger but still not huge to carry around (3 ft cable) - the case is about the same size as my Blackberry Storm phone.

Yes, the cable winds up inside. You pull the silver piece that you see sticking out, feed it through whatever you want to lock push it in and you can even retract the remaining cable so it's snug. (at least you can on the model I have)
Just don't let it snap back too fast. Ever had a metal tape measure slap you? Just as bad - if not worse with these puppies! They have some serious recoil when it's taking it back in.


Here you go...
Search
Master Lock 4605D for the 3 ft cable
Master Lock 4603D for the 2 ft cable

This is what the larger one looks like

 

[Saturn23]

I don't remember where I got mine, but you can search ebay and amazon for them. (If pushed, I'd have to guess Amazon is where I got mine, but not positive) There are 2 styles - the one pictured is smaller (2 ft cable). The one I have is actually a little bigger but still not huge to carry around (3 ft cable) - the case is about the same size as my Blackberry Storm phone.

Yes, the cable winds up inside. You pull the silver piece that you see sticking out, feed it through whatever you want to lock push it in and you can even retract the remaining cable so it's snug. (at least you can on the model I have)
Just don't let it snap back too fast. Ever had a metal tape measure slap you? Just as bad - if not worse with these puppies! They have some serious recoil when it's taking it back in.


Here you go...
Search
Master Lock 4605D for the 3 ft cable
Master Lock 4603D for the 2 ft cable

This is what the larger one looks like

Thanks so much! This will help me enjoy whatever show or ride we're on without worrying about whether my stroller will still be there when we get back. I'm always paranoid about things being stolen.

 

[Jdougherty]

Loved the idea of iron on or embroidery, But I would put it on my Sunshade extendtion which I got from kiddapotomas. That way I can still sell the stroller it's self if I wanted too. No one touched our graco last Nov,I did not see another like it either. We did hang a red soccer bag on it to mark it too. Like the idea of the lock so you can't fold it.

 

[The_Fairchild_Family]

My wife and I are taking our stroller with us in December. I have heard that most of the time a "stolen" stroller is just a mistake. From what I have read on here most people say to bring something to tie or put on your stroller helping to identify it as yours. My wife has made a "sign" of some sort that hangs from the handlebar that has our name, resort we are staying, and phone number in case someone makes a mistake.

 

[Ashlander]

The first time we went to Disney we invested in a dog hankerchief...we bought it right inside the Magic Kingdom. It is bright red and has Stitch on it. It really helped us keep track of our stroller. I've never thought to take it off so we even use it at home. It definitely helps us keep track of our stroller.

I agree that most of the time people accidently take the wrong stroller - it is so easy to do when there are so many of them.

 

[FunkyDuck]

I have a Maclaren that I purchased specifically for our Disney trip last November. I had made a sign that said The Tully's Princess Stroller with pictures of the princesses of course and our cell # and the # to WL, our resort. Laminated and attached with a small plastic cord. It helped us to find ours right away and we never had a problem.

 

[TXSchoolNurse]

I think that if you make your stroller stand out from the rest there is less of a chance of someone taking it, either by accident or on purpose. (If they got caught they could say oh we thought it was ours). There are TONS of MacLarens in the parks so I would think that would be what a true thief would go for, they are expensive and plentiful. We had a Britax that we had put a big Mickey Mouse iron-on applique on, which made it easy to find and unlike any others in the park. When that stroller died and we bought a Baby Planet I thought it would be unique, especially since I took the straps out of it since I have an older child, but I still had a hard time locating it until we "decorated" it. I also put an autism pin on the sunshade, figuring surely if someone was going to steal a stroller they would think twice about stealing from a disabled child!?!

I agree......I also read about people putting weird stuff on it. For example, a diaper tied in a clear plastic bag with coca cola poured on it hanging from the handle. First of all, nobody would mistake that as belonging to them AND nobody would want to deal with a "poopy" diaper!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

When we used strollers, we only brought the umbrella ones to the park. Much easier to transport and they did the trick. We also left everything that we had purchased throughout the day in that stroller along with things like camera bags. We never had it stolen - or anything in it. We did have to search for it many, many times (moved by a CM) - but we always found it.

IMO, as others have stated, almost none of this is theft...

 

[Addicted2Disney:O)]

I rented from kidsgearhere & they provided locks
We were just instructed not to lock it to anything