Stroller Thefts at WDW

[Cedarmom]

My question is are y'all buying bicycle cable locks and just looping them through the wheels? That is what I was thinking. However, that wouldn't prevent someone from folding my stroller and taking it. A LOT more trouble, but still possible. I have two Maclarens that we are bringing and boy would it suck to have them taken!

Most thieves are looking for convenience. In a sea of Maclaren strollers, they would take one that was most appealing. That is not going to be the one w/ the bicycle lock going through the wheels, making it difficult to roll. They'll choose the one beside it. You know, that has no lock and the big shopping bag sitting in the seat.

 

[princessmom29]

We finally found a stroller lock at Babies R Us. It locks the wheels. Someone tried to walk off with our Maclaren stroller as we were coming off of a ride at Disneyland and since then we decided we needed one for the wheels. Cast members can still move your stroller with it on. Someone on these boards told me about it. We need our stroller for the airport so renting one just doesn't appeal to us...I think we paid about $20 for the wheel lock and renting a stroller for 9 days would cost much more than that.

what kid of lock is it?? I have not seen anything that would work with my Mac volo as the wheels are solid.

 

[loveysbydesign]

I ironed one of these on the hood of our stroller to prevent theft!
Many people asked me where I got it done-lol!

 

[HLAuburn]

Someone tried to walk off with our Maclaren stroller as we were coming off of a ride at Disneyland and since then we decided we needed one for the wheels.

What did you say to them and what did they say!? I always like to think people do this by accident, but I really don't think that's the case a lot of the time.


I'm just interested to hear what people say when they're caught in the act!

 

[HLAuburn]

I ironed one of these on the hood of our stroller to prevent theft!
Many people asked me where I got it done-lol!

Where did you get it done?! Did you make it? I think I need one of those! Since we're renting, I bet I could laminate it and attach it to the handle.

 

[wmharley]

Trust me, I SEE your point. However, my DD weighs 40 lbs. 40!!!! How would you like to lug that all the way through Disney if she "happens" to fall asleep or worse it's super crowded and we're trying to make our way out of there holding her hand. My younger daughter is turning 6 mths old and she weighs almost 19 lbs. already so my original scenario still applies-and she doesn't walk PERIOD.

My question is are y'all buying bicycle cable locks and just looping them through the wheels? That is what I was thinking. However, that wouldn't prevent someone from folding my stroller and taking it. A LOT more trouble, but still possible. I have two Maclarens that we are bringing and boy would it suck to have them taken!

I live 45 minutes away.. so i'd leave..

 

[loveysbydesign]

Where did you get it done?! Did you make it? I think I need one of those! Since we're renting, I bet I could laminate it and attach it to the handle.

I have a blank on that I got on the disign board...you can save it and add you own info. I added my kids picture as I figured then people would be less likely to steal it!

 

[3boys4me]

I am going to print out our last name and laminate it and then use zip ties to attach it to the handles. You have to cut zip ties off, you can't pop them. Could somebody steal our stroller? Sure, but I think any thing that has to be removed is a big deterrent. Also, I have Maclaren strollers and they are very common, so it will cut down on mistaken identity. I'm much more concerned about somone walking off with mine by mistake.

 

[HLAuburn]

I have a blank on that I got on the disign board...you can save it and add you own info. I added my kids picture as I figured then people would be less likely to steal it!

Thanks!

 

[Colleen27]

You can't really compare these two situations, because the majority of strollers are not locked, do not have alarms, etc. It is a MILLION times easier to walk away with a stroller, undetected with busy crowds at Disney.

Bicycle owners use bike locks. Strollers are just as big of an investment, so why not?

And a million times easier to unload a stolen stroller. The average Joe hard up for cash probably has no connections that would give him a buyer for a stolen car, but any idiot can sell an untraceable item like a stroller on Craigslist or eBay for some quick cash. Especially in this economy, it isn't especially surprising to me that there would be folks taking advantage of people's trusting nature in places like WDW (and zoos and anywhere else that requires you leave the stroller for certain attractions) to make a quick buck.

 

[casjen]

and waist straps take them off. I have 2 maclaren volos and they both have the straps completely removed. My boys don't need to be buckled in anymore so this was just easier. (we were constantly holding buckles to the side so they didn't sit on them)

I did however save the straps in a safe place (at home) so I can rethread them and resell the strollers on craigslist. Without the straps they are hard to resell and not all that valuable.

 

[3boys4me]

I have a blank on that I got on the disign board...you can save it and add you own info. I added my kids picture as I figured then people would be less likely to steal it!

That is so cute. I would love to do a couple for my strollers but I can't figure out how to get writing on it. Help?? I can shop and come on the boards and that is about the extent of my computer knowledge. Thanks

 

[Colleen27]

I ironed one of these on the hood of our stroller to prevent theft!
Many people asked me where I got it done-lol!

I'm doing something similar. Our stroller isn't pricey - a second-hand Peg Perego - but I'd hate to have to replace it. It isn't in like-new shape anyway and resale value isn't a concern at all, so we've decided to do up the sun-shade like an old suitcase - "tags" (done on 4x6 iron-ons) from the places DD has traveled in her ride. She has two so far, from weekend trips this past summer, and we'll be adding a Disney tag before our Dec trip. She's only 1, so by the time she outgrows it I imagine she'll have quite the collection!

 

[Sydnerella]

2 trips - one with a $150 Peg and the second with a $400 double Maclaren - I never thought twice about stroller theft and nothing happened to us to change that. I guess I would assume it is the exception rather than the rule. We left them in Fantasyland parking for at least 30 minute chunks and outside restaurants when we needed to.

I must say I do love the iron on idea - great theft deterrent, not so great for resale... but...

Sydnerella's Mama

 

[Remmy]

What excellent suggestions. We rented a stroller for our 2006 vacation but when the rental prices at Disney went up, we went with a cheap umbrella stroller. I made a home made large lime green mickey head sign with our name on it but only attached it with ribbon. I always thought no biggie if stolen as I paid under $20. I never thought for about the lack of convenience it would have created if stolen; as DS used it constantly for our 2009 trip. We still have our stroller for our next trip, hopefully in 2011. DS will be 6 but I think I will personalize it with an iron on and cut the straps as I won't be passing on the stroller or reselling it. The lock is an excellent idea too but I am hoping DS at age 6 will be ok if something does happen to his stroller.

Thank you for this thread as it has useful information on it.

Remmy

 

[Colleen27]

That is so cute. I would love to do a couple for my strollers but I can't figure out how to get writing on it. Help?? I can shop and come on the boards and that is about the extent of my computer knowledge. Thanks

The easiest way is to open the file in Paint (in your Start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Paint), click on the text box feature (looks like an A), choose your font and type your message. I use Photoshop so I can do more involved editing, but for just adding text to a pre-designed tag, Paint is free (comes with Windows) and will get the job done.

 

[loveysbydesign]

That is so cute. I would love to do a couple for my strollers but I can't figure out how to get writing on it. Help?? I can shop and come on the boards and that is about the extent of my computer knowledge. Thanks

I di mine in Microsoft Publisher. I saved the image and then added the picture and text. I can make one up for you if you like. Just pm me with your info!

 

[3boys4me]

The easiest way is to open the file in Paint (in your Start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> Paint), click on the text box feature (looks like an A), choose your font and type your message. I use Photoshop so I can do more involved editing, but for just adding text to a pre-designed tag, Paint is free (comes with Windows) and will get the job done.

Thanks.

 

[Zookeeperof4]

Well I had found here in the disboards a stroller tag. I printed one out to attach to the handle and then another to attach to the footrest...I just laminated it right to the footrest. I thought might be easy to quick rip the tag off the handle but not so easy to take off the footrest sign..LOL
BUt I just loved the idea of using zip ties to attach to the handle....GREAT IDEA!!

 

[kmacht]

When ever I see these posts about strollers being stolen I always wonder how well marked the stolen strollers were. Have you ever seen what the stroller parking area looks like after Fantasmic? There are hundreds of strollers that all look exactly the same. On top of that cast members have moved strollers around to help make more room. I personally have taken a stroller that was not mine. It was a complete accident and I felt horrible about it. We bought one of those cheap $20 umbrella strollers for our trip. We went on the Safari at AK. We used the stroller in line and when we got to the drop off point I just folded it up and handed it to the cast member. After the ride was over my FIL went to retrieve the stroller for us. He grabbed what we thought was ours and brought it out. It wasn't until a few hours later that we realized it was the same stroller but didn't have my daughters name written on the tag. Obviously we had someone elses stroller. We went back to the ride and asked a cast member if anybody reported a missing stroller or if there was one just like ours that had been sitting there for a long time? They hadn't heard of anybody missing one and a quick search of the area showed that our stroller wasn't there. My only hope is that whoever we took the stroller from was able to realize a mistake was made and ended up taking ours. I have to stress. Please, please, please mark your strollers very clearly. Make them stand out. I really think that alot of the missing/stolen strollers are cases of mistaken identity. I am sure that there are some people who have had their strollers actually stolen but I can't believe that there is that big of a market in the Orlando area for used strollers.

Keith