Whilst I was attending a Model Railway Exhibition today in the UK I learned that thieving was taking place. I know of 1 instance when two HO Locos fitted with sound decoders were taken and another trader had items taken.
I hope these 'so called modellers' are unable to sleep at night.

 

Not nice to hear.

Not sure if you deliberately didn't mention the show name, but I was also at one today and didn't hear anything.

I suspect that this would not be "modellers" doing this, but the usual out for a quick buck. Alas there is no way you can "screen" those who wish to attend, it would be against the very principle of the hobby we enjoy.



Skyline2uk

Melksham.

Unfortunately this "Crime" is not unusual at shows and exhibitions, there are may cases where I have been displaying my products and things go missing!

There is little that can be done apart from having everything behind glass or perspex which rather takes away the trust!

Regards, Peter.

Sadly this happens all the time and at shows across the UK, the Marklin stand at Model Rail Scotland had 2 £500 locos walk a couple of years ago in one day, Plus Daughters have had detail parts knicked from loco boxes and numerous other regulars on the show circuit are regularly losing stuff, usually a couple of 100 quid over a weekend.
I am not sure if it is regular modellers who do this, I would like to think not! and that thieves are happily paying 4 or 5 quid to get in to shows as they know they can get away with a couple of hundred quids worth.
I try to remain vigilant but have never spotted anyone yet, as a modeller it annoys me as I know it is bad for the hobby and ultimately pushes up the prices I have to pay.

As has been previously mentioned,thieving at model railway shows is not an unknown occurance.As a member of our local model railwy club,each year we do the marshalling/stewarding at the Festival of British Railway Modelling Exhbition at Doncaster Racecourse.We man the emergency exits and all doorways that may provide a means for people of unscrupulous principles to either enter or escape with their wares of the day.In the four years I have been doing this,only this year was I neither made aware nor heard of any such activities,which some may conclude that no such thefts took place.

As its a Warners organised event,we have a very good relationship with the Warners exhibition staff so we always apply their rules and wishes,which are often flouted by the exhibitors,traders and their guests/employees/operaters.There is a principle rule that states if they leave the exhibition centre to go to their vehucles for more stock,for a cigarette or any other reason,they must have their exhibitors badge clearly visible to aid their identification by us in order to regain entry.This rule is very often pushed to its limit,so when I hear that traders are angry that stock has gone walkies,all I can say is that if they don't show their badges upon reentering the show,who else might be getting in?

I know this may not be the crux of the matter or indeed this thread,but as its a place where trading occurs as well as exhibiting,these things will happen.At York for instance,I saw layout operaters all stiod with their backs to the crowds,none were paying attention to the people on the other side of the barriers which to me is a golden opportunity for thievery.As a future exhibiter and currently,an operater of other members layouts at exhibitions,I always keep an eye out for the types of people I think may not be there for the asthetical pleasure of the pursuit of model railways.My job has given me a well developed radar for people of unscrupulous means.

Now I don't for one minute slate exhibitors or traders for their behaviour but when they shout and scream about stuff going missing and point the blame at us for not doing our jobs,which we don't get paid a penny for,our only reward is that we get free entry,when we pointed out last year that if traders or exhibitors and their guests don't stick to the rules,then why go on to blame us.People still use the main entrance and pay their entry fee like everyone else,including thieves who view this as a risk to be taken.

As has been previously mentioned,you can't vet people as they come through the doors,nor can you turn people away because their rucksacks are too big or they stink of BO or sweaty heads.Although it would be nice if the smelly people were introduced to deoderant.These people will still try and gain entry and view it as a golden opportunity and more probably,won't actually know the true value of stolen items,so long as they get money to feed their alcohol/drug habits.Or whatever they need to nick for.

As I am still devising a plan for an exhibition layout with a slight difference to others that we see,I am converting my stock to dcc sound,which means each loco,dmu and hst is considerably more valuable than standard rtr stock and as its n gauge stock to boot,how much easier would it be to have it away in no time at all?

I have seen a few layouts with clear pespex at the viewing side so I will be giving this approach some serious consideration.

Pete

not uncommon i'm afraid just hope the traders don't stop supporting shows as i guess some of these thefts could wipe there profits away.i would certainly not stand idly by if i seen someone at it

A few years back at our local show I watched a guy stand by a layout that the operator had left for a minute and after 12 years of security and store detective work his body language screamed that he was going to lift a model,

I watched him for a few minutes and as he decide to move in closer I just stood next to him and struck up the worst most uneducated conversation about terrier tank engines (the engine left on an otherwise empty layout) and he was definitely iffy (unless the sight of N gauge make him shake like a pooing dog ) 

He walked off and promptly left,

At work I've had many people try to marginalise and explain why it's ok to steal from whom ever pays my wages but not one has gotten sympathy from me,

Very sad but I doubt it will ever stop, I have very often wondered if people were game enough to steal stuff from layouts, some people are so preoccupied in fiddling with other locos and rolling stock that they take their eyes off the layout, some mongrels may see that as an opportunity.

QuoteI do get annoyed when exhibitors keep their locos to the back shelf, but who could blame them when such thieving takes place.

Wholeheartedly agree

As we all say "these sort of people are not modellers", unfortunately it so hard to distinguish and some of the "keenist" fans may not be all they seem. Their aim - to distract while others go-to work. It does happen. As a part of a security team when I was working in the UK I started to realise that unfortunately no-one is beyond suspicion. It is a terrible fact of life.

The thought of this happening sickens me, but it is the thought of someone who has actively thought 'I'll go to this exhibition to do some robbing' They are someone who might have a bit of understanding of our hobby that sickens me the most.
When I had a little Vauxhall about 7 or 8 years ago, I used the Novaload forum and there were reports of specific items/parts going missing from cars parked up by paying visitors to a car show - some of the work done to certain cars was publicised by the owners on the site and I can imagine the thefts were pre-planned to obtain certain parts. It made me not want to drive my fancypants little Nova to shows for fear of bits going missing off mine.
I don't think I'll ever get to the point where I'd exhibit or trade, but if I did, I'd smartwater my rolling stock like I smartwatered all the trick parts of the Nova.

Its sickening that it happens but thats the society we live in these days. 
Sometimes the thefts are 'done to order' as specific things disappear. Clubs get broken into, layouts not touched but controllers/stock goes missing. Model shops broken into and only certain items taken, that sort of thing.

Even if your stock is not run of the mill stuff its not immune as they'll steal anything.
Having grown up in a town thats full of people of that ilk (I went to school with a lot of them) I'm wary of who's where when I've exhibited layouts.
I try to have as little stock in reach as possible as it minimizes the chances. In theory anyway!
You just have to be vigilant I guess...

We had a kit-built LMS Garrett swiped from the stand at Aylesbury a few years ago. Left a very bitter taste in the mouth... 

I have had numerous items walk away, it is modellers that do it as they want their hobby on the cheap. A lot might argue that its insured, which it is but its not worth claiming as costs goes up, excess, hassle all get in the way. Saying that I do now monitor as best I can what andwho  on my stand. The chances are someone on this forum funds their hobby by pinching what they want. I watched someone pinch of my neighborhs stand at a show and he was stopped. In incerdent above was followed up and it is believed 2 people were involved.

I am watching you all.

Quote from: NtasticShop on April 14, 2013, 02:37:12 PM

I am watching you all.

a Sad but necessary truth of selling anything directly today ive always wondered if theyd ever have a security guard in Guagemasters engine shed?

if they do i'll be applying for that job!