Stealing Stuff

[PeterGustafsson]

Hi!


There have been thefts from the locker rooms which we fencers use in the city sports hall. That locker room is used by us fencers, some heavy-weight boxers, the archers, and the TaeKwanDo people.

Someone is working on the Darwin award.




Have a nice time!

Peter Gustafsson

[wgreen]

And of course the people who are honest enough to steal are also probably honest enough to cheat given the chance.

[nahouw]

Originally Posted by Irensaga

To be honest, the fencing community is usually pretty small and really friendly. Most people know each other. I've never really heard of stealing being a problem.

Many people might think that stuff was stolen from them, however, in our Division, we always have a lost and found box after each competition with alot of stuff -- and many people don't even contact us. We have had coats, sneakers, CD players, books, in addition to all the sundry fencing equipment etc.... some of the stuff winds up being claimed, and if it has markings, we give it to a clubmate to return it, however, most of it doesn't.

[leia]

Its quite easy to inadvertently pick up someone elses gear.
With one or two main fencing equiptment supplyers providing gear for most fencers in my city or state, many people end up with almost identical weapons, gloves, masks etc etc.

I misplaced a foil at the local b grade comp yesterday, and we went round to check everyone elses gear bags. It ended up bieng in one where all the other girls foils had exactly the same type and colour of grip... and she just picked it up without checking as it was near her bag... though mine was the only right handed weapon in her bag :P

I havent heard of or seen any incidents of anyone actully stealing gear though.

[VERITAS]

That has been my experience as well: fencers in my salle have had foils missing for several years to be returned by the fencer visiting who had accidentally picked it up.

Stealing has no place in fencing. Chivalry may be out of fashion, cheating may be "ok", but a line must be drawn at stealing.

Fencing swords don't have much value, except to other fencers, so it wouldn't be easy to resell large amounts of equipment without people getting suspicious.

Anyone stealing from a fencer is asking for a beating.

[Victor]

I have been known to sell "previously owned" fencing items at reasonable prices. Cash only. Tax-free.

I tend to move my sales van frequently from site to site. This week I'll be setting up shop behind Moe's Nekkid Lady Revue.

[SamIam]

Originally Posted by Victor

I have been known to sell "previously owned" fencing items at reasonable prices. Cash only. Tax-free.

I tend to move my sales van frequently from site to site. This week I'll be setting up shop behind Moe's Nekkid Lady Revue.

Would that make you a fencing Fence?

[remise]

Well, my body wires are spray painted a flourescent glaring color. They register from across the room. Not to deter anyone else from taking them, mind you, but because I'm senile, and to help me locate my stuff. Same with the interior of my bell guards, the bell pads, grips of my weapons, etc. A glaring school bus yellow. NO ONE WANTS THAT UGLY COLOR.

Besides, I figure I can build another. Bigger. Better. Stonger. Faster..............

[Ordway]

My experience has always been that any "theft" is totally accidental - after all, most fencing gear looks pretty similar. That's why I put my name on absolutely *everything* (including my initials on body cords and mask clips).

I left an overglove at FASJ once, when I'd traveled up for a competition. It was something like a 2-hour drive, so it was hardly feasible to pop back up and get it once I got home and realized I'd left it behind. A quick email to a friend at the club revealed that yes, they'd turned up a lost overglove with my name on it. My friend hung on to it and gave it back to me the next time she came down to a tournament in Baltimore. I thought that was pretty nice. I'd do the same.

I'd say that fencers are pretty darn honest, on the whole. It probably does have a lot to do with fencing being a fairly small community. I like that.

[epeeisky]

I ahve never stolen anything and never will.

[Grasshopper]

I steal fencing time all the time.

[Inquartata]

Originally Posted by Ordway

My experience has always been that any "theft" is totally accidental

I'm not so sure.

I was at a big tournament once, end of the day when there were a lot of deserted strips. A fellow picked up a small bag that had cables of some sort in it---might have been floor cables, body cords, I don't know. Now, the guy is a very well known coach and referee, and he may have been acting in his official capacity. He may have been taking it to lost and found. It may have belonged to his club, or to someone he knew, and maybe he was just securing it. Lots of possibilities, so I didn't say anything about it.

But OTOH...he did shove it under his blazer. Looked sort of furtive. Theft could be just that easy.

[fencinman89]

I clicked only if the owner has left the venue. Believe it or not, I've never purchased an epee bodycord, altho I own 4 and have given 3 away to my close friend which he uses. Ive worked at numerous tables at meets and I am always the last perosn to see the stuff. I walk around and ask people if bodycords belong to them, If I cant find an owner, in to my box it goes. Ive never "taken" anything more than that in terms of jackets or masks and the such. I do what I can nothing more.
-Tre'

[D+F+P=Hadouken!]

Originally Posted by fencinman89

I clicked only if the owner has left the venue. Believe it or not, I've never purchased an epee bodycord, altho I own 4 and have given 3 away to my close friend which he uses. Ive worked at numerous tables at meets and I am always the last perosn to see the stuff. I walk around and ask people if bodycords belong to them, If I cant find an owner, in to my box it goes. Ive never "taken" anything more than that in terms of jackets or masks and the such. I do what I can nothing more.
-Tre'

Heh, perks of the work brotha.

[pigeonmeister]

I have never stole anything or had anything stolen by a fellow fencer (although I have been mugged 3 times but that's a differnet story) Yet I do feel slightly guilty as upon checking what was lurking at the bottom of my bag, a year ago, I found an old unmarked underplastron that I definately didn't buy. No idea how it got there and I don't even use it. Maybe if I donated it to the club I would feel better!

[CheekyCanuck]

I don't steal. I don't like thieves and if I see someone steeling I will make sure it is public knowledge.

I did have someone walk off with one of the club foils I was using. As it turned out it was just a fencer's father that thought he had the right foil, but why would he put it in the car if his kid was still fencing.

I also had an experience with a pickpocket who followed my mother and me around a local mall. I picked up on her suspicious behavior fast and told the mall security. She was arrested for picking pockets later that day.
Some people you just have to watch.

I can't imagine loosing body cords though. Do you have to bring extra cords with you to the piste in higher level tournaments? I have two, but only have the one I'm wearing at the piste.

[broncofencer]

I know Michigan Division has put a lost and found section on their web page so that if you gained extra equipment you can post it or if you lost something. A lot of the time someone may have it but has no idea who is looking for it. Especially since as most people have said at a quick glance all the equipment looks the same. I have had 3 foot 2 inch fencers walk off with my jacket thinking it is theirs when I'm 6' 4"

[fencinman89]

The rules say you must bring 2 WORKING bodycords and blades to the piste.
-Tre'

[Mauler]

You should always bring with you at least FOUR working weapons and FOUR body cords to tournaments, especially if you fence point weapons. Then you need to have at least one extra weapon and body cord NEAR THE STRIP when you hook up for your bout. It's a lousy experience to work hard to earn your spot in a major event, fly across the country and you lose your first bout without even fencing a single point because of penalties.

[Fencergrl]

Stealing and lying is just bad karma. You don't think it matters when you do it, however, people I know do tend to have crappy lives with crappy people around them.