From festival headliners to starving artists, all musicians are possible targets for instrument theft. Musical equipment isn’t cheap, and thieves know this. No matter what your specific situation is, if you’re a musician, you need to keep your instruments safe from theft.

Musical theft is a widespread issue. London’s Art Loss Register alone lists 5,000 missing instruments, and that’s just a fraction of what’s stolen globally. To help you avoid becoming part of this statistic, here are five steps to prevent instrument theft.

Most thieves are opportunists. They break into places because it’s obvious there’s something of value inside. A van or trailer covered in band stickers is a pretty noticeable advertisement that valuable instruments or equipment are inside.

Make sure wherever you store your gear doesn’t look like it holds expensive equipment. Use discreet packaging and ensure you can’t see any of your instruments through the windows. This applies not just to your vehicle, but your studio and hotel rooms, as well.

When you’re moving from location to location on tour, it can be tempting to leave your gear somewhere. However, unattended equipment is a prime target for theft. Always have at least one person standing guard over your instruments at all times.

If you’re loading or unloading your equipment, have someone stay in place. Whenever your gear is unattended, it’s in danger, even if it’s just for a minute. The risk of leaving your equipment in the open isn’t worth whatever time you save by doing so.

If someone does steal your gear, you’ll have an easier time getting it back with tracking devices. You can install GPS trackers in your vehicle, your instrument cases or your luggage. That way, if things go missing, you’ll be able to see where it is in real-time.

GPS or Bluetooth trackers are handy even if no one steals your stuff. If you can’t find your equipment, you may have just misplaced it. With tracking devices, you’ll be able to see where you left it. 

Vehicle break-ins accounted for almost one-third of all larceny thefts in 2018. It’s best to keep your instruments with you at all times, but that’s not always possible. If you have to leave some gear in the van, then you need to be careful about where you park it. 

Try to park near lights and security cameras if possible to deter thieves from breaking in. If you can, make sure the back of your vehicle is against a wall or fence. The less of an easy target your van is, the less likely someone is to try to break into it.

When you travel, keep a record of all your equipment, including serial numbers and photos. The list will help you keep track of what you should have at all times. Information like serial numbers will help you search for any gear should it go missing.

This list should be a private online document. You want it to have limited access, but you want to be able to access it from anywhere. Paper lists are too easy to lose or to steal, so opt to keep it on the cloud.

A band is a business, and your instruments are your company assets. As a musician, your equipment is a significant part of how you make money. You need to take every step you can to secure these investments.

Your instruments likely hold sentimental value, but more than that, they’re your livelihood. Whether you’re on the road or in the studio, you should make sure they’re safe from theft.

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