Thieves stealing money jars

[encorehunter]

So, its the time year again we collect money for our Firemans toy drive. Along with our other money making events, we put out plastic jars at local restaurants and convenience stores. We have never had a problem until last year. Last year we lost two jars to thieves. We were able find who took one, but still lost the money inside the jar.

We put our jars out six days ago, and two have all ready been stolen. The convenience stores are going to check their cameras, but the money is gone all ready. When we stopped at the subshop, they said 20 minutes before, some one tried to steal their tip jar. One of the female employees was able to catch her, and an off duty S.O. was able to detain the theif until police arrived.

To the point.... I'm trying to come up with ideas of drawing attention to the jars if they try to steaĺ more. Or when they try to. A small pressure alarm underneath would be great. They only thing I have been able to find is a personal alarm that could be taped to the bottom of the jar with a pull pin attached to something on the counter. This way the alarm would stay on the jar so it may be followed. Any devices would need to be inexpensive, as we put out about 10-15 jars a year. They don't bring in a lot of money, but they provide enough for 6-8 kids Christmas presents every year.

Any other ideas?

[GilpinGuy]

Maybe use a mason jar with a handle on it. Then attach a chain to the counter. The participting businesses probably won't go for that though.

[Ridge]

A jar with no bottom. They grab the throat and run, but the cash falls out the bottom and stays put. Maybe a slightly narrower bowl underneath to keep it from just flowing out onto the counter and the floor.

[Irving]

A slip fit jar could work. A weighted base with an open top, then slip a cover over the base that makes it look like a complete jar. Anyone stealing jars is grabbing and running, so the time it takes them to realize the base is still on the counter may be enough. Or even something very heavy to slow them down.

[roberth]

I like that idea Ridge.

[Irving]

The only thing I would add to Ridge's idea is hornets.

[Zundfolge]

The ONE thing Islam does right is how they deal with thieves.

[Great-Kazoo]

razor blades?

But seriously. Double sided sticky tape around the outside of jar.

[gnihcraes]

wrapped in barbed wire.

[encorehunter]

I like the hornets and razor blades, but my captain thinks it might be a bit much. He did agree with the Islam solution. He laughed about a bouncing betty underneath them. Lol.

The jars are a clear plastic 2 quart food storage jar from Walmart. I could use clear tape with a couple wraps to secure paracord to it, then tape the cord to the counter. The false bottoms are a geat idea, but would take some time to complete, as these are odd shaped jars. I have mentioned putiing about 5 lbs of lead in the bottom of them, but we aren't sure if it would help. The two that have been caught were very calm about it and slid it under their jacket or into a bag very nonchalantly.

[CS1983]

How about instead of a jar that people put money into, the jar is behind the counter and the clerk puts it in?

[encorehunter]

I think it would be an out of sight out of mind thing. If it is up front, people are more apt to drop in some change. We are going to start emptying them every three days now instead of six. Less money hopefully will mean less tempting. After six days of sitting today, the best jar had almost 30 dollars in it. They are risking a lot for such a little gain.

[sniper7]

Pool, sharks, and frickin laser beams!

[colorider]

How about a sign on the jar stating that the jars are under constant video. That may deter the idiots.

[BigBear]

Put a Bible verse on the jar.
Resort to SASE mail-in envelopes people can take home.
Kill the thieves and spread the word...

I'm no help.

Serious thought: can you glue the jar to some large piece of wood that would make it awkward to walk off with?

[Great-Kazoo]

Put a Bible verse on the jar.
Resort to SASE mail-in envelopes people can take home.
Kill the thieves and spread the word...

I'm no help.

Serious thought: can you glue the jar to some large piece of wood that would make it awkward to walk off with?

False bottom on the wood, with a mouse trap. SNAP!

Thieves are gonna thieve no matter how hard you try preventing it.

You could put a small circle on the top of jar with a Smile you're on Video. Now Look Up. sign

[rondog]

Wire the jar to a claymore. Turn 'em into a thief-burger.

[BushMasterBoy]

Gorilla Tape.

[brutal]

I guess if you have to spend money to protect the asset... perhaps something like this? https://www.amazon.com/Personal-Attack-Security-Flashlight-Keyring/dp/B0087NBY4S/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1479797638&sr=1-4&keywords=ripcord+alarm

Otherwise just safety wire a couple empty soda cans filled with noisy crap to the jar.

[Brian]

Maybe just go simple and use a cheap strip of velcro on the bottom? It would make a noticeable "ripping" noise if someone tried to snag it, and wouldn't cost you much at all per jar.

Or maybe you could do something with those greeting cards that sing annoying music when you open them. You could rig something up so it starts making noise if picked up. Not sure if you can buy the guts easily by themselves, but even if you bought a couple greeting cards, wouldn't be too bad. I've used those to scare my kids with homemade "traps" before - they're pretty simple once you take one out and look at it.

Hard to come up with something that wouldn't cost too much. Best bet would be more frequent pickups or having a 2nd jar with a lid and have the store employees empty it into the 2nd jar every night or something.

[encorehunter]

All of the jars are under video surveillance, so I will get the yellow stickers say smile your on camera. I have brought up gorilla tape and velcro to stick it to the counter. My captain is trying to male it as least incovienient as possible for the stores.
The ripcord alarm is basically what I have been looking at. I like the idea of the cards. I'll look for a few today and see if I can find one fairly loud.
We only seem to have problems with a couple of the stores. The one with the most money yesterday was duct taped down to the counter. It had two pieces of tape about 3 foot long goig over the top of it. It brought attention to it, and people seemed frustrated over the thefts. We lost one at this store last year, the employees decided to make sure they kept it this year. The two that were stolen yesterday, it seemed as though the employees couldn't have cared less. The other store, the manager has the jar emptied daily, counted, documented and put in an envelope behind the counter. After the response of the employees of the stolen ones yesterday, I don't know I would like them doing that.

[newracer]

There is industrial Velcro that is very hard to pull apart. Can you screw the jars to the counter with a long bit?

[ACE2GOOD]

My first thought was rig a bunch of jingle bells to it. Would decorate it up for a Christmas look and would draw lots of attention reaching in to grab money or grab the jar. There is also some really heavy duty sticky tape my buddy uses. Can't think of what it is called but you would really have to rip on the jar to get it to come off and would be loud with the bells on it.

[newracer]

3M 4991 VHB tape is what is used for Gopro mounts.

[TFOGGER]

Claymore mine? [Coffee]

I hate thieves...

[Wulf202]

Large magnet inside the jar. Steel plate under the counter. It gets moved the plate clangs to the floor.

[CS1983]

I find it interesting how the suggestions run the gamut from theft detection to theft prevention. I'm the only one who mentioned a sort of firewall concept.

[encorehunter]

I contacted the police this morning, and from video it looks like it might be the same their that tried stealing the tip jar yesterday. They were going to check the other store to see if they had their surveillance as well. It is a new detective who doesn't know me, and when I mentioned claymores, he got really quiet. Lol. He really liked the idea of the alarm taped to the jar itself.

[llostwolf]

I've seen entry alarms at the dollar tree that have a small magnet that you fix to the surface and when separated it beeps. Buck per jar isn't too bad


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[ray1970]

I like to keep things simple. I'd just find a container that weighed about eighty pounds.

[sampson]

..dbl post..oops