I lost alot of equipment here in Calif. until I realised that I had to spend some money to prevent it. In 1984 I bought a Toyota 4X4 and spent about 1300.00 installing diamond plate aluminum toolboxes and custom modifications that allowed me to carry up to eight chainsaws, climbing gear etc., all locked down in a way that would require a very determined thief to have real smarts to steal. I topped this off with a German Shepard dog tied into the back of the truck that took his job very seriously. I also had an ignition bypass switch installed as well.
I never lost any equipment on the job until after my dog died of pancreatic cancer in 1992. The 084 was stolen because it wasn't chained down as it should have been. I miss my dog Strider the most, but the 084 with it's manual oiler is also missed every time I put any of my longer bars on my 088.
It all boils down to spending money to secure the tools you use to make a living, and never getting lazy about locking them down when you're not around. And even that is no guarantee that you won't get ripped off.
But like life itself, thinking ahead and doing your best to pre-empt problems
before they happen, provides the best odds of making it in the world, and possibly becoming an old climber like me. Hopefully much better and wiser than I.
I still miss my dog Strider to this very day. Many people tried to rip me off, only to beat a bloodied and hasty retreat after encountering the sharp teeth of justice that he provided me at a truly nominal cost.
jomoco