The run up to Christmas is a busy time for musicians. Sadly, it is also a busy time for those with light fingers 😭

Sadly, at this time of year, we receive reports several times a week asking us to keep an eye open for stolen instruments. So we thought we’d use this week’s #WednesdayWisdom to share a few tips to help you protect your instrument.

Cafes and restaurants are prime targets for thieves. You place your instrument on the floor and then focus on your food, drink, and company. This, coupled with a noisy environment, makes it all too easy for an opportunistic thief to simply pick it up and walk out with it. Our advice is to buy a clip-on cut-proof strap (they’re often sold as theft-proof straps for travellers). Clip it to itself around the handle of your case then, whilst seated, loop the strap around the leg, or clip it around the arm, of your chair. The effort required to detach it should deter all but the most determined of thieves.

There are lots key locators cheaply available these days that sends a location to your smart phone. Many are small enough to be discretely placed in the case or, if you are careful, inside the lining.

If you must leave your instrument in a vehicle for any time make sure you put it in the boot and keep it covered. If it is small enough to put it in the boot well (assuming you have one) then do so. If your instrument is too large to keep in the boot cover it with blankets that match the colour of your car interior and try to park somewhere where lighting will not emphasise that you’ve something covered up inside.

Also worth bearing in mind is that when parking with instruments in the boot, or in a van, try to park such that the boot is right up against a wall thereby preventing easy access to it.

Finally, make sure your instrument is fully insured. Double check your household contents policy, especially if your instrument is worth more than £1000, as you may find there are exclusion clauses. If there is any doubt feel free to contact us as we can recommend insurance policies that specifically cover musicians and their instruments.

We hope this helps.