Thread: Totally shocked and bummed...

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Well, every year I set up a cemetery in my backyard for my annual adult costume party, and this year (3rd party) it was a pretty elaborate display that I was going to move to the front yard Sunday for Halloween. Unfortunately, something happened some time Sunday morning that changed my mind.

On my street there is no parking on my side of the street. Both of the last two years I've had to have people at my party move their car at some point during the night. This year I decided to purchase a "WITCH PARKING ONLY, all others will be toad" sign to remind people not to park on this side. I took a picture of the sign after the party Saturday night, but I forgot to bring it in. I really shouldn't have had to, but then someone stole it. I live in a great neighborhood, so it really shocked me and I was totally bummed. It was a cheap sign, maybe $19, but that's not the point. I realized at that moment that I couldn't move my cemetery out front because I didn't want to have pieces stolen. I learned a very cheap lesson that could have been worse if I moved my cemetery in front and my favorite stones (or new PVC fence) were stolen.

Sorry for the long post, but I was wondering what some of you would have done. Woud you have done the same as me and not put out the decorations, or would you just have taken the chance of losing some of your favorite tombstones? I was thinking about putting my least favorite stones out front, but then what's the point? I might try to collect (and make) a bunch of slightly more plain and inexpensive stones to display in front next year. Do you guys concur?

Man, I'm just still so bummed because I built my first PVC fence for the yard and it came out great. I'd be really pissed if I put that out front and that was stolen or broken. I always thought this was a leave your front door and garage open kind of neighborhood... oh well. Some jags ruined my plans for a really elaborate front yard display each year.

All the good stuff comes in with me at the end of the night--the big gargoyles, the tombstones, the yard spooks, the skulls, the other important props. It takes maybe twenty minutes to collect 'em all and get 'em indoors. Well worth the effort. The fence and the pillars, naturally, stay out. If somebody breaks 'em, I guess I'll have to fix 'em (or just hang out in the ruins for the night.)

While all this stuff is outside, so am I. I dress up as the Guardian (make that the EVIL Guardian) of the cemetery and spend the evening in the graveyard greeting the visitors/giving scares and treats to the young-uns. No way I'd leave all that stuff unguarded!

I quit decorating years ago after the first year I went all out. Lots of stuff stolen. From the witch made of thrift store dress, mask, wig and hat, down to the spot lights even! That really disappointed me.

Any more, I won't leave things that aren't easily replaced, out.

Originally Posted by charles f

All the good stuff comes in with me at the end of the night--the big gargoyles, the tombstones, the yard spooks, the skulls, the other important props. It takes maybe twenty minutes to collect 'em all and get 'em indoors. Well worth the effort. The fence and the pillars, naturally, stay out. If somebody breaks 'em, I guess I'll have to fix 'em (or just hang out in the ruins for the night.)

While all this stuff is outside, so am I. I dress up as the Guardian (make that the EVIL Guardian) of the cemetery and spend the evening in the graveyard greeting the visitors/giving scares and treats to the young-uns. No way I'd leave all that stuff unguarded!

Do you really take EVERYTHING in EVERY night, or is it only decorated for Halloween night? If it's every night, that's a lot of effort!

Anyone have to deal with minor theft, and then didn't experience any issues afterwards? Anyone else completely quit decorating due to "grave robbers"?

Originally Posted by Haunted Host

Do you really take EVERYTHING in EVERY night, or is it only decorated for Halloween night? If it's every night, that's a lot of effort!

Anyone have to deal with minor theft, and then didn't experience any issues afterwards? Anyone else completely quit decorating due to "grave robbers"?

Yeah, pretty much everything that's easily removable. And no, not every night . During the week I go to work EARLY in the AM, so I limit the decorations to the weekends and the day-of. ( I do bring the boys--the big gargoyles--out as a tease for the passers-by when I'm working on the fence, etc.

It's extra effort, but it's less effort than replacing all my stuff. And I sleep well at night.

Luckily, I live in a really nice neighborhood, a cul-de-sac even and no big problems with theft. I have some nice stuff out all night. I do protect them a little bit. I take fishing wire and stake a section of it to the ground. So if someone is tempted, it would take a lot more effort than they would think. Also, many of them are just flat out big and heavy! Additionally, I have two fake cameras on the house and that actually helps all year to keep the more destructive kids from messing with my yard (super bonus)! One year a toy airplane got stuck on a low roof but they didn't want to look like they were messing with the house getting it down so they waited for me to get home.

This year I did have something stolen. I sign I made for the front of our subdivision to let the families know about me. That ticked me off because I made it by hand and did some cool effects with it. Other directional signs are still intact so maybe that was just a fluke.

I'm interested to hear what others say in this thread.

Hmmm, fake cameras.... there's an idea. Or better yet, real cameras. I might try that for next year. I'll have to post small signs at the front corners of my property too pointing out that there are cameras.

I might be getting carried away, but the added security wouldn't hurt year round.

I hate thieves.

I've never actually had anything stolen out of the yard display but someone stole some vintage Halloween decorations out of the garage one Thanksgiving when we were out of town.

I used to take my real pumpkin jack o'lanterns and put 'em close to the road right before I went to bed on Halloween night. Every Novmber 1st when I got out of bed teenagers had stomped 'em into bits! Seemed a minor & appropriate sacrifice !

Luckily I have not had any problems, but I put my good stuff out for my party--Saturday before Halloween--but take it back into my gated car port until halloween day. Then the good props come in at the end of the night.

Originally Posted by frylock

I used to take my real pumpkin jack o'lanterns and put 'em close to the road right before I went to bed on Halloween night. Every Novmber 1st when I got out of bed teenagers had stomped 'em into bits! Seemed a minor & appropriate sacrifice !

I used to set mine out by the road too hoping some kid would steal them and I wouldn't have to get rid of it myself....never happened...lol!