Never happened to me. However, other guys thatare in our club had their ladder stands stolen. I make it a point to always put a 1/4" cable with a padlock on every lock-on / climbing sticks as well as my ladder stands.So far its worked. The best thing about a padlock on your stands is that it will keep an honest man honest...Another deterant that I use is I etch my name on everything also with an awl in atleast two different places... Hope this helps, but the bottom line is this; ifthe low lifeswant your stand bad enough they'll figure a way to get it.