I know exactly how you feel. I too have had 2 stands stolen from my hunting spots in the past. 1 was on my dads private land, noone has permission to hunt except our family. Another was in a public area I've hunted since a kid, and never had a problem. Kicker is both my stands were chained and locked. So they had to carry bolt cutters to take them. I went through the motions the first time, contacted law enforcement. Of course not much they could do, but did recommend marking stands in future with some sort of identification so they could be identified if found by a Officer. The 2nd time I'd even used those removable lag bolts steps, but I think they climbed the tree using the lag bolts that stick out about maybe 1". Since I've gone to a climbing stick for my portables, so far so good. But you never know. If they want them they'll find away. I heard of a guy that had a stand stolen once by someone cutting the top of the tree off, to lift it up off the trunk! I may have read that here, can't recall. I left notes in a plastic baggy with a few choice words to reward themselves for being the scum that they are. I hope they enjoy it as much as I have knowing they robbed a fellow hunter who'd never even think of using anothers stand much less steal one. LOWLIFE"S!!!!!!