Always hang your stands and make it as hard as possable to be removed by othersother than yourself and never leave a stand on public property unles youhang it the evening before or on the morning of the hunt. It can be done very quietly and rather quickly. As far as removing the steps? Well you don't know it was the person that stole your stand or not. It was wrong IMO to do anything to a fellow hunters stand or setup. You could very well have been the receiver of yourfather's actions and have been completely innocent leaving you mad as hell. Imaginehow this hunter felt if you was not the perp. Be proud of what you accomplished on your own and walk away with a lesson learned.