Too bad that happens where you live. Here we don't have that problem at all. I used to have to lock up stands on public land but not here. We are one of the least populated county's in Iowa. Nothing but deer and farmers who want more shot. Don't think anybody here would put up with theives. I wouldn't be beyond takeing a shot at one as a warning. I lock my stands but only in case some kid comes along with a bad idea. Never had a stand stolen and we have a lot of deer here so i am blessed that way. I only shoot doe's as they taste better. Have let some nice bucks go. One place i hunted the farmer caught a guy on his land with a stand and told him to get out. Guy gave him crapp so the farmer went and got his chainsaw and cut the tree down with the stand still on it. Guy never tresspassed again. I laugh every time i see the stand all smashed under the tree. We don't have a lot of poachers that i know about. Can't blame someone here that is just hungry. I moved from a larger city life to the sticks and would never go back. Like going back 20 years in time when people treated each other right. I used to lay a stick on my ladder stand step just to see if someone moved it to get in it. Too bad you have those problems. Comes with population i think. good luck