Is it work setting up a sticky thread where people describe best they can what's been stolen so that others can check what they are buying?
Does anyone catalogue their hives photographically? My form of construction I feel is pretty much unique, typified by the angle used on the bottom bars, the construction method, thickness of end plate, type of glue and screws used. Additionally, if I was paranoid, I would after drilling pilot holes for the sixteen screws in the box load one of the screw holes with a form of pigmentation that would show if that screw was removed - think of a small length of coloured lead from a coloured pencil. It need not show, but would be there for the owner to identify the equipment uniquely in the event of a dispute. the same technique could easily be used with standard boxes and for the exceedingly paranoid, use two screws and two colours, then keep records. It won't help find your kit, but will provide fairly indisputable identification in a dispute. Boxes that you might sell, could be negated by using a different colour in another screw hole, remove screw, pop in colour and replace. Again keep records proper records and don't share the information with anyone that isn't prosecuting a thief on your behalf.
Change your screw type, change your colours.
So anyone choosing to steal boxes from me had better keep them out of sight as they stand out pretty much and if they adopt my building techniques and screw selection, don't forget to remove all sixteen screws to be sure that you don't have a bad experience in court.
Good job that I'm not quite that paranoid, but have acquired a degree of equipment uniqueness due to a degree of serendipity.
But of course, you all know that I don't have a degree in Serendipity, just an A level, with a Bee graded pass mark - that would be the sting on my right ear . . . I could go on!
