I never worried too much about parking my old strollers at theme parks until I purchased a brand new jogging stroller. I mean, I never left anything of value in the strollers when parked and used common sense, but having a well worn Chicco stroller that is several years old and an umbrella stroller, I figured I was pretty safe and no one would take them.
Enter my Joovy jogging stroller. It's awesome and I got a great deal on it, but if it got stolen, I'd be out a good chunk of change replacing it. I started to wonder- do people actually get their strollers stolen at theme parks? A quick Google search revealed that yes, there are some pretty messed up people out there who steal strollers and sell them on Craigslist or worse, take them WHEN THEIR CHILDREN ARE WITH THEM AND USE THEM! I was floored but apparently this happens judging from the anecdotes I read online. I mean, who teaches their children it's ok to steal?
Upon further Googling and coming across some *ahem* creative ideas like leaving a fake dirty diaper on my stroller to deter theft (um, no thanks), I came upon the Buggyguard stroller lock and promptly ordered one. Sure, I could have just bought a bike lock, but this little monkey is cute and straps nicely onto my Joovy when not in use. I read that locking the stroller to fences or posts in theme parks is a no-no (they will get out the bolt cutters apparently if you do this), but you can run the cable through the wheels, effectively locking the stroller to itself. Or, you could do what I do...
Now, when we are at theme parks and the like, we bring the old Chicco stroller and the new Joovy jogger. I park them side by side and lock them to each other so they can (in theory) be moved by stroller parking attendants if needed, but someone trying to take the Joovy would look really stupid and awkward pushing it attached to the Chicco. So far, the added benefit is it seems the stroller attendants don't move my strollers like they used to (probably more of a hassle than it's worth to them). I also loop the cable through any bags I leave in the stroller (usually just water or glow sticks or whatever) to attach the bags as well.
The lock is really cute and came with different colored bow ties. It is easy to use and the combination can be reset as often as you like. Once you practice at home a time or two, you will have the hang of it in no time. I just lock the strollers up, move on, and it only takes an extra minute here and there. Definitely worth the money and a bit of extra time for peace of mind that my stroller will be there when I come back.
This little product is one of my favorite Amazon purchases and I would definitely recommend it to those seeking to protect their investment as strollers are not cheap!
| Brand | Buggygear |
|---|---|
| Special Feature | Anti-theft,Portable,Resettable |
| Lock Type | Combination Lock |
| Item dimensions L x W x H | 2.5 x 0.8 x 3.8 inches |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Security |
| Color | Black |
| Number of Pieces | 1 |
| Finish Type | Vinyl |
| Included Components | Cable and Lock |
| Controller Type | Push Button |
| Shape | Rectangular |
| Item Weight | 0.08 Kilograms |
| Control Method | Touch |
| UPC | 698798089347 696731220758 899678002078 |
| Model Name | BuggyGuard |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00899678002078 |
| Manufacturer | Buggy Guard |
| Product Dimensions | 2.5 x 0.8 x 3.8 inches |
| Item model number | BDECOORG |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Target gender | Unisex |
| Material Type | Stainless Steel |
| Additional product features | Anti-theft,Portable,Resettable |
| Number Of Items | 1 |
| Batteries required | No |
| Dishwasher safe | No |
| Is portable | No |
| Item Weight | 2.75 ounces |
| Country/Region of origin | Taiwan |
