The Banner Bandit Strikes Again!!!

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Val

Val

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Nov 21, 2005
Posts
6,729
Loc
Carson City, Nevada
Last October we donated to the Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness fund in our town and received a 10-ft banner to display in front of our shop, bright pink vinyl that said Think Pink!. Many businesses in town supported this.

Some idiot stole mine.

About the same time, I found a 14-ft white vinyl banner that the previous owner had made (and didn't use) that said GALLERY OPEN so I hung it outside and it brought in quite a lot of business, folks who didn't know the shop is there until the banner caught their eye. A bad windstorm tore it up, I took it in for repair, and yesterday morning put it back up, hung up high, where it takes a ladder to get it up and down.

Last night, some idiot stole it.

My insurance deductable is more than it will cost to replace it. But I need to replace it, so I will.

Any ideas to make the next one easier for me to bring in at night? Can't do a sidewalk sign, city ordinance against that. I read here once about someone making a lightweight frame for a banner out of PVC pipe. How would you get it hung up and taken down daily (I can't do ladders)? Our sign ordinance says I can hang a banner if it comes down now and then, otherwise it becomes a sign and must be permantly affixed. I will be changing signage soon, when the name change is final (still working on the new name!) but until then, the banner was an effective and affordable advertisement.

I don't want to give the Banner Bandit another opportunity to add to his/her collection. I wonder what on earth he/she did with my banners, and another business' "Grand Opening" large wooden sign that recently also disappeared??

Argh............:help:
 
Val said:
I don't want to give the Banner Bandit another opportunity to add to his/her collection. I wonder what on earth he/she did with my banners, and another business' "Grand Opening" large wooden sign that recently also disappeared??

Argh............:help:
Click to expand...

Maybe somebody's trying to get in the banner business!:)

Maybe some sort of pullie system or a small flag pole(s) attached (nice and high) to the building!Something flapping in the wind might catch people's eye.Sorry not much help!
 
Could be a banner day

Val, this could be a publicity opportunity. Call your local newspaper and maybe they'll do a story about the " Banner Bandit."

Then, replace the banner immediately. I would even include "Banner #3" somewhere on it.

Here's a link to Jack Ripper Associates. I know, catchy name, but a great source for pre-printed banners - 3' x 10' for only $17.

http://www.jackripper.com/jra/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=47

Have a Banner Day
 
Val, I like Paul's idea but doing so may also attract attention by the "sign police".

How are you attaching the sign, even up high? Our rules are similar here but seldom enforced.... AND only when someone else complains. Our vinyl sign is attached using screws & big washers in the grommets to the building trim and hangs nicely. Need a 6 ft ladder to get to the screws and can barely reach the bottom without a ladder.
 
Rick, the banner was attached at the top, 8-feet up, with bungee cords hooked into grommets at all four corners and wrapped tightly around the posts on the front of the building, the bottom of the banner about 6-ft up.....they must've driven their car up to it and stood on the hood, or gotten a boost up on a buddy's shoulders.....it took a 6-ft ladder to put it up there.

Paul, that's a good idea about the newspaper opportunity (free advertisement!). With the other business's Grand Opening sign taken, and both of mine, there are probably other incindents. I will make the call, and thanks for the link to Jack Ripper (hey, the name got my attention!), I'll check into that also. Those banners run about $150 !
 
Gee Val, maybe the paper could also do a little "In Depth" about how this second theft is really hurting your new business and as a "woman
owned" business, as well as Hippy.... I'm sure Carson could really milke this a whole bunch. :D

Also pay attention to what Rick is saying.... Lots of Hex bolts and washers.. makes it less of a 'drive-by' target of oppertunity.;)
 
Val, this is how I hang my banners to prevent ripping. I do not attach them by the bottom grommets at all. I have eye bolts attached in the bottom of my overhang and then I use those watchamallcallits (like the mountain climbers use but the cheap ones made for keychains) you know those D-shaped clips that spring open/closed for easy attachment. That allows the banner to swing in the breeze, we leave ours out in all kinds of weather and no problems.

Nothing prevents a determined theif but possibly you could sub the two end D-clips with two padlocks and it would not be such an easy target.

I have 6 different banners I rotate that are 12' x 2' and I purchased them custom made off of eBay a year or so ago for like $45. incl shipping. Last time I looked I had misfiled the sellers name but if I find it I will post it here.
7-19-05003.jpg
 
Ya got me there, Edie, I had to google carabiner. Good idea, but I need to be able to take it in every night, and since it's attached 8 feet high and I can't do ladders, a pully system is probably the way I'll have to go until I can do something more permanent. (carabiner....I learned a new word today, cool!)
 
Val, maybe you could string some metal wire around the perimeter of the banner, and run the wire to an electrical outlet, keep a strong current running through it. Next time the bandit grabs your banner, ZAPPPPPP!!!!!
 
PaulSF said:
Val, maybe you could string some metal wire around the perimeter of the banner, and run the wire to an electrical outlet, keep a strong current running through it. Next time the bandit grabs your banner, ZAPPPPPP!!!!!
Click to expand...

Uh......maybe not, Paul. It's me, remember? The one who can't remember her own name half the time, remember? I'd forget it was live and go to take it down, and ZAPPPPPP my own self. That's why I don't own a gun, or have a can of mace in the shop (someone once suggested that, since I spend a lot of evenings by myself here). I'm dangerous!

And yeah, what jPaul said. (And what's with you and tasers and sharp razor blades, and all that?)
 
I just got my 2'x7' banner that says "Coming Soon - The Artisan Framer - custom picture framing & mirrors"
from our local Boy's Home. It seems they do these banners for local business' for cost. My buddy the zoning officer got it for me for free~
I hung it inside my window after reading this thread!!!
 
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