Cue case paranoia. Anyone else have it???

Maniac

Maniac

2manyQ's
Silver Member
After reading so many threads and personally knowing more than a few friends that have had their cues/cases stolen from bars/poolhalls, I have developed a bad case (no pun intended :D) of paranoia. While shooting a match or scoring for others, I catch myself all too often cutting my eyes beside me or behind me to where my case is to make sure it hasn't been toted off by some p.o.s. thief. It's gotten to the point that I simply cannot relax from the worry. I've got more $$$ than I'd like to admit to wrapped up in the contents of my main case. It would probably help if I found the absolute best place in the poolhall to leave my stuff and simply make a better effort of leaving it there. Somewhere that would be darn near impossible for it to get lifted without detection (like underneath the table we are shooting on).

Anybody else have this paranoia? What steps have you taken?

Maniac
 
I have cue/case paranoia too, especially in certain places.

The worst is one particular touney I've just started going to, one night a week. When I go there, I leave the break cue at home, put my playing cue in a crappy 1x1 that has bonus duct tape holding the bottom, and I don't carry anything at all- I wear a jacket with zippered pockets so I can keep my wallet and stuff secure.

Whenever I play a match, I put my case and jacket under the table I'm playing on.

We might miss a fast walk by, or a quick grab in a shadowy corner, but I figure we should always notice someone digging around underneath our table.
 
One old pool hall I hung at years ago had lockers so that solved the problem. If you are a regular at the place and are well liked (spend money and tip well) perhaps they would keep your case behind the counter for you.

At league I don't use my more expensive main player for the exact reason you are talking about. I couldn't relax and enjoy myself. So now I use an Ebay DP and if it walks I'll just get another. I keep my case under the table and it's safe enough there because the table is always occupied by at least some players from either team.
 
Last edited:
My most expensive cue is a cheaper Joss with a Z2(so maybe $300 value?) on it and I still don't like bringing that to the bar on the weekends. Other than that, keep it in your sight or make sure somebody you know keeps an eye on it when you go to the bathroom or whatnot. If you're just gonna leave your stuff around, you don't deserve to have it stolen, but you sure are offering it up for the taking. I have a friend who had his stick stolen and he'll still walk off for up to an hour without saying anything, like others are his @#%#$%^#$^ cue babysitter or something - I just stick his cue behind the bar and wish it luck.

Stick your case under the table you're playing at or in a corner where you're sitting. If you put valuable stuff out there for people to easily take, it just may happen.
 
i all ways put my case under the table i am playing at....if not playing the case is in on my arm on resting on my leg....when i worked at a hall in the 90s everyone put there cases under the table and the cash on the lights.:thumbup:
 
tattoo said:
i all ways put my case under the table i am playing at....if not playing the case is in on my arm on resting on my leg....when i worked at a hall in the 90s everyone put there cases under the table and the cash on the lights.:thumbup:
Click to expand...

Ditto. Also depends on the room layout/foot traffic. If there's a lot of foot traffic past the tables all the time, case goes under the table. If it's relatively light traffic, then my case with break cue protruding is okay next to my chair. When everything's broken down and I'm not playing, case is in my hand at all times...if I take a break in the middle of a match to hit the latrine, the cues/case go to the head with me. Until you've had your gear stolen, you really can't know how helpless that makes you feel...happened to me over 20 years ago (my first over $1,000 cue) and I'm still pi$$ed!
 
Last edited:
Interesting. All stuff I harm't thought of. Of course, I don't have a lot tied up with my gear compared to you folks, but it would still pain me to have it get stolen.

Since I play league primarily, its less of an issue, as we usually all have our gear together, and there's always someone there. Still, an enterprising their could find a way.

Has anyone considered perhaps a lightweight bike lock, through the strap and through a chair? Just a thought, or an option....

Glad to get this into my brain.
 
justadub said:
Has anyone considered perhaps a lightweight bike lock, through the strap and through a chair? Just a thought, or an option....

Glad to get this into my brain.
Click to expand...

sure they wouldnt be able to steal my 500 case but the cues still can walk out....but nice try...
 
I hope this does not come off preachy but you are not at church. There always has been and always will be a certain type of undesirable element at the pool hall. Your fears are not unwarranted.

Just keep an eye on your gear. There is no way other than a locker to keep your stuff 100% safe.... and even then it is a push.
 
Big time paranoia...usually stand my cue case up against the wall and keep cues in the case with top flopped open...I admit that I have felt weird bringing my cue with me to the bathroom, but I do. A 4k trip to the bathroom would wreck my day!!!!!!!!!!
 
Yep, I did it this weekend. Brought a couple closet queens with me. Bad move.

Every time I turned my back to shoot, I would glance over my shoulder to check on my case (and cues worth many many $thousands)

It was terrible. Did someone walk by and snatch it? Did someone reach over the rail and grab it? Did someone reach between the rail, open the case and sneak out a cue or 2? Who was that - was that a new face over there?

"OK, just need to slice this in, come off the short rail with half a tip of outside, back in the middle and, and where's my case!?! huh? what? better look - yep it's ok".

Never again.
-von
 
At the DCC this year

A guy had his Richard harris break cue ripped off while playing his match.
That's pretty bad.John B.
 
I put my case under the table and during matches keep my eye on my cue. There is never going to be an infallible way to keep your cues safe so be aware and hope that your friends are who you think they are. The other night a friend asked me when I came back from the restroom why I took my cues. He was under the impression I did not trust him, so I explained that I did not want to put him in the position of being responsible for them. The one thing I find disheartening is when members here post that their cues were stolen they seem to be reticent to explain the circumstances. I have asked a couple times recently about the thefts and received no answer. It seems to me that since they are asking for help finding their property they should be willing to help others avoid the same nightmare that happened to them.
 
Never got a great looking case for his reason. It's kind of like the advice some people give and that is if you don't want your car stolen, park it next to a nicer one. :)
 
Maniac said:
After reading so many threads and personally knowing more than a few friends that have had their cues/cases stolen from bars/poolhalls, I have developed a bad case (no pun intended :D) of paranoia. While shooting a match or scoring for others, I catch myself all too often cutting my eyes beside me or behind me to where my case is to make sure it hasn't been toted off by some p.o.s. thief. It's gotten to the point that I simply cannot relax from the worry. I've got more $$$ than I'd like to admit to wrapped up in the contents of my main case. It would probably help if I found the absolute best place in the poolhall to leave my stuff and simply make a better effort of leaving it there. Somewhere that would be darn near impossible for it to get lifted without detection (like underneath the table we are shooting on).

Anybody else have this paranoia? What steps have you taken?

Maniac
Click to expand...

Good lawd i have it bad i take my case to the bathroom with me when not playing, when playing i ask my gf or someone i think i can trust to keep an eye on my stuff.
 
Cue Case Paranoid

I find it difficult to watch a case when it is under the table.

Thread that has some detection items for goods that get away from you is:

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=100045&highlight=theft+alarm

I bought a cheap proximity alarm off Ebay. This system set with a sensor in the case, and an silent buzz alarm in your pocket. The alarm in the pocket had a roll sensitivity setting - but there seemed to be too much variance is setting it for it to be practical.

I have seen some of these types of same alarms to keep track of you kids.

Here is what looks like a more advanced system.

http://thespyshop.com/product.sc?productId=222&categoryId=10
 
case

I've actually joked about the idea of a mini 'car alarm' type alarm in a cue case. Especially one that has a BEEP BEEP when you arm it. :thumbup:

The proximity alarm seems like a pretty cool idea.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top