FAHA: What to do about a theft problem?
 

FIRST is like the real world on training wheels, unfortunately once in a while teams still have to deal with real world issues such as the problem faced by this team in the following message. Take a look.

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Our team is having a problem with team members stealing items from our work area. So far we have lost almost $500 of stuff. This includes actual items that came in the kit, raw materials, components from our team's computers, and a $200 box of safety glasses.

We have grown alot since last year and I don't know all of the new kids as well as I do the old ones, so I don't have any clue who it could be. Our lead mentor wanted to cancel robotics altogether today, but I think I convinced him not to.

We need help. Does anyone have any suggestions for preventing this behavior in the future or for catching the student(s)? I would hate to punish the whole group by ending the team...

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

one possibility, make it clear that the team NEEDS those things, and if they are not returned your robot is not going to be fully functional

and if you dont have safety glasses your team will not be allowed in the pit area, which will be somewhat of a problem, since thats where your robot will be?

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I agree that cancelling the team is not the best option. However, a whole team punishment may be what is needed. There is a student on your team who knows who is doing it, and will not want to be punished for it. That is when the student will come forward and you'll find your theif (hopefully). As for the students who aren't doing it, they'll move on and realize that it isn't their fault and they (directly) aren't being punished. This has been used on our team fairly well. Two years ago when some students broke curfew, the entire team was punished with an earlier curfew and room checks. There were no more curfew problems (at least to my knowledge). Team talks (lectures or tellings) coming from the people in charge can be good also. Let them know that you know it is happening and propose a solution. You can normally tell by people's reaction who is doing it or at least who knows who is doing it. I wish you the best of luck.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

We've had a problem at De Anza, also. Our $3000 Vaio laptop disappeared two weeks ago (during a robotics session), and on it our full inventor plans for the robot. Fortunately we had enough progress on the robot that we didn't really need the plans anymore, but there went our hopes for an Inventor Award submission.

We did a full investigation through the school administration. Some kids have stopped coming to robotics since then...perhaps they were responsible? Who knows.

We've talked about putting web cams around the room, but so far we have not taken any specific actions.

It really bites that we have to even have this conversation.

Good luck,

Eric.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I know our team has a locked supply closet that only the adults have the keys to, and only certain kids are allowed into (with the adult's keys) In our computer room, only so many people are allowed/there is always an adult. We just got laptops w/ docking stations donated, and we are being SUPER protective about them. You just have to watch kids and lock the expensive things up. We also have sign in/out sheets, so maybe if something did happen, we could narrow it down to who was there. When we sign out, we also must have an adult intial, so its obvious we can't walk out with a $200 box of safety glasses. I'm really sorry about your team stealing, you often think better of kids and things like this highly disappoint you. At one time we had a problem with kids kicking in the door to our facility, and that was quickly solved (only the adults have keys, when you show up and there's only 2 kids in the building, its kinda obvious)You could also start taking away privliges until someone fesses up or someone tells, its kinda of tattle tale-ish and hard on kids who didn't do anything, but sometimes it works....constant supervision is probably key
hope this helps a little bit

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Ooo man we have the same problem. The only really major thing thing that was stolen was ram. The rest is stuff we just don't put back into the right spot.
components from our team's computers-Always have someone in the computer room watching the little kids. The best thing I could say is make sure everything is super organized. This will make it easy to find out if is soemthign is missing. Thus when something goes missing you'll be able to find out quickly and make sure that the kids either find it.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Hold a Mandantory All-hands meeting, and address the problem to the entire team. Get the problem out in to the open, make sure everybody know what will happen if they are caught removing items from your work area. If need be list out the punishments. i.e. Not going to regionals/Nats/Kicked off team for good.

During the all hands meeting ask that if the materials are returned with in a few days by the people who took them, there will be no consequences. As long as they know there not getting in trouble they should have the common sence to bring it back.

If none of this works, make sure an adult or senior student is in the room at all times to make sure nothing gets taken, this however is not a good use of time, but if it needs to be done, it needs to be done.

-Aaron

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Our team has a locked supply closet with only about 5 or 6 keys... only given to adults, and only certain kids are allowed in there under supervision. We also have a computer room, and before there really hasn't been much to steal, but we just got almost new laptops with docking stations (:D ) and we are watching those like they're gold. We also have sign in/out sheet so we know who was at which meeting, times etc. and adults have to intial you out, so its kinda hard to steal stuff since they see you, it's also really noticeable if you open the door at the facility. We have had stealing issues in the past, and that's when we got the locked closet, plus i don't think there's a place that the adults can't see, so it would be difficult. The computer room also has an adult in it most of the time.
Hope this helps

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

From the sound of it, it seems like this is theft for pawning. If it's that, then when you guys work on the bot, do a lock in. Don't allow anyone to leave and no one to enter untill they are oked by a mentor or teacher. This includes a search if necessary. Also tell the team flat up what's up, and tell them it's going to be like this untill the stuff is returned, or if the theif turns themself in.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Considering the worth of the items being taken, I'd pursue further action:

Write a letter to all parents. Send it out and ask them to attend a mandatory meeting with their students. Ask a school security guard to be there, or a school officer. Remind them that stealing is a crime, add that anyone can anonymously bring back the items at any time without punishment, but if nothing is done about it, more serious measures will be taken. In the meantime, ask students to check in and check out of meetings with a lead mentor.

This may seem a little harsh, but it seems like this is an ongoing problem. It stinks that these kinds of things happen... but they do happen, and need to be dealt with accordingly. Best of luck with this.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I received a respond from someone who wishes to remain nameless in this matter, so I will respect his/her wishes and post this message for him/her.


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We have had problems with people other than the students stealing stuff. We have noticed shop teachers will also take stuff. For example: Sometimes we forget to clean things up and these things tend to get placed in the shop teachers (locked cabinents). (dont ask how we found this out....)

We are also missing other items which we know we did not leave out. They are also probably in the shop teachers hands. As you can tell our team does not have a good relationship between shop class and robotics. We try to combat theft by locking up all our stuff in cabinents and by keeping things in our main advisors room. We also lock up more expensive stuff such as digital cameras and edu bot stuff. Something you could probably get a file cabinent for cheap to lock stuff up. Or you could even make something out of plywood.

Just thought I would let you know it may not be just the students....
If you have anymore questions just ask!

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Back when I was with 247, there was one student of the class (who shall remain nameless) that didn't care about the team. The person stole 128MB and a PII Processor from one of the CAD computers while the FIRST teacher was on a field trip with another class and the substitute wasn't watching. It was well known who the culprit was, and was turned in. To my knowledge the school said something to the effect of: 'We know you did it, don't tell us you didn't. If we get the items back, we will not get police involved.'

As for your situation..

Someone said to have a letter mailed home, but I would advise against that. If I were a theif, and heard that letters would be mailed home, I would intercept the mail just as I did when I was expecting a bad report card *shifty eyes*

I would suggest, hold a parent meeting. Possibly don't discuss with the students the nature of the meeting, call it travel discussion or something(which could partly be true, should a punishment be no travel for the theif). Call directly the parents who do not attend and tell them directly the matter. (A message on an answering service is not good enough).
I'm willing to bet most parents do not want their kids to be theives and are willing to say "I think my child may have taken these, there is a box with it in the basement. How can I return it?"

Compile a list of what has been stolen, such as the box of safety glasses. Make sure there is a quality description of what has been taken, as well as how to test. (Such as, if RAM were taken and installed, have parents check how much RAM is in their machine and check against original specs).

Personally, I think if you expect to see the items returned, you must have an amnesty policy.

Should after other steps have been taken, you notice still more things being stolen, address a Sign In/Sign Out policy for attendees of a meeting/build session. When addressing, tell students "There has been a problem with items being stolen... if you have nothing to hide this will not have a bad effect on you."

Some may say it makes the feel like a criminal when they havn't stolen anything. Address to the students that "stolen items must be replaced with team funds. Therefore, it costs you more when someone steals from the team." I think that will make students prefer innocent searches over having to pay more or fundraise more to replace stolen goods.

But most importantly: Do Not Give Priority To One Student Over Another. A rookie should be given the same treatment as your veteran main driver, student leader, or anyone else.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I do not think that saying the replacements will come out of team funds will work because if a person is stealing from the team in the first place, i dont think they really care what effect there is on the team. that being said, i do not have a better solution.

I like talking to the parents directly, but that is a problem when it is one of the teachers/mentors.

sorry that this is happening to your team and i hope that it all works out in the future

--Shyra

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I have a two-way suggestion that might help determine a suspect.

1. They don't care about the team as shown by their theft of things. This means they are more likely to skip meetings to do other things.

2. They do care about the team, and that makes them open to guilt trips about what they did.


Our team has a shop area that is locked and only a few adults have a key to it, so things can't disappear between meetings. Within that shop we have a school closet/wardrobe thing that is locked. In there we keep the software, team credit card, and student info stuff. To my knowledge, we havn't had a problem with people stealing stuff, but only with overzelous shop cleanings by new shop managers who didn't know that those funny connectors he threw out were $300 worth of parts.

Things also often get tossed somewhere in the shop by someone who dosn't know where they are suppost to go, and they get found a week later. If you havn't, I would suggest asking

Our team works within one room, with the shop area in the back corner of it. The openness makes it hard for someone to just walk off with significat parts. Our animation team brings their personal computers in from home, so no incentive there.


An open work area, everyone working together and friendly communication are our best defense against theft, as well as one of our greater assests as a team.


Wetzel

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

It's rather sad and all. I had the (in retrospect foolish) view that people who do FIRST are above that sort of thing. As far as I know, it's never happened on our team (except one or two persons stealing other persons caffine sources). However, sign in-out and bag checks, while extreme, will get the idea across. Plus general annoyance = peer pressure. This is a good thing.

Tangentially, I may be revealing my ignorance for your scorn, but there's a competition for the best CAD model?

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Is it possible in the future to "issue" the supplies or equipment to the team member who needs it or asks for it? For instance our team has an IBM and two Compaq laptops used for design and programing and if a student or adult wants to use them they have to check them out and they become responsible for them until they're checked back in. Unfortunately it's also a pain or impossible to do for smaller stuff like screwdrivers, or wrenchs but a good idea for high priced and difficult to replace stuff. Another suggestion would be could you put a camera by the entrance/exit where you meet. You could even put a "dummy" camera there and not tell them that it's fake, all it has to do is get them thinking that they might get caught. Also is there enough supervision in your work area? From what you mentioned it sounds like they're taking the stuff for the thrill or, like was mentioned above, to pawn it. I can't figure out what someone would want $200 worth of safety glasses for.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

Lock up everything and everything, and give one of each key to the leader of each team. That way, you will always have someone with keys around, and you can then monitor things fairly well without needing to bother adults.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I would say that you need to enact a typr of honor code and back it up with consequences. This problem has real consequences in that you won't have a robot if you don't have the right tools.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

We have 2 locking cabinets in our room, 1 for the kit of parts and the other for general misc. but very important stuff. We also have locks on our electronics cab.

We have bylaws and policies and each year every team member needs to sign our team contract which states that they agree to all our our bylaws, policies, school rules, and all other government rules.

We had to suspend 3 members for 2 days this year for hacking into our of our wonderful graphics computers.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I feel lucky that I or anyone else on our team hasnt gotten stolen from (except for a few bucks i left out in our hotel for regionals that the cleaners might have thought was a tip:) ) A thief doesnt belong in robotics club. period.

Just like paintballing, equipment is expensive, and it is often necessary for teams to bend over backwards to raise enough money just for one regional.

Oh, and this may sound wrong, but at least the people stole from the club and NOT individuals (this way the school could take legal action blah blah blah)

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

[quote=Peciv]We have bylaws and policies and each year every team member needs to sign our team contract which states that they agree to all our our bylaws, policies, school rules, and all other government rules.QUOTE]

That's actually a real good idea. In school when we get take home tests or projects or something of the like, each student must sign a slip saying that they have not cheated on the test past or present. If they violate their signature, a suspension from school is mandatory...to my knowledge, not one kid that signs that sheet has ever cheated. I definitely like the idea of locked storage areas...I guess my team is extremely lucky because i don't know of anything like this happening to us. I didn't realize that there were problems like this in FIRST. It's a shame really.

Re: What to do about a theft problem?
 

I feel quite lucky that we do not have this sort of problem here. As we are all 16-18 year olds, and there are only 20 or so of us, therefore , generally there is an air of trust. Its a shame that you have to resot to this sort of thing. It is true that if you start threatening action, they will usually own up, but it will also make them more rebellious and try again and with more determination. Basically, the only way as far as i see is to enforce that all students to log what they use, to get permissions and to sign lots of legal documents. If this doesn't stop, i would suggest reducing that only a trusted few have access to the tools / materials for the build period.