Playing a thief in a video game is all very
well, but becoming the victim of crime is less pleasant. Opposable Thumbs brings a warning that is worth heeding now
and bearing in mind for the future; video game theft is on the rise.It's easy to believe that you will never be the one to suffer the loss of all your beloved games, but it's a cruel world; the used-game market is booming, and there are few ways to trace your property back if it gets stolen. As a victim of game theft -- my entire collection was stolen about eighteen months ago, eerily about the same time that Ben at Opposable Thumbs suffered the same loss -- here is some advice that, with hindsight, I wish I had followed:
- Don't leave your games piled up in plain sight to anyone peering through windows or on a casual stroll through your house.
- Don't keep expensive portable gaming systems on show.
- Do what you
can towards your general home security.
- Do try to make your easily-portable, easily-sold games less appealing -- for example, take them out of their boxes or mark them.
- Do get insurance -- replacing rare and well-loved games is hard, but it's even harder if you're
footing the entire bill. Keep a note of any especially rare items, and if you're the forgetful sort, maintain a list of
all your games (with receipts) for easier claims.
- Do report the crime immediately,
if you are unlucky enough to suffer; there may be a wave of thefts and your information may help prevent more.
