Estimated reading time: 17 minutes

Don’t fall victim to garage sale theft. Follow these tips to safeguard your belongings and prevent scams during your sale.

Spring and summer are the perfect time to de-clutter the house, but before you host your garage sale this weekend, keep garage sale theft and scams on your mind.

Today, I will detail what you need to know to help prevent garage sale theft.

Be Aware Of Your Garage Sale Surroundings

There comes a time when even blogging about garage sale theft is a hot topic because it happens, and it occurs more than you think, especially to unsuspecting sellers.

The problem is homeowners don’t know about it, aren’t aware, or don’t care to discuss it because they are embarrassed.

How would you feel if something you worked hard for was swiped when you turned your back or someone went further and had a master plan with a few friends or family members?

It boggles my mind how far someone will go to get stuff for free at the risk of getting arrested and charged with theft at a garage sale.

How badly do they need it?

Typically garage sale prices are already super low, so why does someone steal?

Because they can.

I’m the type who would say if someone wants something and takes it, so be it.

That’s not the case for everyone, especially when selling high-ticket or vintage items.

My neighbour held a garage sale last weekend only to find that someone had committed garage sale theft right under his nose, literally.

Hosting Our First Garage Sale

In the coming weeks, Mrs. CBB and I plan to host a garage sale at our house because we have far too much stuff.

We’ve sold plenty on Facebook and Kijiji, earning almost $2000 in cash in most cases, making more than what we purchased items for.

There are always those items that don’t sell online, such as baby blankets and odd toys that aren’t name brand, along with shoes and clothes that are hard to find a target audience.

As seasoned garage sale lovers, we’ve always done the early morning trek around town looking for bargains.

I haven’t talked about garage sale theft because I haven’t experienced it.

However, after talking to my neighbour, I’m now in the loop.

I wanted to share his experience with you so you don’t become a victim of garage sale theft.

Don’t Turn Your Back

So, here’s what went down.

It was a bright sunny morning, and as I left with the family to go to my sister-in-law’s for breakfast, I noticed our neighbour was hosting a garage sale.

He had three long tables and plenty of stuff on the ground, including bits at the end of his garage.

I went over to small chat and went on my way when the Mrs. finally exited the house.

When I got back, he was wrapping up, so I thought I’d check in to see how he made out selling.

That’s when he told me the story of someone walking off with his snow blower (snow thrower).

Stolen Snowblower

No, I thought to myself, not the snowblower.

I loved that thing only because he and I would help each other in the winter, and it sure did come in handy.

It wasn’t big but enough to do a small driveway and sidewalk.

Over the years, Mrs. CBB would tell me to buy one, but I’ve refused because I haven’t needed it.

As the morning drew more customers in, one person started chatting him up about a lawnmower he was selling.

The mower was off to the side on the front lawn, and as he was testing it.

While being distracted, another guy walked off with his snow blower tucked away on the side of the garage.

How creepy is that?

Well, it happens, and just like theft at open houses with realtors happens, people will stop at nothing to get what they want when the opportunity presents itself.

He sold the lawn mower and now has to buy a snow blower with the money he collected.

What about house insurance?

The deductible doesn’t make it worth it for him, so he’d rather spend a couple hundred dollars and be done with it.

Remember that you are inviting these people onto your property, which means that even if they get hurt, they may be able to sue you.

Home insurance is more important than you think, although buying a house without is not an option in Canada.

When you least expect it, something happens, and who gets the tail end of it? You! Be aware.

Garage Sale Theft Tips

Below are some of the sly ways garage theft occurs, and if you or someone you know is planning on hosting a garage sale, yard sale, or any sale, be aware.

If you have a security camera, you may want to ensure it is turned on.

Garage Sale Theft

As you just witnessed in this mind-boggling video, garage sale theft happens and will do as soon as you turn your back.

The lady was stuffing an item in her bag right in front of everyone, even having someone stop her from telling her everything was fine when an object fell to the ground.

Then, she just walked away, and no one blinked an eye.

Money Swap and Fake Money

Deal with one customer at a time.

Pay attention when taking money from your garage sale customers, and treat it as if you were working the counter in a shop.

It’s imperative to do this because plenty of people will go out of their way to play ignorant if caught.

For example, handing you a $5 bill instead of a $10 or a quarter instead of a Loonie for something.

People want to shop fast, some too quickly, which means they will hand you money when you are talking to someone else, and that’s when they might scam you.

Another way a money scam might come into play is with fake money (oh yes!) or telling you they gave you $20 when they only gave you $5.

In this case, ALWAYS keep the money they gave you on a table or in your hands.

A wrap-around money pouch or someone at a table who takes money is a more innovative way to sell.

If you opt for the table with a second garage sale host, always keep in contact with pricing, but this could get tricky.

Never leave a money box unattended if you are the only person hosting a garage sale.

Don’t even have one, and opt for the fanny pack, wrap-around apron, or work pouch to keep your money safe.

Consider taking the higher-priced bills into the house for safekeeping when your money increases.

This way, you have less opportunity for theft and mix-up.

House Theft

Lock all your doors, including the front and back doors and the windows, so no one can get in and out of your house even when you are on the premises.

The garage door is just as easy to get in when distracted.

One of the most popular ways to get out of it is to say they were looking for a bathroom. Be Aware.

Lock Your Vehicle

You probably won’t be surprised to find out that people will scan the inside of your vehicle for goods when you’re not looking.

They may come to the garage sale to see who the host is, and then when they are not looking, enter the vehicle if the doors are open.

Anything from wallets to purses and other valuables should be locked inside the house.

Garage Sale Distractions

When it comes to the resale of high-priced items or if someone spots something of interest but has no intentions of paying for it, they may play the distraction game with you.

Typically this involves more than one person, so always be aware of who is at your garage sale.

Garage sale theft is not something you might think would happen, but when someone is waiting for an opportunity, they will sail on in.

What happens is the same as at any other store;

One person chats you up while the other stashes goods or walks away from your garage sale with items in their hands.

High-Priced Item Theft

If you plan to sell DVDs or CDs, take the discs out and put them in a particular spot as you’d find at many second-hand shops.

You may notice that all of their vintage or high-priced items are under lock and key in a display because people steal.

Jewellery is a hot ticket item to keep close; often, having someone monitor a jewelry table is in your best interest.

For any expensive clothing, you may want to hand on a clothing rack or drying rack close to the money table and not near the end of the driveway.

We’ve also seen homeowners who use a rope from tree to tree or other means to create a rack for clothing or other items.

Only put one shoe out for pricey shoes and keep the others in your garage or a box for easy access.

Even electronics, phones, tools, cameras, and camera lenses are popular garage sale theft items, so keep them close to you and under a close eye.

Price Tag Swap or Missing Tag

It seems petty garage sale theft includes price tag swaps or ripping tags of items in hopes of getting a better deal.

If you’re worried about price tag theft, consider a color-coordinated sticker system or a master list of prices, especially for mid-higher items.

This means customers will ask you the price for each color, which may deter theft.

I’ll Be Back Promise

Please don’t fall for the person who says they will go to the ATM to get money out because they didn’t bring enough and want to take the item with them.

If that’s the case, tell them to go and come back, and if the item is still available, they can buy it.

You should never hold an item only because it likely won’t come back, and you may miss a sale.

No one wants to take stuff back into the house. If the buyer doesn’t come prepared with money, it’s not your problem.

Item Stuffing

If you plan to sell anything that zips up or that is boxed, remember that buyers may stuff other items inside and then try to buy them.

When you check out at almost any store, have you noticed they open zippers and bags to ensure nothing else is put inside?

It would be best to do the same thing to protect yourself from theft from garage sales.

Math Money Scam

Always have a calculator on hand if your math skills are not the best or you get easily distracted when adding numbers in your head.

Never allow the customer to tell you how much their items cost; otherwise, you will get scammed.

Do it yourself.

Wouldn’t it be great to all cash out at the stores that way?

Not great for the store but a win for the scamming customer.

Be Aware At All Times

If you’re worried about your high-priced items, do the same thing as we have, sell them online, and save other items that are lower in price for your garage sale.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to go through the hassle of a garage sale, consider donating it to families or people in need.

Discussion: Have you ever hosted a garage sale only to discover you were the victim of theft?

Share your story below in the comments. What other garage sale theft tips can you come up with?

CBB at Home

Hmm, could this week get any busier for us?

Not only is Mrs. CBB spending most of her day on the phone dealing with utility companies, banks, lawyers, and her mom’s illness, she has to deal with watching our little guy, who wants attention at all times.

It’s tough for us both right now, and although we sometimes go to give up, we keep pushing forward.

We’re hoping a light will shine down on this family so we can all sort things out and move on.

This week I managed to clean out my truck which was filled with crumbs from our little guy.

I managed to wash his car seat so it’s in pristine condition for at least a day.

Garden Update

Gardening has been fun for me.

At least, it gets my mind off what is happening in our family.

So far, the herbs are coming up nicely, and the grass is greener than green!

I did not burn the grass this year with fertilizer and decided to mix it with water first before spreading it around; BINGO!

It didn’t matter what the instructions said to do. Every year I would burn the grass following them.

I would water the living heck out of the lawn and still find burnt patches in the morning, but not this year!

Home Maintenance

On that note, I’m working on filling the driveway cracks and will make the driveway look pretty again by sealing the driveway.

I don’t often find those fancy driveways for which people pay a fortune without weeds, cracked stonework, or uneven finishes.

I still think sticking with asphalt was our best option and putting the $15,000 towards other renovations in the house.

Other than that, this week was all about privacy in Canada with the GDPR in the EU deadline yesterday so you will notice a new privacy policy on the blog.

I’m moving my email subscription to Mailerlite with my designer and unveiling a new blog design.

This may mean I will need you to re-subscribe to the blog, which I hope every one of you will do, but I will keep you in the loop!

Happy Days to all!

Mr.CBB

CBB Published Posts

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Top Post This Week: Free Money-Saving Tools

Parenting and Home Life

This was funny when I found this blog about how to grow an avocado tree from seed because Mrs. CBB has been tossing her avocado seeds in a massive planter out front in hopes one would succeed.

I might get her to read this so she understands how to grow her avocado tree properly.

Brag Of The Week

Please send me a photo of your deals with the low-down on what you bought and how much you paid for it.

Did you score some deals?

Each entry allows you to win gift cards at the end of the year. More than one prize!

I’m unsure if you’re doing the budget brag this year, but I thought I’d share anyway.

I scooped up three dozen silicone baking cups for $1 a dozen.

No more need to buy the paper ones! – PAT

Garage Sale Finds

Hi Mr.CBB and Fans!

Despite the rain, we ventured out to see if we could still find some deals.

We did! It seems the rain makes sellers give better discounts.

Today’s deals:

Two picture frames and Sony headphones $4 (asking was $6)
Face cloths, hand towel, brand new shaving cream, brand new Doterra essential oils $2 (the oils alone are worth over $45!)
Two adult coloring books for $1 (asking was $2)
Vaseline lotion and Paw Patrol mini golf game $2.25 (asking was $3.25)
Tissues, wipes, fidget toy, painters tape, 3M hooks, and recycle bin $.75

Total spent $10

Jen P.

Frugal Recipe Of The Week

Not everyone can afford a juicy steak to throw on the grill, so the chicken can be a more affordable option, especially when it goes on offer.

Over at Lettuce Indulge, they have a wonderful-looking and sounding Chicken Fried Steak that I wanted to share with everyone. It has to be crispy, right?

CBB Words of Wisdom

Saturday Search Term Giggles

Kermit the frog Search terms Canadian Budget Binder — Google Search Terms for Canadian Budget Binder

Every week, I get thousands of people who visit Canadian Budget Binder because they have searched online and found my blog. (SIC) This means I’ve copied the text exactly, but it has spelling errors.

Most times funny, Sometimes serious.

How much discretionary income is needed to become well-off?– Hmm, it depends on how much money you earn, how much debt you have, and how you plan to invest your money.
Stockpiling in Canada in 1929’s – That’s so random.
How much shoulda single person spend on groceries?– You should have…
No Frills selling stale-dated products– Check the dates before you buy. If you don’t like it, return it. It’s that easy.
Secret society that will make someone rich– I’m seriously laughing my butt off!

Note: Some posts on CBB may be paid for and written by me, and this is my opinion of a product/service that I’ve tried and used before.

Please read my privacy policy and disclaimer.

Alex Bohdanov May 27, 2018 At 3:49 pm

Oof, there are so many problems with these garage sales that it’s better to sell all the stuff online 🙂

Reply
- Mo CanadianBudgetBinder May 28, 2018 At 7:45 am
  
  Yes but even then that comes with it’s fair share of issues.
  
  Reply
JoeHx June 18, 2018 At 12:27 pm

Garage sale thefts happens because it’s easy. That, and most people hosting garage sales don’t want to face any conflict and would probably even let a thief go simply because they don’t want to deal with it.

Keeping most of the sales money in the house is a good tip to mitigate any cash theft.

It can sometimes be hard to keep an eye on everyone if you have a small crowd.

Reply
- Mo CanadianBudgetBinder June 18, 2018 At 10:29 pm
  
  That’s a great tip JoeHx thanks.
  
  Reply
Stephanie December 27, 2021 At 11:45 am

I was just thinking about how someone who stopped to browse at my garage sale picked up a couple items, and instead of paying, just walked away. Thankfully it was just a book and a nice baby garment, but the principle of it irked me. In contrast, we have never had a dishonest porch pickup transaction, and even had a lady pay more for an item because it was worth more to her!

Reply
- Mo CanadianBudgetBinder January 4, 2022 At 8:10 pm
  
  That’s one thing I don’t care for about hosting a garage sale. You have to watch the tables and make sure people don’t slip inside the house or backyard.
  I agree it would irk me too. If they asked I would have given it for free if they needed it and didn’t have the money. We haven’t had a dishonest porch pick up either. We still installed the ring camera and we have Arlo Pro on either side of the garage. Well worth the money. Thanks for your comment and for stopping by Stephanie. Mr.CBB
  
  Reply

How To Prevent Garage Sale Theft