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Does anyone know of an innovative way to reduce or prevent theft of bands, clips, small dumbbells, straps, etc that can be carried out accidently or on purpose in a trainer's gym bag?

It seems to me there'd be a big difference between securing large quantities of such items when they're not in use and securing them separately when they are in a position to be boosted accidentally...or "accidentally." A label might help such items get returned once the trainer finds them in his or her bag, anyway. The convenience store method -- attaching a heavy chain or brick to the restroom key -- doesn't seem promising in this case. The only other option that I can think of is requiring all trainers to leave a deposit before going on the floor...you can't be checking that all your equipment is accounted for every time someone leaves, of course, but at least you're making them aware of the problem, and forcing them to stop as they pick up their car keys or money -- and, maybe, at the same time, to remember what's theirs and what's yours.

All of these pieces of equipment are located in our weight room in our Recreation Facility. We have a welcome desk at the entrance of our weight room and we don't allow users to take bags past this welcome desk. Two reasons - safety (so bags are laying everywhere on the floor) & to cut down on the chances of items "accidentally" disappearing.