The Stolen Bonsai Register has the potential for meaningful usefulness. While most people do not have misgivings about high percentage recovery it has the potential for proving hope. It goes without question if it is used by everyone who has a bonsai stolen, and we can encourage buyers to use it, it will dry up the market for reselling stolen bonsai. Should any buyer find that what they have been offered is stolen we have a reasonable opportunity to recover that bonsai. Success depends upon seriously we use this Register.

To do this will require that everyone take a copy of the form to record the details of every one of their most valuable bonsai and keep current photos of it. Identifying a bonsai is impossible with incorrect dimensions and old photos. In-as-much-as use of the SBR is free, it is a small "price to pay" for us to use this record keeping. Obviously, such records have other values as well.

Proper usage will require the reporting of every stolen bonsai as soon as it is missing.

It will require absolute diligence on behalf of ABS to keep the Register "up to the minute" current.

To have any chance to recover a bonsai there will have to be an extraordinary promotional program to get every possible entity, organization, club, bonsai nursery, and bonsai purchaser familiar with the Register as quickly as possible. It has to be made very clear that the register is current and that they can easily find what they need when they are about to spend money on a valuable bonsai.

During the use of this process it behooves ABS members and others to contribute suggestions and ideas for improving what we are doing.

To summarize:

1.  Download a copy of the record form.
2.  Make a copy and complete the information for every bonsai you value in your collection.
3.  Report a loss immediately.
4.  Keep current on what bonsai are listed on the Registry.
5.  Report any sightings of bonsai on the Registry.
6.  Spread the word to everyone about the Registry and get them to get familiar with it.
7.  Share your experiences and ideas to improve the process.

Good luck, we hope you use the system and never have to report a stolen bonsai. If you have, we will do everything we can to find and return what you have lost.