Common sense will keep your gear safe.
When possible, I live by the list below and have never had gear stolen or significantly damaged by others since 1990.
At first it might seem fearful/paranoid, but it's a habit no different than looking before you cross a street.
- When your gear is not on stage, is packed and is NOT in the venue, ensure it's secure & out of sight/knowledge of others.
- When your gear is not on stage, is packed and is IN the venue, keep that time as short as possible, stay close to the gear, keep it in your line of sight.
- Before you perform, look at your stage layout and think about how you'll stop a falling/flying body from smashing your stuff. Rearrange gear accordingly.
- When your gear is unpacked, is on stage and you're NOT, know your audience and keep the stage in your peripheral vision.
- Like personal space, 99% of people will put space between themselves and your unpacked gear on stage.
- Know what that space is, and with the stage in your peripheral vision, know when someone violates that space.
- If someone violates that space, they're either clueless or up to something -- neither are safe for your gear.
- In my experience, most who violate that space when I'm away want to pick up a guitar. The minority want a closer look.
- When it looks like someone is going to cross that line, stop what you're doing, be ready to close distance to the stage as fast as you can.
These are extreme and very rare, but I've done each more than a few times over the years:
- I've physically kicked, shoved, and body-blocked people from falling into my stuff while I'm playing.
- I've sprinted across venues and hurdled over customers to stop people who violate stage space from picking up a guitar or messing with gear.
- When I can't close the gap fast enough, I've yelled loud enough to get people focused on the perpetrator, so he/she either doesn't pick up a guitar, or decides they better put it down.