I have had this happen to me twice (Mullaloo and Shoalwater) both times it was a nearly new kitebag which I never recovered and both times I have seen it happen but as I was on the water I couldn't stop them.

I never leave anything in my kite bag now and always open it right up, lay it out flat and just sit my pump on top so it is obvious there is nothing in it.

If they keep grabbing bags and find nothing in them they will soon get sick of it but if when they grab a bag it has a wallet, phone, camera, sunnies etc they will keep coming back.
So think about what you take down the beach do you really need to take your phone

What a bunch of C@#^S. You get so sick and tired of hearing this crap go on. One day someone will pay for all of the crap stolen from cars and beaches.
Councils need to step up and provide all areas with CCTV cameras. It's the only way to catch the A Holes.

Sorry to hear about that I hope you didn't lose anything of great value. I hate theft with a passion god help the guy I ever catch. I've had my cars broken into 3 times so I have sympathy for you dude.

later

Its such a gamble either way, do you leave it in tha car or take it to the beach and risk it in the bag.

I've had the car broken into at woodies, but had nothing stolen on the beach (yet!)

I've been seriously thinking about installing a small safe bolted in the back of the ute for this.

It won't be too long before guys wll start patrolling the carparks carrying a scaffolding bar for the purposes of attiude adjustment, and then its going to get messy...