The thievery is sad- but a sign of the times. I thought only industry people with badges got into Sema?
As others pointed out, on the final day they allow people who purchased tickets to the "SEMA Experience" into the show. It's not solely them that cause issues though. Although it's "Industry" folk that at the show the other days, it doesn't take much to meet the criteria to get credentials. Although the overwhelming majority of industry folk that I spoke to were cool, professional, and looking to do business, a small percentage were only there to get as much free stuff as possible. It's frustrating when you're speaking with someone wanting to discuss potential large wholesale purchases and some guy butts in with "Hey ya'll got any free t shirts?"
All-in-all it was a good experience, but you definitely have to closely watch anything that you didn't want taken.
@jscherb : It was definitely more crowded than that this year on Friday. I wasn't there last year, but the other exhibitors that I spoke to that were said that this year was far more crowded than the previous year.