HBO's Harry Potter Series Microchips Wands and Broomsticks After On-Set Prop Thefts

Sticky fingers, meet new technology. The producers behind HBO's hotly anticipated Harry Potter series have reportedly resorted to microchipping their broomsticks, and a host of other on-set props, following a string of brazen thefts at the show's sprawling U.K. studio base.

According to The Sun, broomsticks, wands, spell books, pumpkins and even fake food have mysteriously vanished from the production, with crew members discovering several items missing from a Halloween feast scene staged inside the new Great Hall set. The thefts have rattled producers enough that they've taken the unusual step of embedding tracking chips into key props.

Posters spotted in rest areas at the show's £1 billion production base in Leavesden, Hertfordshire, spell out the new policy in no uncertain terms. "Props on this production have been microchipped," the signs read, accompanied by an image of a tagged broomstick, The Sun reports.

The warning continues: "For inventory and security purposes props are being tracked daily and movement of props will be logged. If you need to take any prop off-set or away from its designated area, please seek approval from the Props Department first. If you notice any lost/misplaced items or anything out of place, please report it to the Props team … or Assets so they can continue looking."

Production bosses have also made the consequences crystal clear: anyone caught swiping souvenirs will be in breach of contract and escorted off the Warner Bros. Studios lot.

A source told The Sun that the culprit, or culprits, remain a mystery. "The missing props cannot be blamed on Harry Potter's arch enemy Lord Voldemort," the insider quipped. "It's easy to suspect the dozens of support actors on set, but truthfully no one knows who is responsible."

The same source added, per The Sun, that producers are planning to monitor online resale platforms to ensure nothing surfaces on the secondary market. "Production bosses said they will be scouring eBay to make sure nothing is found for sale online. Anyone caught doing so will be punished and fired."

Despite the security headache, the source struck an optimistic note about what fans can expect when the series finally arrives. "The backdrops in the new series are amazing, and in particular the Great Hall is mesmerising," the insider said. "Viewers are in for a treat. There are so many props, which make it look so good."

The microchip saga is the latest behind-the-scenes wrinkle for the high-profile adaptation, which stars Dominic McLaughlin as the Boy Who Lived, Arabella Stanton as Hermione, Alastair Stout as Ron, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy. The Sun previously reported in March that bosses had issued warnings to cast and crew about bullying on set.

For now, anyone tempted to walk off with a memento should think twice.