I have a thief

Uhhhh! I get up this morning to see that the racoon in my yard last night didn't just eat the bird food, it stole the whole entire feeder! It was on a tall metal pole with a bar across the top and I had it chained up there. Any suggestions to keep a racoon from climbing a metal pole?

Yes, we have a 4-5 ft pipe of pvc around the metal poles holding our wren houses, and haven't lost a family to racoons/squirrels yet. It's not foolproof, but there are probably enough other things around that are easier for them. If the racoon sees that bird feeder as a steady source of food, and it's hungry or nursing, it will do everything it can including digging up the pole to knock it over. Stopping using the feeder for a while will help, but they will now regularly check it on the off chance that they can get food there. The only completely reliable way is to call the animal shelter, rent one of their live traps, and have them haul that animal away. That particular animal has learned that food is there, and won't go away quietly. Other option is to put cat food out in another location so they leave that feeder alone, but that isn't one I would pick. Your choice. Sorry to hear about that.

Look in the nearby areas for the feeder. If it's still in one piece, it probably didn't go far.

I'm having one randomly go through digging up my plants, on an uneven schedule. I prefer leaving animals alone, but every once in a while, something destructive comes along that must go.

Thanks for the suggestion.
I looked everywhere for that feeder except in the "woodsy" area behind my house. I even checked the neighbors yard. No sign of it whatsoever. I think when the trees lose their leaves in the fall, I'll see it hanging up somewhere lol. It was a metal cage suet feeder so it's probably in one piece. I didn't think about using the suet, afterwards I realized I should have known the fat would attract them. I'll just stick to sunflower seed; if the other feeders are still there in the morning.
I have quite a few racoons; I saw three at the same time last night. I think the cat food is what originally attracted them years ago. I'd forget about it and leave it out overnight. Kinda scary when I'd open the door and see a racoon or possum just hanging out on the steps; I don't leave the food out anymore.

It's when you walk out the door and see a skunk eating the cat food that you really freak out, let me tell you! We named the old possum "waddles". The raccoon twins and the cat got into a fight over who got ownership of a 2 ft stuff purple horse that got left on the porch - all wanted to sleep on it like a saddle. Yes, each was pulling on part of it.

I've trained the cat to "knock" on the door when she wants to come in and eat, now. She uses that shamelessly and often. On the other hand, I get lots of exercise when I think I hear her knocking and it's the house heating or cooling. Sigh.

Good luck with that. Hanging stuff from tree limbs, with long chain, helped for the suet feeder here. They couldn't get to it, and the "bad" birds tended to ignore it while the chickadees and nuthach's use it year around. Must encourage anyone who will feed birds. :-)