Ive used them to keep my wooden dryer racks from blowing over on the upstairs balcony. But, now Im having a problem. I keep my catfood in an aluminum trash can, but Mr. Racoon was getting in there, stealing the cat food cans and popping off the pop top lids. That's what inspired the bungee wrap through the handles on either side and on the lid. Did that help? Well it did help some, but now Mr. Racoon has figured out how to pry up the trash can lid, in spite of the bungees. I have found his empty cat food cans in the gutters, and on the roof. He collects his treasure and then climbs out on the roof for a picnic--all of this at 3 a.m.

I think this coon has an exceptional I.Q. but I don't want to admit that its higher than mine!

Jill, It's so funny I ran across this. Vicki (Cricket Hill) was just here showing us a small bundle of bungees she'd bought for traveling. They would be perfect for holding pots on a railing.
I do the same sorta' thing with some of our large container tropicals, driving in a stake and putting a bungee around the pot to stop blow down.

Hazel, I have a hard time with the pop-off lids on cans! Your 'coon is talented. You could try one of the "perfect bungees" that LariAnn mentioned (available on Amazon)... from the reviews, they have considerably less stretch as well as being more durable than regular bungees, so they might work to strap down the lid. You could also tie down the lid with a rope, using a taut-line hitch to tighten/loosen, but your 'coon might figure that one out, too.

Ric, LariAnn mentioned using bungees on large pots also. I've also read about using a piece of rebar, driven right down into the pot, through the drainage hole, and down into the ground... but bungees are easier to remove at the end of the season.

Yeah, I wouldn't even try to drive a rebar through some of these, we keep them fairly root bound to restrict the pot size. If the can has handles maybe a small ratchet strap would confound him for awhile.
about the IQ

Thanks for the suggestions about Mr. Coon getting into the trash can where the cat food is stored. For the time being, I put a cardboard box over the lid secured with the bungees. For now, that seems to work. In the mean time I have been finding opened and empty cat food containers are strange places: out on the rain gutters, on the kitchen roof, and on the stairs, and in odd corners.

Your 'coon is very funny to read about, not so funny to have as a neighbor. I'm glad you have found a solution!