A word of caution in and around London

There is a web site that tracks images by the serial number of the camera.... apparently it is one of the few things that gets left on an image.

http://www.gadgettrak.com/camerasearch/

So... if you have your serial numbers do a search in a week or so and work backwards from image to photographer and then back to the crooks.

Most solutions to this sort of thing are not legal unless a policeman or working for Blackwater.

I hope they were insured. But apart from that it is the intrusion and psychological effects

Oh f..k. I'm sorry Pete.

Thanks Guys,

guess it is just one of those things that is sent to test us. I just cant believe how quick it all happened. And it has also taught me make sure you are fully covered by insurance, I am but not for the full amount so even if the pay out the max it wont cover all the loss, so for me a lesson learnt.

I just feel so frustrated and helpless, if it were in the middle of a protest or riot or war zone I could understand it but hey ho.

Chris, thanks for the url, I will check it out.

Pete

Pete, these days London IS a war zone. As are most major cites.....

The other point is Insurance. For the UK I was told that if you have 10K of kit and 5K insurance that is only 50% covered. So they only pay out 50% of any claim. So if you loose 1K of kit they only pay out 500 GBP.

This was from some one in photo insurance but it is worth checking the small print .

The other thing is if you are using your camera "professionally" is submitting to Demotix your house insurance may not cover you.... You may need proper photographers insurance (with public liability etc)

Cheers for the info Chris,

going to have to be very carefull inhow I approach it as it is only on house insurance

Again lesson learnt for the future.

pete

Terrible to hear that Pete, but short of chaining all your stuff to yourself it sounds like there's not a lot you could have done to protect yourself against opportunistic grab-and-run jobs like this.

Something we try and reiterate as often as we can is that your safety is paramount. Neither the story nor your gear is worth putting yourself in danger for, much as the last thing you might want to do when faced with theft and violence is back down.

Let us know if there's anything we can do to help, although it sounds like you've taken exactly the right steps.

Pete,
I'm sorry to hear about that. Must have been a great shock to be violated in that way.

This is the main reason I will never buy used gear unless I go the the vendors home and see the purchase reciept.

It is down right depressing for this to happen, and my thoughts are with you.

I'm not sure if it works the same in the UK, but a big avenue thefts are sold off on is "Craigslist". If this is also operating in the UK, you might keep a lookout for your kit showing up on there. Just something that might help you get it back.

I've never had a problem with the Victoria area, though I am sorry to hear about your loss. Though will be wary of Victoria

Coach/bus and rail stations the world over are like this. A lot of people, 99% of whom don't know each other, in a hurry, many not quite sure where they are or where they are going, concentrating on other things with in the place with lots of baggage and usually lots of entrances and exits. They are a pick pocket and thieves paradise.

You only need to be off guard for half a second and in a flash it is all over. Knowing Pete's background he would be more alert than most. So it can be a bit like lightning strikes. Random and almost impossible to stop.

I get your point Chris, not that I am going to be complacent or think it may not happen to me. I have been in the Victoria area, including the station itself, even late at night. Nothing has happened to me, touch wood.

Though it would be a nightmare if it did happen to anyone, including myself

The one thing to remember about professional thieves, as these seemed to be, and not just low life snatch , and grab opportunists, is they usually do not hit the same place twice. This type of professional thief can strike anywhere, and I mean anywhere.

They learned long ago that if you concentrate on just one area you will get caught. By moving around, and never hitting the same place twice, their chances of being caught are greatly reduced. No one is set up looking for them if they don't return to the same locations. There are plenty of places for them to move to, and not develop a pattern by returning to a location. You always have to be on guard.

Your everyday thief is different, and will pick just a few areas to work, and will end up caught very quickly. It is still depressing if you happen to be one of the ones they hit though before they are caught.

Something I found that works very well (and I'm not trying to push this product), is the line of merchandise from the Pacsafe company. They make the best camera strap I have ever found, with locking clasps, and aircraft cable running though the strap so they can't be cut by a snatch, and grab. They also make a number of bags that are steel mesh lined, with aircraft cable in the straps. Their fanny pack is steel mesh lined with locking zips, and steel cables through the strap so it is impossible for a pickpocket to tamper with them, they can't be cut open, or snatched, unless you unlock them.

Their bigger bags are the same way, and very fashionable, yet unobtrusive looking. You don't look at them thinking what expensive thing is inside. They look like any other cheap bag, or strap, and they are not expensive. Their camera strap is only $19.95US, and their messenger bags are under $80. I've had Nikon straps come apart on two different occasions, once bouncing my camera down the street from the motorcycle I was driving, but never had any problems with their straps in 6 years.

I have their fanny pack, and a number of their camera straps. I use the fanny pack as a safe in questionable hotels I've stayed in, locking it to the water pipe in the bathroom. Sure it could be cut with bolt cutters, or heavy wire cutters, but the average maid, or room cleaner doesn't carry those tools, or even look under the sink in the cabinet when they clean. Some do search your luggage though. I don't carry my passport with me when going out (a photocopy works just fine), and I know it is reasonably safe locked up.

Well I am pleased to say I picked up my new gear today. Whilst I still had a spare body and one lens I felt out of it a bit, I did take some images of my gf's mums funeral early in the week but only had 14 - 24 so had to make do a bit. But I feel much happier now and will be back out shooting.

Thanks again for all the advice etc etc

cheers

Pete

I'm sorry pete for your lost

Glad you managed to pick up new equipment - seems like your insurance company turned things round quickly for you. I aways carry something like a ThinkTank Retro 10 or similar and never ever put it to the ground. Not sure what type of bag you were carrying, but I know backpacks or rucsacs don't work for me if they need to be taken off, even for a minute.

Happy this worked out for you in the end - look forward to seeing more of your work.

Best from Bangkok

Matt

cheers guys.

MAtt, I was using a lowepro bag which seemed to be ok but just got another one which suits even better. Never really had a problem till now and I have a background in security (military) and am generaly quite paranoid about it.
It all happened so quick I was just gob smacked and felt quite stupid as well. From now one my arm, leg or even tie it to myself with paracord, problem is with that is that it invites attention.

Insurance was just the house contents insurance but deff looking into photo specific now.

Cheers

Pete

The nice thing about having photography work specific insurance is then nothing ever happens....hehehe (cross fingers). It seems the things you don't plan for, or expect are the things that happen, but when you do buy protection, as in insurance, after a few years it starts feeling like a waste of money...hehe. It is not though, and I have to keep telling myself that.

Training a new assistant is completely refreshing my mind of all the security related issues I might have been becoming lax on. It was almost like I'm covered for this so don't have to concern myself, but that was a bad frame of mind I found myself in that only became obvious with my new assistant.

I am glad you are back in business Pete, and one question.......Did you simply replace, or did you upgrade your kit?

Hi Steve,

yep guess we all need reminding of stuff at times, just to kick the grey matter into thinking about everything.

I just replaced my gear. I was so happy with it. I had/have two d700's and lenses from 14 - 24, 24 - 70 and 70 200 and just love them and was/am happy with them. I could have gone for a d3 and just had one body etc, I even contemplated getting a d7000 but to be honest I am happy and feel comfortable with the kit so ended up a replacement job.

cheers
Pete

I envy you now. Not so much in the body choice (I like the smaller DX format just because of the crop factor), and do have the D7000 (when I can get it away from my assistant....lolol), but I so much want to add the 24mm - 70mm F2.8 to my kit. I've got the others, now just waiting for some checks to come in to buy that particular lens, (I forced myself to sell things now before upgrading anything...hehehe).

I'm using an older sigma 28mm - 75mm F 2.8, and it is excellent glass in that range, but I like the 24mm - 70mm F2.8 after using it for 2 days on an assignment. VR is spoiling me, and the picture quality matched my older lens, with slightly better contrast.

You've got a nice set-up, and those 2 bodies are a much better choice IMO, than getting an overpriced supposedly "pro" body.

Check out the new Sony NEX 7, with a NEX to Nikon lens adapter if you want the increase in megapixels, though not full frame at APS-C size. That's also on my list....lolol. I just got the Sony NEX 5N to play with until the NEX 7 is available in Thailand...hehehehe. It has the same sensor as my D7000. Sony makes Nikon's sensors. Not the same software though.

Cheers Steve, I do love the set up I have but I have to say that I agre with your personal statement :-

Personal Statement
It's not the equipment you have, or the money you spent to get it. It's just being in the right spot with a camera in your hand that counts most.

It is so true and no good having good stuff and not being out there getting the images. You have some really good stuff in your portfolio so I wouldnt worry to much about getting the next best lens etc. Looks like you got it sussed anyway.

cheers

Pete