Theft

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Chinasaur

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Just woke up to the fact that I'm missing my Nikon D70 and lens bag after a trip to Wenatchee, WA.

Gone:

Nikon D70
18-55mm VR
35mm 1.8
50mm 1.8
70-300mm
Sigma 28-90mm
Expodisk
Extra battery

I still can't believe it. I can' identify the time when the car might have not been locked at a rest stop on way back to Tacoma.

Word. LOCK. YOUR. CAR. AND. CHECK. IT. TWICE.

I'm an idiot. Learn from my mistake.
 
Sorry to hear about this. Its always such a terrible feeling when something like this happens... so unexpected, and yet so common! :-(

By the way, you could add to your "LOCK YOUR CAR..." list: PUT. IT. OUT. OF. SIGHT. Twice I've had car windows broken and stuff stolen that was in plain sight.

May you recover quickly.
 
Jamie Pillers said:
Sorry to hear about this. Its always such a terrible feeling when something like this happens... so unexpected, and yet so common! :-(

By the way, you could add to your "LOCK YOUR CAR..." list: PUT. IT. OUT. OF. SIGHT. Twice I've had car windows broken and stuff stolen that was in plain sight.

May you recover quickly.
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double ditto on this.
 
Ouch! After loosing a ton of stuff (including a Leica M4P, and Nikon F5, D70(IR) and lots of lenses) last year, I believe that good insurance is a MUST!
 
Sorry to hear that. We moved from a high theft state (Hawaii), and I can tell you one thing....don't leave ANYTHING in your car. Period. Not in the trunk (you can pop most any car trunk open w/ a screwdriver in a thrice) , or anyplace. When traveling I always take everything of value w/ me or leave it in the hotel safe if possible.

We no longer drive, but when we did, the drill was to take everything out and leave the car unlocked. If you're worried about someone stealing the car if you leave it unlocked, don't. That is absolutely no hindrance to a thief. And all these expensive alarm systems? Ha. In 10 or 20 seconds max they can pop the car's hood (or bonnet), cut the battery cable, and 10-20 seconds later they can pilfer away in silence. People are so conditioned to false alarms they ignore them anyway.
 
Sorry to hear that.
I have an old but even better saying: NEVER LEAVE YOUR GEAR IN ANY CAR ANYTIME, BE IT LOCKED OR NOT.

However, loosing digital gear would hurt me less than loosing film gear !
 
sorry to hear this, Chinasaur. :/

this is exactly why i wish i could afford insurance... i don't even own a car, which to me makes me even more at risk for theft/loss.
 
nighstar said:
sorry to hear this, Chinasaur. :/

this is exactly why i wish i could afford insurance... i don't even own a car, which to me makes me even more at risk for theft/loss.
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My Liberty policy rider costs 1.1% of the purchase price of the photo equipment. That's $55 for a $5000 camera. You can't afford that?

Harry
 
So sorry to hear this. Glad yourself and the rest of the luggage were ok.

Like others said, don't leave anything in sight in the car. Would be better if you can actually take essentials with you all time because thieves would break the glass to steel stereos, then take other stuff in the boot if possible. Leaving charger/cable attached to 12V socket could give them wrong idea as well.

If you have an Amex, you can get a very cheap travel insurance that would cover something like this from the moment you stepped out your door for the trip till you get back home.


BTW, Chris, sorry to hear about your trouble as well. I've been away from forum and I just realized the M4-P in your avatar is gone!
 
Oh man. That is awful. Even with insurance I'm afraid to leave anything in the car. My policy is wonderful- and is .5% of my total gear per years coverage. And I'm covered no matter where the gear is- in my possession or not- so even when shipping stuff for repair. Nearly paid for itself there when I sent my Rollei in for repair to Germany a few months back.

Not that it helps now, but I would say shop around with local agents- I couldn't get anywhere with online quotes, but two small local agents had great options. My first year is up in May and I'm renewing for as long as I can.
 
Consider a cheap cooler that is big enough that you can just put your camera bag inside. Out of sight helps. Plus, that will keep your film from reaching elevated temps while your car is closed up in the summer.

Also read your insurance coverage very carefully then discuss with your agent to be sure of what it pays and what could be excluded. I found out the hard way that mine excludes a theft outside the US.
 
hlockwood said:
My Liberty policy rider costs 1.1% of the purchase price of the photo equipment. That's $55 for a $5000 camera. You can't afford that?
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weeelll...... i kinda just spent crazy money on a new camera, so i will be dirt poor for at least the next three months. 😱 also, insurance seems to be generally more expensive in Australia...

...that said, i am looking into it and will get it once i'm out of debt. in the meantime, i will guard my cameras with my life....!

...kinda.
 
Yeahp. I learned my lesson. Trunk. Trunk. Trunk. All the best to everyone.

Going Sony Alpha a560 since I have so many Minolta Maxxum lenses.

Change is good 🙂
 
Here's a little story:

Last week, trip to Costa Rica, driving from Liberia to Nosara with two couples in the car, stopped for dinner at a restaurant in Nicoya.

In this part of the world, everything is open air, cars are right up close to the dining area. We parked at the left end of the row, locked the car, and went in to eat. I deliberately chose a table that let us watch the car.

Midway through the meal, I noticed that another car had pulled in beside ours and a guy was standing by the car, next to the driver's side of ours. I said, this is too spooky, and I went out to stand next to our car on the other side. I stood there and waited.

He stood there, smoking, for a while and then drove away. I went back in and we finished our meal.

We we got out to the car, we found the driver's door lock mangled but still locked. We had been about ten seconds away from having all our luggage and gear stolen.

Morale: Don't ever leave anything in a car in tourist locales with poorer people in abundance. Hawaii, any surfing beach, Costa Rica, etc.

Chinasaur, so sorry to hear.
 
Yes. Not in the car. My wife had her suitcase stolen an hour before leaving Italy. Her friend had taken her to a local attraction since they had a little time and must have been observed putting her suitcase in the trunk. When they got back the trunk had been neatly opened and the suitcase was gone. Fortunately she had her passport and such with her and the thief got a suitcase full of dirty clothes. Joe
 
When i was in costa rica, someone broke into my rental car and stole my bag. D40, 18-55mmVr lens, AND ALL MY PHOTOS from 3 weeks of traveling. I ALMOST brought my d700 on that trip, phew!

sorry to hear about your loss.
 
We take turns at rest stops.

Jewelry sales people have locked cases welded or bolted to the trunk floor.

Make your camera bag look like something else, food cooler
 
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