Camera, Lenses, Passport Stolen in Paris-what to do?

Larry Cloetta

Larry Cloetta

Veteran
Local time
11:46 AM
Joined
Jun 16, 2006
Messages
3,330
I just got off the phone with my 21 year old daughter who is in Paris, and has been in France the last 5 weeks on a university study abroad trip. They had been in Angers, but the course was over and yesterday was their last day. They went back to Paris and stayed in a hostel for their last overnight. Her backpack with her iPad, camera, lenses (memory card with all there photos of the trip, naturally), gifts she had gotten for family and friends back home, and her U.S. passport were stolen in a snatch and grab when she went to the bathroom and her friends didn't actually watch her luggage.
She went to the police where no one spoke English, so that didn't help, but a kind elderly gentleman who was there managed to translate somewhat. So, she has reported it stolen. The hostel has video of the perp, a youngish European male according to them, which doesn't narrow it down much. My guess is they are pros, and I would guess that none of this reporting to authorities will be of any help. US embassy closed till Monday.
I am posting this here in an effort to try to help her, as I am sure that some members here, either in the US or Europe have had similar experiences. I'm just trying to figure out what else I can tell her to do. She is no longer with the university group, but is staying at least another 6 days, not sure how the missing passport situation will affect that, though I guess the embassy will be of help.

Any advice that anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated, as she is pretty broken up about all this. My immediate questions:
1.Ipad in her backpack-it was turned off and needs a password to open it. Her settings allow for location services. Is there any way she can log on remotely to find the location, provided the thief doesn't destroy it?
2. She just spent $900 of her own money on the Nikkor 32/1.2 lens for her Nikon 1, just for this trip--and she was getting some wonderful pictures. I think I can find the box here with the serial number on it. Is there anything I should be doing with that? Sending to Interpol? Or does it go to the French police, or am I just being ridiculous to think there is a possibility that could do any good?

I guess that's it for now, I'm somewhat at a loss. Any advice, from anyone, would be sincerely appreciated at this point.
Thanks to all.

Larry
 
What a bummer..hope it works out

In terms of her iPad, there is free apple app called find my iPhone. If one of her friends has an iPad or iPhone, have them download the app. Your daughter needs to log in using the Apple ID she normally uses w/ that iPad. If the battery has not died or the their has not hacked into or turned off the iPad yet, this app should locate the device within about a city block. It also has capability of remote wiping the device.

Good luck
Gary
 
Last edited:
Just as an FYI.

The default password setup on iPhone and iPad is 4 numbers. It is actually possible to guess that password if u have not cleaned your device screen lately. Once the password keypad is up, your finger prints may give someone enough of a clue if u have owned the device for a long time.

U can go in under settings --> passcode

Turn off simple passcode

On an iPhone u now are not limited to a 4 digit password. On an iPad, u now have an alpha-numeric combination. I tend to use a 12-16 alpha-numeric passcode on my iPad for example.

Gary
 
Not much to do, to be honest. If find my iPhone gets a hit, that can be passed on to the police she's dealing with. Camera serial number can help track it down once it's been used and photos posted online by services such as stolencamerafinder, but even still, may never resurface. Not sure if canon has a stolen gear directory that the serials could be added to in case they ever get sent in for service.

Similar thing happened to a good friend whilst in Peru (bag left with someone who wasn't carefully caring for it, distracted by pros), camera, laptop and passport gone, during a state holiday so embassy closed. It's a hassle for sure, but getting the paperwork sorted so she can get back to where she needs to be should be first priority.

Lesson, keep what you need in your possession. Copies of passports, or scans readily available on e-mail are massively helpful when sorting out replacement documents.

Good luck to her, keep calm and carry on.
 
Just a thought: actually, has she got the travel insurance? If so, someone should perhaps to contact the insurance company asap with the reference case number from the police. As for tracking the stolen goods: those are probably be now on their way to pawnbrokers in another town or even country. I do not think the police would be bothered too much.
 
popavvakum said:
Just a thought: actually, has she got the travel insurance? If so, someone should perhaps to contact the insurance company asap with the reference case number from the police.
Click to expand...

Thanks, another good suggestion. Thanks to my wife, there is some travel insurance involved. Not sure what it will cover,but we can get going on that.
 
bonatto said:
...Copies of passports, or scans readily available on e-mail are massively helpful when sorting out replacement documents...
Click to expand...

+1 on this - and make a physical copy and laminate it. Keep it separate from your passport. In the past passport copies have been very useful to me when abroad.

I hope your daughter's documents, files and photos were backed up.

My commiserations about what has happened; sadly, this kind of theft is all too common.
 
I'm surprised there's no way of reaching anyone at your embassy? Her passport will need to be cancelled and she'll need a copy of the report from the police, same with travel insurance claims. She'll be issued with temporary documents, but there will likely be a fee. The loss of any bank cards should also be reported immediately to the bank. They will issue replacements quickly. They should be able to arrange for her to take money out of a cash machine on a one off basis via a number they will supply for her to key in. Or you can make a money transfer. Any airline tickets can be replaced by the airline, again for a fee. The important thing is to have a copy of the report from the local police and to act as quickly as possible. Put the stolen items behind you, they're gone I'm afraid. It's part of the experience of travel when you're young. Don't let it put her off!
 
Additional thanks for all the messages and suggestions which came in overnight. We will follow up on everything. The kindness and willingness to help is really appreciated.

Larry
 
Same sort of thing happened to me in Spain, about 1985. Once the US embassy is open they will take care of her documents. Helpful if she has tickets or something, but I got temp papers with nothing but a smile. I am surprised she cannot make contact, I started by phone, even in 1985. By the time I got back to Madrid from Seville things were well on their way. Turned out to take only a few hours.

As for the iPad if she did not protect it with a password and auto erase, the thief can sell it, but hopefully she has not left passwords or other sensitive info. "Find my Mac" will not work after the fact.

Forget the lens, it is gone. But get a police report, it is necessary for the passport more than the insurance, but will help.

Hopefully her friends can get her a little walking around money?

It will work out...

The advice about keeping separate documents is VERY important, just her driver's license would make life much easier. These days I also carry my Passport card as well as my regular passport, in two separate places. Even though in theory the Passport card is only good for Mexico and Canada, it will get you back in the states.
 
Not much use at this stage, but just another piece of advice for the next trip. I always make 5 copies of my passport---one I keep in my camera bag, one in my day back, one in my check-in luggage, one copy is carried by my wife, and the last one kept in Canada with a relative or friend who is not traveling with us.

Yes, I also carry copies of my credit cards too, though not 4 copies like my passport.

Tin
 
sorry to hear about the robbery and the difficult situation.

about documents: copies are good but again one must carry them resp. they can be stolen as well. Therefore I take photos or scans of my important documents and not only keep the files on my notebook, tab asf. but also upload them to the internet where only I have access. Internet security is another issue, but I find it very practical that I do not need to carry physical copies but can access them via internet to download and print out.
 
Hi,

Sorry to hear of your daughter's problems.

If it's any help, most of her friends will have smart phones and sharing what they've taken will probably almost replace what was taken. Other than that I can offer little help but I'll wish you both luck.

Regards, David

PS A minor point for others, I usually leave the passport in the hotel safe and wave my OAP's bus pass. It has a photo and looks official...
 
That is huge bummer! Hope your daughter is okay.

I think most already is being said:
- make sure the paperwork is up to standard, both with the embassy and thee police.
- inform the bank(s) asap.
- inform the insurance company.
- take a big breath, there isn't a lot your daughter can do. This stuff happens as several people already experienced....

Getting into the US probably won't be a problem, getting out of Europe on a flight to the states will be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom