Car broken into, equipment stolen

[swoop]

My car was broken into last night. List of equipment taken and serial numbers.

Canon 5D MK2
2251300191

Canon 24-105 f4L IS USM
02060669

Canon 200mm f2.8L II USM
130001

Canon 28mm f1.8 USM
63900332

Canon 100mm f2 USM
64800154

Canon 20mm f2.8 USM
Unknown serial #

Hopefully someone stumbles upon this stuff and can help.

I'm a photographer for a large daily newspaper in New York City. I was out shopping last night and parked my car on the street. I brought in my camera bag and laptop as well as the days gift shopping. Sadly I left my backup camera bag filled with Canon equipment in the trunk and didn't think much of it. Luckily I have my primary camera bag with my M9 and Leica lenses and laptop with me so I'll still be able to work but I'll have to replace my cellular modem ASAP. I'll be signing up for camera insurance tonight to protect what I have left. If anyone wants to suggest an agent please do.

Other items stolen

Sierra Wireless 250U Sprint 3G/4G USB modem

Stainless Steel Breadbox

Box of Handwarmers

iPod Classic 160GB black
Serial # 8K038P3W9ZU

Nikon SB-80DX flash

Handful of quarters for parking meters

Gold Methodist cross with diamond. Chain was broken and left in car to take to jewelery shop to repair. My girlfriend really is saddened over the loss of this as it was a rare item given to her by her mother.


Here's an odd list of items left behind.

Sekonic L-308s

Canon LP-E6 battery

Two laptop batteries

Leica 135mm f4.5 Hektor

Canon 50mm f1.4 USM

The Simpsons Season 6 DVD set

A Kindle 2 which the crook damaged during the theft.

A winning $10 scratch off lottery ticket.

Luckily the car wasn't damaged at all.

 

[oldoc]

Sucks...
No other adjective.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Can I repost this?
We have a lot of photographers on the LUG up in NYC and sometimes goods get fenced here in Philly.

I know if my gear got stolen, it would be the end of civil liberties time and I'd start waterboarding people off the street, one-by-one.
Ok, that's a bit harsh...

Phil Forrest

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Phil, I'd help you do it.

 

[Darshan]

That sucks, big time.

If the 5DII/lenses were your newspaper's, it probably is insured. Did you check with them?

 

[oftheherd]

That sucks for sure. I hope you get it back in good shape, but as I am sure you know, it isn't likely.

Do get insurance quickly.

 

[Frontman]

If I had a dollar for every thread titled "My car was broken into and my gear was stolen" I could could buy film for a month. By now I hope everyone else here has learned that your car is not a safe place to keep your gear.

I am sympathetic. Keep an eye on the Craigslist in your area, and when you talk to the police, ask if they can run a "pawn track". Most police departments now subscribe to such a service, which allows them to often find stolen property which has been pawned, or sold to a pawnshop.

 

[sepiareverb]

At the very least you still have tools to work with- something to be thankful for.

 

[John Elder]

Seems like everybody learns this lesson the hard way. I left a bunch of gear in the car for 15 minutes in a secluded park in Rochester in 1985 and lost about 2500.00 worth of camera gear. Now I won't leave any gear in the car for any length of time. In fact I don't even lock my car anymore, cause i don't want the window glass broKen. Hit the Local Pawn shops as fast as you can. Check out Craigs list in your area and other close by areas. Perhaps put a wanted ad in your paper just for the body.

 

[John Robertson]

Can I repost this?
We have a lot of photographers on the LUG up in NYC and sometimes goods get fenced here in Philly.

I know if my gear got stolen, it would be the end of civil liberties time and I'd start waterboarding people off the street, one-by-one.
Ok, that's a bit harsh...

Phil Forrest

Sharia law would be good!!!! Cut their F'n hands off!!

 

[jan normandale]

I've experienced three break ins to my vehicles over 10 years, each time losses exceeded $1,000.00. Expect a significant write down by the insurance company and a deductible that will leave you wondering why you bothered with the insurance. Despite advice little is found on Craigs, pawn shops, Police investigations or discussion boards. Unless you haul everything inside eventually it happens. These events typically happen when the daylight hours are short.

I truly wish you luck. The bs you will get from police, insurance and your employer makes you want to hide from the barrage of 'helpful' comments and questions that will follow this event.

 

[Neare]

Sorry to hear that! My sister lost some of her equipment out of her car the other week too.
Though from your list, you car was a gold mine.

 

[Fraser]

I know so many pros that don't bother with insurance but I've always had it costs me about £25 a month for all my gear, having camera insurance is quite liberating take your cameras anywhere no worries. Hope you get your gear back fingers crossed.

 

[aeolist]

be sure to check ebay for the next few weeks, sometimes they get careless and sell everything at once.

 

[Haigh]

Sorry to read of your difficulty.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Bad luck!

And as we say in France, bonne courage.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Brian Legge]

Any chance you have renters / home owners / auto insurance which may cover it?

 

[Jamie123]

Sorry to hear that!

I wonder, though, what's up with 'camera insurance' everyone keeps talking about? I always thought that was only needed to insure camera damage. Do people in the US need special insurances to insure different items against theft? I and pretty much anyone I know around where I live has a general theft insurance and anything that gets stolen (except cash) is insured (with a deductible of $300).
That's why I'm never really worried about my equipment getting stolen (but I'm terrified of accidentally breaking it myself!).

Edit: I looked it up and I think in English it's called "contents insurance".

 

[tonal1]

You have my sincere sympathy. I was completely cleaned out once. They got half a dozen exposed rolls of film and a journal too. That was the worst part.

Suerte.

 

[jesse1dog]

Your cameras and pieces are a great loss - really rough that it happened.
Perhaps the biggest loss is your girl-friend's Methodist Cross. That has sentimental value and being her Mum's as well really hurts. The camera gear etc is probably all replaceable but not the Cross. I expect you have given her a big hug because you have appreciated how important it was for her. I feel for that sort of loss too.
I wonder if someone saw what was in the car as you left it? Don't suppose there was CCTV working in the area?
Best wishes

jesse