dammit, i got robbed.

[Pherdinand]

More accurately, our house got robbed while we were out on christmas/nye holiday.
They forced a small window of the living room; i had four cameras in the living room that are gone.
Guess what. The Contax iiia w the sonnar was there.
The CLA'd Rolleicord was there.
The Yashica Electro35 CC was there.
And the old Agfa Isolette folder.

The bastards also took the capital lightmeter (!!) and the watameter rangefinder unit (!!!). They did NOT take the Sigma AF zoom lens that i have for my Minolta SLR...

Oh and about 30 CD's with computer games are also gone (my housemate's collection). And his old laptop, his el-cheapo DVD-player and ALL the remote controls we had (TV, hi-fi, DVD, video recorder)...
And a good bottle of wine.

I know the chance is very small but still, if any of you guys see any of the four cameras with these serial numbers, go to the cops:
Contax: C2530, Sonnar 50/1.5: S1166103
Rolleicord V: 1512391
Yashica Electro35 CC: 20703034
Agfa: (lens SN) 156427

I wish you, by the way, a happy(ier) new year to all.

Pherdangry

 

[taffer]

NONONONONONONONONO !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<put here all those words that come through your mind but you prefer not to write>

And then, bastards ! 😡 😡 😡

Very very very sorry to hear that Pherdi 🙁

I have here an unused G-III QL19, let me know if you'd like it and if you still have the same address the Yashica was sent from and I'll mail it to you.

 

[Roman]

Or maybe you would like a black Yashica MG-1 (not as fast lens as the 35CC) that I could send you for free?

Roman

 

[rover]

Glad to hear that you have the serial numbers for your cameras.

Terrible.

You of course have reported them to the police, and have something to take to the local pawn shops.

I wish I could ship wine internationally. I just bottled my home brew and would replace that little bit of your loss. I don't know if you would call it good, but it would be something.

edit..Hmm, this may be possible, I will let you know.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

I am truly sorry to hear this. You went through a lot for that camera and this is unbelievable. I hope you had insurance to cover replacement cost; but certainly hope the cameras pop up based on the SN.

You can guess that they will be "fenced" on EBay. I wonder if it is time that EBay require that sellers list SN of equipment in the auction. That would cut down on its use for selling stolen products.

 

[Pherdinand]

Thanks guys; but please don't worry too much, i am not completely left without cameras. I still have the Minolta SLR system and two nice yashica GSN's that were not in the house. But it's a generous offer, anyway, i appreciate!

Of course i have reported it to the police (of course they did nothing, did not even come to the house to see what's all about) and i am visiting / mailing all the pawn and camera shops in the region and country. I still have some vague hope - the 'cord, the contax and the yashica CC are very rare versions in the Netherlands, i only have seen 2-3 of them in the last years. Also, since i did some repair/cleaning on them, i know them from inside and outside, can recognize them immediately and identify them on small interior details...

🙁

 

[oftheherd]

What a bummer! I certainly hope the malefactors are caught and more so, that you recover your cameras. Really sorry to hear it. I had an Olympus RF and a Yashica 124 MAT G stolen from my car many years ago. It hurts, I know.

 

[Nikon Bob]

I can appreciate how you are feeling. Our house was robbed in Sept. while we were on holidays. No cameras misising just PC, scanner, printer and TVs. It may take awhile to stop looking over your shoulder all the time if ever. Very sorry to hear this.

Bob

 

[Socke]

Pherdinand, sorry to hear this, hope your insurance covers this mishap.

Don't expect to much from the police, when someone tried to steal my car christmas 2003 the police wrote a report and that was that.
OTOH that report was needed for my insurance 🙂

 

[bmattock]

Pherdinand,

I am also very sorry to hear this, my sincere condolences. With luck, the crooks will be caught trying to fence your cameras and they'll be returned unharmed. Good on you to have the serial numbers - that reminds me that I need to do an inventory on mine!

Now, let me take a moment and use this opportunity to harp on a favorite topic...if you don't mind!

Folks - make sure you have insurance (building on what Socke said) on your cameras! In the USA, if you own a home and it is mortgaged, you have to have homeowner's insurance - lenders require it. Therefore, most homeowners have insurance that covers things like burglary. However, check your deductibles (the amount you have to pay before the insurance coverage begins) and any exclusions. You may find that camera collections are valued like jewelry - there is a limit in the policy on the amount covered. For many of us, that limit is plenty of coverage - for others, it may not even begin to cover our losses. You can get extra coverage for things like camera collections, jewelry, furs, coin collections, computers, and audio/video equipment - but you have to ask for it - pay for it - and generally provide an inventory with proof that you own these things. And make sure you have 'replacement cost' coverage - if you suffer a loss, you want to replace them, not get a check for the depreciated value of a camera as a photo-taking device.

For those who rent - in the USA, you can get Renter's Insurance, which is similar to homeowner's insurance, and it does not cost all that much. Cheap peace of mind, folks.

OK, enough said. Pherdinand, once again I am very sorry for your loss - I hate crooks.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

 

[Todd.Hanz]

That Sucks!!!!!!!
I had an M6, CL, 35,40, 50 and 90 (all summicrons), filters, and a meter stolen from my truck last year so I know how bad it can be, sorry to here about the loss. I still visit the pawn shops and ebay looking for the equipment.
If you need any cameras to get you through, let us know (I was offered several by members here and would love to return their kindness). Kep your hopes up!

Todd

 

[Rob]

Sorry to here of your loss...You said you were in a house so I
hope your insurance there covers the loss. I would also hope
that you do something with that window problem, they could
always come back. Some additional locks on each window if
possible may help. If you lack a full alarm system, there are
small but loud units you can install on your doors and windows. Put some timers on your inside lights and
on a radio, if you can install motion detector lights(up high so
they cant be tampered with), that is a good idea. I always tell my neighbors if I am out of town and they collect the mail and newspaper,etc. Cut back any foliage that a person could hide behind. Keep checking Ebay for your cameras...
Rob

 

[Rob]

Forgot. Maybe scout out a hiding place for your cameras.
On extended vacations I put some valuables in my large
safe deposit box at the bank. Maybe a safe is something
to look into also. Do you have safe storage for your negatives
as well?

 

[JohnM]

Everyone here who has a home certainly has homeowner's insurance as a mortgage requirement.

Renters - I work in commercial and residential real estate management. I'm stunned at the number of renters who do not get renters insurance. A policy costs $130 a year and covers all of your valuables, your camera - sometimes, even when they're in your car.

More importantly, it covers your liability if you flood the place by accident, set the place on fire or blow it up - in case of a disaster, a landlord's insurance company will come after you if you've caused a problem. They won't care if they ruin you.

 

[Huck Finn]

Very sorry to hear this, Pherdinand. Even just hearing about it leaves such an empty feeling. I share your anger. 😡

Huck

 

[peter_n]

Sorry to hear of your plight, Pherdinand. Sounds like you've been proactive with the possible outlets like pawns though. My wallet was stolen a couple of years ago so I know how you feel, but there is the additional violation of someone actually breaking into and entering your home to deal with. Unlikely, but let's hope these people are caught, and most importantly, you get your equipment back.

 

[oftheherd]

Sorry to hear of your plight, Pherdinand. Sounds like you've been proactive with the possible outlets like pawns though. My wallet was stolen a couple of years ago so I know how you feel, but there is the additional violation of someone actually breaking into and entering your home to deal with. Unlikely, but let's hope these people are caught, and most importantly, you get your equipment back.

peter_n is exactely correct! I usually post something on this myself, about the feeling of violaltion when your home is burglarized or valdalized. Home is our castle, our safe place. Suddenly, it is not. Don't even think twice about seeking help for that. Every person is different. For some, just talking about it is enough. For others, professional help is needed. It is just a fact that we feel violated under those circumstances. Don't be afraid to admit it and get any help you need. Having been involved in law enforcement for many years, I have seen where the sense of violation could often be worse than the actual loss.

Two other things I would like to comment on. If you are anywhere close to a jurisdictional border, even within 100 miles, consider trying pawn shops in the other jurisdictions. Don't just tell pawn dealers. Look at their stock and compare. If they are the least bit loose with morals, they already suspect when gear is stolen and aren't going to absorb any losses themselves nor cut off a cheap supply of goods. Pawn dealers, like junk yards, can make very good money being scrupulously honest. Many however, have learned to cut through some minor moral issues for a higher profit. Here in the States, it isn't uncommon for theives or more likely fences, to move things to another state for resale. They know about police pawn shop checks too.

Last, insurance. Get it! Leaving theft aside (it has already been covered above) just for you regular personal property, insure you are well covered. When we bought our house and I called for insureance, I was kind of embarassed to let the insurance man push me up to 50K. Some of our stuff was kind of old. Problem is, no matter how old, as mentioned above, it is the replacement cost you have to be worried about. You buy clothes, furniture, cameras, and other things over a period of time. Alsways within budget (or close to it 😀 ) so it isn't a problem.

One day we returned home to find our house on fire. The replacement cost of all that was destroyed (more things than not) was way over what I had insured them for. Don't make that mistake!

Wow, I haven't been high up on that soap box for a long time. I think I may get a nose bleed. I will get down now.

 

[RML]

That sucks, Pherdinand. You're now a statistic. 🙂 I hope your insurance company pays up quickly. And once the money is in you can start all anew, concentrate on those cameras you've always lusted after but never had the money for, and perhaps find a new meaning in your photography. There's always a positive note if you look for it. 🙂

 

[Pherdinand]

Thanks for the cheering-up replies, guys. I needed it.

The bummer is, the big thick telephone registry book is delivered in the end of every year whether we want it or not. It did not fit into the mail"box" (=the hole on the frontdoor) so it was left on the doorstep. Staying there for days is a straight invitation to some folks, "come and break in, there's nobody home!".

PS: We rent the house. There was a window insurance...that's all. No other insurance whatsoever. We never thought of getting one. :bang:

 

[Pherdinand]

Does this mean you might be thinking of marrying that Contax owner again?😀

😀 Funny that you ask, Doug. I was just seeing her today - in her camera shop - giving her the little piece of paper with the details of the stolen cameras and my contact info. She was very very sorry and helpful and all...