Robbed in Barcelona

[mike kim]

Unfortunately, I've been a victim of a common type of robbery last Saturday in Barcelona. I'm currently studying abroad in Oxford for a semester and decided to come to Spain for Spring Break with three friends. They stole the only camera gear I brought to Europe: a new to me black Leica M6, 35mm 4th vers. Summicron and a Sekonic L-308S, and my passport. Yes, I decided to bring only one camera and one lens for a 3 month trip, which was perfect so far, I didn't really feel the need to have more than that.

What happened was really ironic. I've been tricked with the mustard trick, something I was aware of, and warned other RFF members of when asking for safety tips in Buenos Aires: http://rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60955
I was a victim of this back in Argentina, but then I was aware of the situation and knew they wanted to rob me. This time, I was totally fooled, as were my friends... we were sitting on a bench when I noticed I had something that looked like paint on my head and all over my coat. Like a fool, I took my messenger bag off (A&A Sebastiao's Satchel) to take my coat off. I left my bag, that had the camera, lens and my passport in it (we were about to go to the airport) right next to a friend, literally 10 cm from her. While wiping the paint off, two guys came asking for directions and totally deceived, I answered :bang: after they walked off, I had a bad feeling, so I turned around and my bag was not there anymore. I asked my friends, fearing the worst, and they had no idea where it was. I run off to look for them immediately but did not find them... so first thing I did was go to the police station without much hope. I didn't have insurance on my gear either... I'm now stuck in Barcelona till I can go to the US Consulate (which is unfortunately closed today due to easter holiday).

I currently don't have the serial numbers of the gear (they're at home in the US), but I sent PMs to the previous owners asking for them. I'll post them here If they do have them. Is there some kind of database, or any way to register SNs of stolen gear? Any help would be appreciated.

And please... don't leave bags unattended. This is the worst feeling I ever had; worse than crashing my car or someone breaking into it with Christmas presents in it. I still can't believe that I fell for that, having had experience with the trick, and being constantly aware of my surroundings, having grown up in a city where this (and worse) happens every day.

Also, does anybody know of any flea markets or places where I could get an inexpensive russian camera/lens in Oxford or Barcelona?

I hope everyone had a better Easter,
Mike

 

[dcsang]

Ugh.. Mike.. that totally stinks 🙁
I hope that you can get back some semblance of gear at some point - maybe not the same gear you've just had stolen but something that will be some sort of consolation to you.

I also hope that the thieves receive the proper karma that they deserve for such a robbery.

Wishing you better days ahead,
Dave

 

[Paul T.]

Oh, I'm so sorry. I've warned about this trick too, after it was perpetrated n some friends.

I caught one of these buggers once - crook Number 1 did the standard distraction, asking for directions, while Crook Number 2 lifted my girlfriend's bag. I'd persuaded her to keep her credit cards in her jacket pocket, but Number 2 had grabbed her Olympus Mju, then dropped it and ran when I caught Number 1 by his throat.

I thought of taking Number 1 to the cops, but didn't have the time, or punching him in the face, but that isn't me. Maybe I was wrong.

 

[mike kim]

Thanks dave. That combo was definitely a keeper, especially the lens... Here's a couple of photos I took with it before this weekend.

I'm probably getting back an M2 I sold prior to this trip, so I'm looking to buy a Jupiter 3 or 8 to use until I go back to the States, sell some music gear, save money and re-buy the 35 Summicron. I'm not sure about its title as the Bokeh King, but it sure is a beautiful beautiful lens.

 

[wblanchard]

Oh my gosh, so sorry to hear about this Mike. If i was over there i would lend you my equipment in a heartbeat. i hope you can find something inexpensive over there.

 

[jke]

Sorry to hear about this, but don't beat yourself up too severely. You only get robbed once or twice in a lifetime. Not much practice. These guys (and women) in Barcelona (and other cities as you know) do it every day for many many years. They are pros. Sort of like playing basketball against Michael Jordan. Or (to keep it Argentinian) football against Maradona back when he had the hand of God on his side. Odds are against you once the ball is in play. No one likes to lose something valuable and no one likes to make it easy for thieves to help themselves, but even this too shall pass. Breath deeply. Have a sangria. Hard to do - I had to do it a while back after coming home to an emptied house - but in the end, it is the best thing for your health, and once you get another camera, your photography.

 

[photogdave]

That really sucks. Very sorry to hear it!
I don't know of any flea markets but there used to be a very large camera store on Las Ramblas that had very good prices and a huge used section. I can't remember exactly where it was, or if it's still there (haven't been back to Barcelona in 10 years) but surely it would be easy to find. It's like the spanish B&H or Adorama!

 

[Alex Krasotkin]

Sorry to hear that, but you are safe yourself, which is the most important. There are much worse places in the world, like South Africa, where a person can loose his life in a robbery case, not just the camera. Chin up!

 

[sabears]

I know very well what you feel Mike.
I hope all the thieves of the world have their soul robbed by someone the day they die...

take care!

 

[mike kim]

Thanks for the kind messages, everyone. And you're right, I should be glad me and my friends are alright. I sometimes forget that gear are objects, and always replaceable (albeit a high cost), unlike health.

jke: the football comparison made me smile 🙂

 

[.ken]

Sorry to hear that Mike, what a bummer.

 

[xayraa33]

Last year my dear 81 year father, as a tourist, was robbed of 3000 euros at knife point in Barcelona by a gang of filthy Morroccan scum .

 

[Joao]

Mike
Sorry to read about your loss!
You may find some used cameras at Els Encants Vells, at Plaça de les Glories (Metro: Glories); it's an huge fleamarket with the usual trash (& some interesting retro artifacts), open every Monday,Wednesday, Friday and Saturday mornings. I visited it one month ago and I saw a couple of Canonnets and Yashicas, but I did not check their prices or their conditions. I saw no FSU gear there, unfortunately.
As you are in Barcelona, one sugestion of a different kind: the photo exhibition "Bamako" at he CCCB, just behind the Museum of Contemporary Art. A really interesting show of African photographers.
In spite of what happenned, I wish you can enjoy the rest of your trip as much as possible.
Regards
Joao

 

[sevres_babylone]

Sorry to hear about this. Especially since your advice re Buenos Aires made me more vigilant about this ruse while I was there last fall (the fact that an acquaintance fell prey to it a couple of weeks before I went helped too). I did have my own incident in Boca, but fortunately everything turned out well in the end:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sevres-babylone/3298776719/

 

[BillBingham2]

Mike,

Very sorry about your lose, it really sucks.

B2 (;-<

 

[LeicaMSeattle]

I feel for you! I'm embarassed to admit but this happened to me in 02 around the Alhambra while having dinner. You just can't relax for a single moment as that was all it took to lose about 10k worth of equipment. Fortunately, I keep all of my travel docs very close to me and also carry color copies of them as well as a scanned and emailed copies of everything on the internet for me to retrieve from a computer and print out, anywhere in the world.

 

[simonclivehughe]

Had the same scam pulled on me in BA, lost my credit cards but managed to get them canceled quickly enough that they got nothing. I'd read about it too before going. Sometimes things just happen so quickly that if you're distracted, they get you!

 

[jke]

I just remembered - there is a nice photo store over on Pelai near the top of Las Ramblas. It is called Casanova. They had some nice used cameras upstairs, and the gentleman there was very nice when I visited. You might give them your serial number just in case someone wanders in. They certainly seemed a very reputable store, so I don't think your camera would show up on their shelves, but someone might bring it in later for repair or check up or exchange on something else. Slim chance but worth a try I guess.

Glad you are smiling! That's the magic of Maradona.

 

[Aziz]

Dude, Sorry to hear that man. I feel for you.
I'm heading to Barcelona in a month, definitely leaving the M7 at home. I'll bring the Bessa instead.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Casanova doesn't strike me as the place where people would try to fence stolen goods.. but any try is as good as this one.

I wish I could add something or do something for you, Mike... At least you're fine. As long as you have some other form of ID with you, they shouldn't give you much grief in the American consulate in Sarriá. In fact, this type of crime happens a lot in BCN.

BTW, the American consulate is located in a nice neighborhood, and there's a pastry shop somewhere near the town plaza with really neat stuff...

Good luck with getting the serial numbers! And, oddly enough, thanks for telling your story. I never had heard about that trick, and I think I've sat a number of times on benches and chairs publicly available in the BCN neighborhoods.

EDIT: Don't let an incident force you to change your plans, Azziz. This can happen to anyone, but if you know this trick now, thanks to Mike, you simply will not sit anywhere but in coffee shops.