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eftychia at 02:51am on 2003-06-07One of the things that's had me down lately is that a camera bag was stolen out of the trunk of my car two weeks ago, as I was carrying things back into my house after a day at Balticon. (This is the missing equipment mentioned in my entry on the 26th, and most of the "heavy stuff on my mind" alluded to in my entry on the 28th.) I had a migraine that night, so it took a couple hours to realize that I'd carried in fewer things than I'd seen when I'd opened the trunk. I spent the first few days in denial -- "I must've put it in an unusual place when I brought it in. Maybe it's at the hotel and I just imagined it being in the trunk. It'll turn up." Then I spent the next week and a half alternating between being too upset to deal (or too headachy or too tired -- it's been a bad couple of weeks physically, as well) and working on the list of what was taken. I had let my inventory spreadsheet get a little out of date (not much, but it meant that I had to do a lot of checking other records and sorting things together), and after I got that updated, I had to go through my other bags/cases to make sure that I didn't include anything on the list that I actually still had. (In fact, I found three items in the other camera bag that I had thought were in the one that was stolen.)
A few minutes ago, eyes hurting and head throbbing, I finally finished and printed out the list. So I figured I should also post it here, in case any Baltimore-area readers happen to spot any of these things in a pawn shop. (Obviously the items without serial numbers can't be positively identified, but I've included them in case a bunch of stuff all turns up in one place and winds up being easier to notice as a collection.)
Please, I know it's a really long shot, but if you spot any of my gear, please drop me a line.
Item Brand Description/Model Filter Size Serial Number accessory Pentax Asahi Pentax Ref-Converter (for Spotmatic) accessory Blower Brush adaptor Pentax M42-K Adaptor camera, Pentax K/KA mounPentax ME 1397508 camera, Pentax K/KA mounPentax Super Program 1483761 filter (Wratten/Kodak?)#87 filter gel (square) (intact) filter Deitz Polarizer 55mm filter Hoya 85 55mm filter Hoya skylight 77 mm filter Kalt 25A 72mm filter Kalt K2 72mm filter Kodak Wratten 25 gelatin 75mmx75mm, cut into smaller pieces) filter Popular UV 67mm filter Pro UV 62mm filter Quantaray 1A 55mm filter Quantaray 6X Cross 49mm filter Quantaray linear polarizer 52mm filter Quantaray R2 49mm filter Quantaray UV 49mm filter Rolev UV (used as cap for filter stack) 55mm filter Tayon ??? (used as cap for filter stack) 49mm filter Tiffen 11 Green 1 58mm filter Tiffen 80A 55mm filter Tiffen FL-D 55mm filter Tiffen Polarizer 62mm filter Tiffen Sky 1A 52mm filter Tiffen UV 55mm filter Tiffen Yellow 2 (8) 58mm filter Vivitar UV-Haze 49mm filter accessory Kalt step-up ring 49-55 filter accessory step-down ring, 58-52 flash Pentax AF280T 84039593 lens case (Asahi/Pentax?) case for 85mm/50mm/35mm/24mm lens lens case (Asahi/Pentax?) case for 85mm/50mm/35mm/24mm lens lens case Ricoh case for Rikenon 105/2.8 Macro lens hood rubber lens hood 55mm lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax A 35-105/3.5 67mm 5297644 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax A 50/2 2098018 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax A 70-210/4 58mm 5662296 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax SMC 28/3.5 52mm 5178512 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax SMC 35/3.5 52mm 5174464 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Pentax SMC Pentax-M 50/1.7 49mm 4678333 lens, Pentax K/KA mount Ricoh Rikenon 105/2.8 Macro 103346 misc various Lens caps (various sizes) and rear-caps (Pentax K) supplies various AA Batteries (a dozen or two) supplies various Batteries, S76 and A76 supplies Lens Tissue tote bag TV Guide Black tote bag, mesh pockets, TV Guide logo tripod Ultrapod 4" mini-tripod w/velcro strap tripod part Slik spare mounting plate for U8000 tripod part Slik spare mounting plate for U8000 tripod part Slik spare mounting plate for U8000 winder Pentax Winder ME II
This is a painful loss (though, as somebody else pointed out, it could've been worse -- it could've been a guitar). This is gear that I can't really afford to replace, and these were my tools. And by that I mean that they were the tools of my art, means by which I express myself; and also that they were tools with which I occasionally (not often enough, but I was hoping for an upward trend) earn money. Some items were gifts, and I've been feeling "I lost a gift" shame over each of those items on top of my feeling of loss. And one item that was borrowed, which is even worse. Other items were incredibly lucky pawn-shop finds; the kinds of deals you just can't count on finding on demand. Some were "because it's a friend" low low price sales. And then there were all the small items that I bought full-price one at a time but can't afford to replace a bunch of all at once. And a couple of more expensive pieces that I picked up when I had a wee bit more money coming in every month than I do now.
These were my tools; things that I had taken pleasure in using and handling. Objects that, in some cases, I'd come to depend on being available when I needed them. I doubt a thief ever really thinks about what the things they take mean to the owner.
Now that I have the list together, I'll give that to the police. In southwest Baltimore, the police probably don't have time to check in with the pawn shops to look for items reported stolen (they're supposed to, as I understand it, but...), but at least I'll have documentation in a police report if I manage to find any of my gear in a pawn shop myself. Then I get to find out whether the insurance on the house covers stuff stolen from my car when it's parked on the street in front. Wish me luck.
While checking pawn shops, I'll also carry the list of serial numbers from the gear that was stolen when my house was burgled in January 2001. Just in case any of it made it to a pawn shop but hasn't been sold in two and a half years. Not likely, but hey, it's just one more sheet of paper to carry...
I keep trying to tell myself "it's only stuff," and remind myself that this isn't 'game over' for my photography -- I've still got all my screwmount gear (except the screwmount->K-mount adaptor), two K-mount bodies, and some important lenses. And that eventually I'll manage to slowly accumulate more gear, so ultimately this will just be a temporary setback. I keep trying to tell myself these things. But I don't listen very well.
And I'm gonna delete the two paragraphs that got really morose and even more little whiny. Feh.
Insurance ...
I'm attaching this small note to say that insurance often *does* cover such losses. Especially if you have them listed with the company (anything that's not expected of a regular house, anyway). I very explicitly asked if my laptop computer was covered while I am in Russia, under my renter's insurance. It is. There is simply a cap on such equipment. You are fortunate to be in Maryland, the limit there for my company (Allsate) is like 5x or 6x as much for 'tech' stuff like comptuers (and I think photo gear too). My computers are covered to the tune of like $5k i think. It also covers my other stuff -- all this for $80 a year, minus the reduction in my car insurance with the same company! *g*
Anyway, good luck in finding it. *hugs*
-- Blackfeather / Helgi
(no subject)
(no subject)
I'll keep an eye out. There's a _chance_ he might wander down NoVa way, anyway.
*more hug*
--Cat (the one from 3LF, that is)
(no subject)
Ow! That sucks, and I'm sorry to hear about it.
http://www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=003Efj has a lot of tips on recovering camera gear. A couple of excerpts:
"...I suggest you write up a description of what was lost and fax it with serial numbers to the major camera stores in San Francisco. Does this sound far fetched? Thieves often go right to the major stores since they don't really know what the stuff is and Fox photo isn't going to help them out. It is too specialized for most pawn shops. They sell it with a sob story that explains why they don't know anything about it. At least in California, the stores are supposed to run the serial numbers of what they buy used to make sure the stuff isn't stolen. In reality they usually don't do this. When I got cleaned out back in 1991, the thief went to a MAJOR LA Camera store and the stuff was traded in with a story about how it belonged to his dad blah blah blah....Make it a one page fax which gives instant notice that it is a list of stolen property, reference the Report # with SFPD or whoever you reported it to. Describe whatever bag it may be brought in when it comes time to fence it. Also, read your own insurance policy, don't take the agent's word on it. Check your auto policy for possible coverage of items stolen from the car"
"...DITTO, ABSOLUTELY, Get a description, serial numbers, ANYTHING and fax it around, walk in to any and all camera stores. Most reputable stores are very co operative in this area and have lists of serial numbers and check equipment they take in against them. I have heard stories of stolen equipment returned."
You can forward the serial numbers to eBay, though I don't know if they'll check for you. Definitely take the list (mentioning the bag description) to the pawn shops in the area as well as the photo stores. If you were a regular customer buying photo gear from a pawn shop, they may remember you and be extra helpful. Make sure to file a police report if you haven't already-- I know they won't do much, but this way it goes on record as being stolen if a shop receives your gear and decides to check beyond your list.
As you build up gear again (sigh!!!), put a couple of dots of some kind of bright nail polish on each piece to mark it distinctively. That will help, if G-d forbid, your replacement gear goes missing someday (or just gets jumbled in a pile with others' gear, which is more common). A lot of folks in the susboid community have those little diamond-tip marking things, so you can put a name on gear too. You can mark stuff really tiny-- I marked all my drill bits, even the 1/32 size, but then again I am a control freak. :-D Put a less-visible mark (like inside the camera) to complement a more visible outside mark. Even if folks look for an outside mark and buff it off, they may not look for an inside mark if they've found the obvious one already.
lots of hugs!!!
(no subject)
This ought to be covered under either your renter's or auto insurance. (Are the policies from the same company? If so, you can make figuring out which your agent's problem, as it'll be them either way.) It costs you nothing but some time to submit a claim -- you've already done the hard part, the inventory.