Be careful

[Beekeeper]

I was reading my local paper yesterday and there was a story of a photographer taking pictures in the New Forest, apparantly, as he was packing up, two cyclists dressed in the full racing gear and speaking with a foreign accent, rode up to him, snatched his camera bag containing £5000 worth of Canon Camera and lenses along with tripod and took off into the distance.

It seems that this is not the first time is has happened either, so please be careful and maybe keep away from forest tracks which cyclists use, i am always very wary when out with my camera as mobile phone coverage in the forest is not good, so if the gear gets pinched, chances are that is the last you will see of it.

BK

[BloomingMarvellous]

If your visiting Gibraltar at any time you should be aware of the Ape Thieves. They steal Camera's and Phones and even Handbags, but what their really after is Food. I witnessed an incident of theft every time I went there and It made me think, If I saw an incident on each occasion then this must happen every single day, so then I thought, what happens to all the stolen property.

The funniest thing I saw was when an Ape helped itself to a Flake chocolate bar from the visitors shop and started eating it, I've got a photo somewhere.

The Apes can be very spiteful and sometimes Bite, and it jolly well hurts.

[Dutchess]

BM, I have visited Gibraltar too on a couple of occasions, and loved every single minute of it! (Oh, dolphin spotting around the bay was fantastic!) And yes, the macaques are something else! You learn to hang on tight to absolutely everything, even your fingers have to be carefully monitored! lol. There is no need to take food for them, they are enticed and inundated, especially by the taxi drivers (who get to know them personally!)

Back to the OP...Cyclists in secluded areas certainly have an advantage, I know this from an experience in London. No, the cyclist stole nothing but my dignity, but he did what he wanted to do, without dismounting the bike and then was off like a shot. The worst I could throw at him was "I know where you live! I know your father!" He wobbled a bit at that....

D.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

I was reading my local paper yesterday and there was a story of a photographer taking pictures in the New Forest, apparantly, as he was packing up, two cyclists dressed in the full racing gear and speaking with a foreign accent, rode up to him, snatched his camera bag containing £5000 worth of Canon Camera and lenses along with tripod and took off into the distance.

It seems that this is not the first time is has happened either, so please be careful and maybe keep away from forest tracks which cyclists use, i am always very wary when out with my camera as mobile phone coverage in the forest is not good, so if the gear gets pinched, chances are that is the last you will see of it.

BK

Though it doesn't concern me directly, thanks for the warning, I know a fair few WAB'ers do, so a good post. Thanks.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Jason Green

Though it doesn't concern me directly, thanks for the warning, I know a fair few WAB'ers do, so a good post. Thanks.

You are welcome Jason, thanks for taking the time to reply, its an awful situation we seem to be in these days when you cant just go out with the camera without fear of someone stealing it from you, of course it does not just apply to cameras, sadly it seems that respect for law and order has now vanished completely, our once respected police force now almost a laughing stock, i realy despair as to what has happened to our country in recent years.

BK

[DZ]

Makes you wonder how they got the bikes and cycle gear in the first place. cant see them going into a shop and buying, can you?

What can you do? cant call the police and what are the chances they come or catch anyone if you did?

Im insured to the hilt and glad I am. Two years ago on the Botswana boarder I had £25k worth of pro gear nicked while i was at passport control.

My insurance paid out new for old 2 weeks after i got back .... so thats good .... and maybe the stolen kit is paying for a water well and hospital in a poor african village ... and thats good. it all evens out in the grand scheme of things BUT

where are my photos. my life force, my love, effort, pride?

if i had a gun i'd shoot the lot

[Beekeeper]

Very good advice DZ regarding insurance, i dont suppose many people have their gear insured when out in the field, mine is not at the moment but it soon will be, i can't afford to loose £2K worth of photography equipment to thieves.

BK

[Mike Jackson]

That's a good point about insurance. After reading the first post I checked my insurance. I'd got the gear insured for £1200 from when I first got a DSLR. A quick tot up revealed almost 4K so I rang the insures and raised the value. Nice result too as they aren't charging me any more for the increased value.

Mike

[RoyW]

Considering the amount of money many amateur photographer 'invest' in equipment it is definitely worth making sure that it is insured. The cheapest way is usually to add it on as all risk insurance on your home contents (but check that that will cover you if you take your camera gear abroad).

[DZ]

My pro gear cost me £260 pa. I baulked at first till the insurance guy asked what my car was worth (£3k) and how much i pay for cover (£220 comp)

"So you will pay £220 to cover £3k but not £260 to cover £25k" he asked

"and its fully comp & covers 3 party"

sit down guys and girls, add up the price of your gear and what it will cost to replace it, new for old.

you may get a shock.

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by DZ

My pro gear cost me £260 pa. I baulked at first till the insurance guy asked what my car was worth (£3k) and how much i pay for cover (£220 comp)

"So you will pay £220 to cover £3k but not £260 to cover £25k" he asked

"and its fully comp & covers 3 party"

sit down guys and girls, add up the price of your gear and what it will cost to replace it, new for old.

you may get a shock.

£25K, blimey !!, may i ask just what equipment you are using out of interest.

BK

[DZ]

Originally Posted by Beekeeper

£25K, blimey !!, may i ask just what equipment you are using out of interest.

BK

2 x Canon 1ds Mk2
1x 400L 2.8 IS
1x 300L 2.8 IS
all from 15mm fish to 70-200L 2.8 IS
Flashes etc

plus Peli cases and GPS trackers (never did find them)

funny thing is, my wife had her 5D and old 10D plus some odd primes, sigma, tamron etc. So we still managed to crack on but you should have seen the scrap for cameras and lens every morning. At one point I was awake at 4am just to try and get kit and charged batteries.

She had brought them to her side of the bed ...... I gave up after that and the withdrawal of other favours :-)

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by DZ

2 x Canon 1ds Mk2
1x 400L 2.8 IS
1x 300L 2.8 IS
all from 15mm fish to 70-200L 2.8 IS
Flashes etc

plus Peli cases and GPS trackers (never did find them)

funny thing is, my wife had her 5D and old 10D plus some odd primes, sigma, tamron etc. So we still managed to crack on but you should have seen the scrap for cameras and lens every morning. At one point I was awake at 4am just to try and get kit and charged batteries.

She had brought them to her side of the bed ...... I gave up after that and the withdrawal of other favours :-)

I feel positively insecure now, my Canon 20D is beginning to look like a Brownie box camera.

Perhaps you should get a bigger bedroom with probably single beds.

[Deer Hunter]

There's a simple anwser to this - fit a tracking device into the bag. These are available on the internet and many security firms provide a service. Plus if you have one it will lower your insurance.