Victimized! Camera stolen

by Lackner, 12/30/2007

Well, probability finally ran its course. After five years of living in the dangerous environs of the east side of Miami, I have finally been the victim of serious crime. Some gangly crackhead has stolen our camera (and associated gear) from the trunk of my car after breaking the window and climbing inside to push the trunk release button. He got all my change but managed to miss my sunglasses and some other camera stuff I had in the passenger foot well. I had been parked for perhaps 30 minutes outside the building here at Parc Lofts. He took his time. The security guard did nothing.

I'm not sure how I feel yet. I'm either really mature and over it, or too numb to react. Hopefully my homeowners insurance will cover this, but knowing me I cheaped out on all possible options.

I'll write more when I emerge from my self-imposed exile in the cavern of suffering and photolessness.

Comments disabled Tags: Only In Miami
There are 18 comments about this post:
comment #0, posted by Joe at 12/30/2007 3:36pm Reply
Tom, I'm really sorry to hear about this. Being a camera guy myself, I know that for some reason a camera becomes a very personal thing and losing one really hurts--not to mention severely pissing you off.

The good news is:

1) The guy is probably such a jerk-off that he won't know how to operate it and the only enjoyment he'll get out of it is another 24-hours worth of rock.

2) Now you have an excuse to buy the new 5DII when it comes out!

Hang in there, dude.
Even the call-girls are hanging-up on me...
comment #1, posted by billermo at 12/30/2007 6:28pm Reply
Really sorry to hear this, Lackner, I would suggest to fish around the lot of *REAL* Pawnshops over the next few days you might have some luck. I'm pretty sure most crack dealers dont take cameras as currency and if they did, it'd be hocked the next day.

Society is way overdue for tiny gps tracking devices for the everyday paranoiac.
comment #2, posted by Duran at 12/30/2007 11:35pm Reply
It's it surprising that I'm not shocked. What I am surprised is that it lasted this long. There there Lackner, I guess you'll have to work overtime on Biscayne this week.
Ghost of Miami Nights Past
comment #3, posted by Yume at 12/31/2007 06:48am Reply
That blows. You should get a lockable hard case and handcuff it to something in the car. I've always been paranoid about that shit, I'm gonna learn from this.
Professional Lumberjack.
comment #4, posted by daze at 12/31/2007 08:47am Reply
sorry to hear that t
comment #5, posted by alesh at 12/31/2007 09:13am Reply
That fucking blows. The only way to make the best of it is to see it as a opportunity to upgrade/switch brands.

When I had my Nikon shit stolen in Bogota (at knife point, no less, and yes, I will continue to mention this little episode every time it's even remotely relevant for the rest of my life) I switched to canon. That's what credit cards are for.

Just out of curiosity, what kind of car do you drive? I've been parking my '95 318ti in all sorts of shady neighborhoods (not the least of which is smash-n-grab central SoBe) for years and never had a problem. On the other hand when I borrowed a Suzuki Swift for one night(!) it got its window pried open for a parking pass.
comment #6, posted by Lackner at 12/31/2007 09:28am Reply
Alesh, it's an 05 Cadillac XLR.. the two door convertible thing. And yeah, other than being keyed once, never had a problem parking in all sorts of shady locations. I think they victimize cheap cars first because they think they're less likely to have alarms and the owner is less likely to care/come after them. I could be wrong.

I used to have a 318ti. Still my favorite car I've ever had. So much fun and resistant to any kind of problems.
pop lock and drop it
comment #7, posted by alesh at 12/31/2007 10:33am Reply
Oh, hard-top convertible. Go figure... i guess it was just your turn. But if you're right ("they victimize cheap cars first because they think they're less likely to have alarms") then the logical extension is to leave the camera right in plain view on the passenger seat -- they'll assume you have some sort of electroshock anti-theft system going, no?

MY favorite car ever was an '86 325, red/tweed interior. If I ever find another one with working A/C price will be no object.

BTW, XTi's with lens and CF are going for ~$500 new on e-bay these days . . . maybe just buy a few and consider it a disposable item?
comment #8, posted by Lackner at 12/31/2007 11:26am Reply
it's not the XTI that bothers me.. i've wanted an excuse to go 40d anyway. it's the 24-70/f2.8L and the 580exII. ironically, those are the only two parts that i have the serial number for. :)
pop lock and drop it
comment #9, posted by tara at 12/31/2007 12:18pm Reply
This makes me so sad, but i guess it was bound to happen one day. I hope everyone in Miami has an awesome New Year! Miss you all!!
i beat bitches up.
comment #10, posted by Carlos Miller at 12/31/2007 1:21pm Reply
That sucks. Isn't there a way you can make it so you need a key to open the trunk? That's how I have it set up in my little Honda so if anybody wants to steal the camera gear in my trunk, they have to steal the whole car.

Sucks about the 24-70Lf/2.8 because that is an expensive lens. I don't know what I would do without it.
comment #11, posted by Rikki Z at 12/31/2007 3:16pm Reply
hey lack,
look on the brightside.
one of my friends just picked up the 40D and its an amazing camera. were you using an XT/XTi before?
i can haz digits plox?
comment #12, posted by Carlos Miller at 12/31/2007 5:40pm Reply
If you're going to get a new camera, get the 5D because of the full frame, which will give you a wider lens view and enable you to capture more up close.
comment #13, posted by Joe at 12/31/2007 7:40pm Reply
Oh shit, I just realized....do you guys have a camera for tonight? If not, I have a 20D with either a 17-35L or a 28-70L and 550EX you can use. Email me if you need it.
Even the call-girls are hanging-up on me...
comment #14, posted by filipo at 12/31/2007 8:34pm Reply
that sucks Tlack. Switch back to Nikon, have you seen the D300? amazing pictures at high ISO. They finally fixed the noise Nikon was infamous for. I'm still on the D70S but want to get it sometime soon.
happy new year!
comment #15, posted by Lackner at 01/01/2008 12:06pm Reply
Thank you Joe, I may take you up on that offer. I'll be in touch after we follow up on some leads.

Filipo.. don't get me started on Noink! :)
pop lock and drop it
comment #16, posted by Yume at 06/19/2008 8:41pm Reply
Wow. I just re-read my comment here. I guess I didn't learn from it. Shows me.
Professional Lumberjack.
comment #17, posted by jt at 12/02/2008 12:57pm Reply
Look at www.registeryourcamera.com and place the details there. it is an online registry of camera gear so people can search and validate when buying or selling used.

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