I'm not sure this post will be helpful to me or not but I'm putting the word out that my camera gear was stolen in Denver over the weekend. I'd appreciate a heads-up in case anyone comes across anything like this kit being sold. Here's a list of items:
ouch! This should be a heads-up to all of us. I do look at sites to buy gear now and then and I will be on the look out for items in your list. Where was the stuff when it was stolen? The last time it happened to me, I was parked in a well visited area in plain sight and with lots of people around. Took about 5 seconds for someone to break a side window and make off with several items. I was just using the washroom.
That just SUCKS! Is your gear insured? I joined NANPA specifically for their gear insurance access, and while I finally listed my equipment just a few days ago, here it is months after joining and I still haven't sent the paperwork in. Your experience has lit a fire under me to get this stuff insured asap.
Why can't people get their own sh*t? I hope they catch the crackhead.
It sucks in the extreme. I seriously felt like puking when I realized what happened. I'd been collecting my kit for the past few years, scrounging and trading up, etc. I'm sure others can relate.
Unfortunately, I have to confess to simply being a near complete dumba$$ on two accounts. First, I was getting my "reluctant" kiddos into their cars seats and in the ensuing chaos simply forgot to load the pack into the vehicle. When I realized it was missing, I called my brother to run outside to grab it but it was already gone. He lives in a fairly high crime neighborhood (Baker) where criminals seem to be waiting for someone to make a mistake (he's lost hundreds of $$ worth of stuff over the years, most of it within minutes of leaving his vehicle.)
Second, for reasons that have now been revealed as completely irrelevant and probably flat-out stupid, my gear was not insured. I filed a report with the police and will check pawn shops in the area. But I wouldn't be surprised a bit if I get to start from scratch.
I didn't realize NANPA has gear insurance; I've thought about membership there too. I'll take a closer look. And thanks for the registry link.
For anyone else that finds themselves in this unfortunate situation, Google Alerts will allow you to troll craigslist for keywords on a daily basis and eBay has saved searches to watch for gear to pop up.
That is a horror story for those of us who would not be able to replace their gear in this economy! And yes, I have done the same absent minded thing myself and have just been lucky that I still have it all. Good luck!
Ouch, sorry to hear that man. Doesn't your renters/home owners cover the gear? I have called my Home Owners Insurance before when I was going on trips and they said they would cover my gear minus deductible. I know you can get additional insurance on top of that, for example I am getting some for my gear on an upcoming diving trip to cover water damage etc. Anyhow, I would have assumed your regular insurance would cover you.
Sorry to hear about the loss, Jeff. I've paid for camera insurance for years with never a need for a claim. Your story is a good reminder that I should continue to renew the policy.
Koveh, yes, most homeowners policies will cover your gear, AFTER your deductible. For anyone counting on this, be sure to know what your deductible is, and if they depreciate your gear.
Posted by Paul Wegemann on April 5, 2010 at 10:31 PM
Very sorry to hear about this, Jeff. I hope this all works out for you.
Posted by Bill Brennan on April 6, 2010 at 12:59 AM
Jeff, sorry to hear your story. Thanks for sharing it as it is a wake up call.
Bill Brennan
Posted by Darren Huski on April 6, 2010 at 6:16 AM
Sorry to hear that. Makes me sick too to even think about losing gear like that.
Getting insurance either through your existing agent or NANPA is the way to go. I went through my State Farm agent and got a personal articles policy to cover just my photo/computer gear.
Reporting it to the police is also the right thing to do. You might get lucky. A buddy of mine had his house broken into and camera stolen. He reported it. Three days later he gets call from cops. Turns out the theif pawned it, but the shop owner when inspecting the camera to "see if it worked" took a picture of the guy who sold it. Then checked the serial numbers and when the cops investigated and say the picture- their reply was "we know this guy". So my buddy got his camera back and the scumbag went to jail.
Sorry to hear that. I know that when my gear was stolen, my renters insurance covered it. It is pretty crappy when you work so hard to get this stuff, and some idiot thinks he can just take it. Hope everything work out for you.
Posted by Jim Casteel on April 6, 2010 at 11:18 AM
Jeff, If you have full coverage car insurance they will pay for anything stolen out of your car! Your homeowners / renters insurance may also cover a significant amount of your loss. However, since I make money from my photography I was disqualified from all the above insurances so I have purchased an Inland Marine policy from State Farm. This is a blanket insurance policy on my equipment (I do have to specify what equipment is insured) and it runs me about $150 a year for nearly $20,000 in coverage. I found that to be much cheaper than the NANPA insurance.
I am a craigslist whore so I will watch out for it on there. Best of luck getting it back / taken care of.
Jeff, I used to be an insurance agent and still have famly in it. Your homeowners/renters (assuming you have it) does cover this type of loss; minus the deductable...however, if you schedule the property, it covers it for stated value and no deductable applies. It would even cover it for accidental breakage. But...another however...Jim is correct about if you make money off of photography, you cannot use you homeowners to cover this and need an inland marine policy and it is usually much less expensive, instead of business insurance.
Sorry to hear about the property. I will keep an eye out also.
Discussion
17 repliesI'm not sure this post will be helpful to me or not but I'm putting the word out that my camera gear was stolen in Denver over the weekend. I'd appreciate a heads-up in case anyone comes across anything like this kit being sold. Here's a list of items:
Canon 5D (original issue)
Canon 70-200m f4/L
Canon 17-40mm f4/L
Canon 50mm f1.8 II
Canon Speedlite 430EX II
Cactus V4 flash trigger
Lowepro CompuRover pack
Sundry filters, mostly Tiffen, but also a scratched Singh-Ray and B+W CPL.
I have serial numbers for the camera and lenses so I can easily identify those things.
Thanks,
Jeff
Why can't people get their own sh*t? I hope they catch the crackhead.
http://photo.net/registry/
Unfortunately, I have to confess to simply being a near complete dumba$$ on two accounts. First, I was getting my "reluctant" kiddos into their cars seats and in the ensuing chaos simply forgot to load the pack into the vehicle. When I realized it was missing, I called my brother to run outside to grab it but it was already gone. He lives in a fairly high crime neighborhood (Baker) where criminals seem to be waiting for someone to make a mistake (he's lost hundreds of $$ worth of stuff over the years, most of it within minutes of leaving his vehicle.)
Second, for reasons that have now been revealed as completely irrelevant and probably flat-out stupid, my gear was not insured. I filed a report with the police and will check pawn shops in the area. But I wouldn't be surprised a bit if I get to start from scratch.
I didn't realize NANPA has gear insurance; I've thought about membership there too. I'll take a closer look. And thanks for the registry link.
For anyone else that finds themselves in this unfortunate situation, Google Alerts will allow you to troll craigslist for keywords on a daily basis and eBay has saved searches to watch for gear to pop up.
Koveh, yes, most homeowners policies will cover your gear, AFTER your deductible. For anyone counting on this, be sure to know what your deductible is, and if they depreciate your gear.
Bill Brennan
Getting insurance either through your existing agent or NANPA is the way to go. I went through my State Farm agent and got a personal articles policy to cover just my photo/computer gear.
Reporting it to the police is also the right thing to do. You might get lucky. A buddy of mine had his house broken into and camera stolen. He reported it. Three days later he gets call from cops. Turns out the theif pawned it, but the shop owner when inspecting the camera to "see if it worked" took a picture of the guy who sold it. Then checked the serial numbers and when the cops investigated and say the picture- their reply was "we know this guy". So my buddy got his camera back and the scumbag went to jail.
Hope you get a happy ending here too.
I am a craigslist whore so I will watch out for it on there. Best of luck getting it back / taken care of.
Sorry to hear about the property. I will keep an eye out also.