Please Help! Equipment Stolen

[prairiefire]

Friends,

Yesterday, or early this morning (11 Jul 2010), someone broke into my studio. They kicked in a large picture window, pried open a storage room door and broke into a storage cabinet. Fortunately, they did not get into my safe which holds all of my lenses and camera bodies.

However, they did get a lot of stuff – and I’d really appreciate it if you’d keep an eye out for it.

Most identifiable is my off-camera flash kit. It is in a large Tamrac Gray 613 Bag. Inside is a bunch of stuff, most importantly:

4 SB800’s
1 SB900
Tons of Batteries and Two Chargers – 8 Sanyo Eneloops, 16 Rayovac 15 Min Charge, and a bunch of Kirkland batteries. Most of the batteries are in 4 battery cases.

BTW -- the SB800's have tape labels on them and the pockets in the bag are labeled, too. The labels are "Master", "A", "B", "C", "D".

I have some Nikon “kit” – grey small bags that include, light stand/umbrella connectors, and a clamp that looks like a Justin clamp. Also the plastic shoe/foot that the fash sits on. There are 4 sets.

An SB 28 cable and 4 PocketWizard to SB800 cables.

You get the idea, there was a lot more stuff in the bag.


Also taken was my MacBook Pro, my Canon G10, and too many things from the studio to list. And, my Tenba Black Messenger bag.

I wanted to let everyone know about my loss so that if someone tries to sell my stuff and you hear about it you can give me a call.


If you see any of this stuff for sale, please call me:

Steve Herzberg
713.213.1133

Thanks.

sjh

[Jim Boyd]

Steve,

I'm sorry for you. I'm not in the Houston area, but if I see anything like that, I'll let you know. Good luck.

[tc95]

Steve...the pawn shops are closed today...but I would hit them-up mid day tomorrow...start with the ones closest to you and then work your way out...this stuff is specialized so if they do try to pawn or sell it...they will not get much...make sure you have serial numbers and pictures if you have them...

Good Luck....

[jtriron]

Steve,
I need to check out some pawn shops Monday, and will look out for your losses
Are you near Downtown?

[prairiefire]

Jack,

I really appreciate the offer of help.

My studio is not far from downtown.

I am gathering some serial numbers that I'll post here some time tonight or early tomorrow.

Thanks.

Steve

BTW: Does anyone know if there is a way to attach a .pdf to my post?

[mathia]

Remember...the police get pawn tickets from all the pawn shops, so if the stuff goes through one of them and you have the serial numbers on the police report, they should come across it...eventually. I live in Tyler, so it's a lot easier for the police. Can't imagine how many pawn tickets they see a month in Houston. Although, I would think there's some sort of electronic system for parsing all that data.

Good luck finding your stuff. Mine from a few years back never turned up.

[Gildersleeve]

Steve,

I am sorry to hear about your break-in. Don't forget to bring a copy of your police report and a list of equipment & serial numbers to Houston Camera Exchange and Camera Co-op as soon as you can. Maybe the crook will try to bring it in while I'm there.

[prncfarquad]

I had a car stereo system stolen from me a long time ago when I lived it Tyler. Police tracked me down in Huntsville when two of the components were found in a kids closet. Because they had the serial on the report they were able to track me down. Longer shot in Houston but it can happen. Sorry that happened to you.

[darktiger]

Don't forget to check out craigslist too.... Not only Houston, but Austin and SA...

[prairiefire]

I'm still trying to figure out how to get you serial numbers.

Here are the serial numbers on some items -- probably the first that will be sold.

I'm trying to attach a .pdf. It didn't work. was too big. So, I'll attach a .jpg screen shot.

Thanks again.

This really sucks but it is made better by the acts of kindness here.

sjh

[tukaniray]

WOW ... Good luck with that. And hopefully some of us Houstonians can help you find your stuff. Since I am also looking for a SB-800, I will keep my eye open for suspicious characters selling those.

I've had personal large items stolen before and it definitely sucks.

-Ray-

[Donb10]

Be sure and get those serial numbers to the Police. Stolen items reported by serial number are placed on their computer system as well as T.C.I.C (Texas crime information center) and N.C.I.C (National crime information center). Pawn shops are regulated by both State LAw and City Ordinance. Things may have changed since I retired (1990). The pawn shops were required to post the serial numbers of any item that had one, on the pawn ticket. The police collect copies of these tickets weekly and the items with serial number are recorded. If the item is reported stolen, the computer should record a hit.

Good luck, the system was great at one time, but I don't know what progress has done to it............

[BethG]

Well that just stinks! Why can't people just get jobs instead of relying upon those of us that work hard! Good luck on getting everything back.

[cpiefer]

I hope the police can recover you're items. We had our generator stolen from our garage and it took about 8 months but it did eventually turn up in a pawn shop and the sheriff's department was right on it. Called and told us to come get it right then.

Something we done is add security film to our large windows. Made by 3M, I think about 6 mils thick and it supposed keep the window from breaking in. Haven't tried it, but that's the claim.

[prairiefire]

First, I want to thank all of you who have either posted here or sent private messages of support.

I have accepted the fact that I'll never see my equipment, again.

For now, I'm focused on two fronts.

First, I'm trying to "take my studio back" -- to get over the sense of violation and desecration of my "safe place".

And, second, unfortunately, I'm having a battle with one of my insurers. I have two policies, one on my business and the second on my equipment. The second policy was purchased through a major photographers' organization.

I am keeping a journal as I struggle through the process.

My plan is to write a very comprehensive article on "protecting our stuff" that will include everything I've learned -- from alarm systems to preserving and presenting insurance claims. I'll publish it on my website (PrairieFire Productions) when it takes shape.

Once more, thank you for all of the kind words and actions.

Steve