Gear stolen. Suggestions?

[JamesDH]

Just a few days ago I had my storage unit broken into and all my gear stolen.
Besides hitting the local pawn shops what would you recommend doing?

Craiglist?
Camera stores?

How liable do you think the storage facility should be?

Regards
James

[Huck]

I dont know about where you live, but here, my renters insurance covers my property even in the storage unit. If you havent already, file a police report.

[jparsley]

Mine was stolen out of my car. I never got it b back. I could have claimed it against my home insurance, however, my insurance raised my deductible and it wasn't worth it. I would file a police report as soon as possible and include all of the serial numbers if you have them.

The very nice cop that helped me out said they did not sell at pawn shops any more. They are too regulated. He said they usually go to swap meets now.

I bought a gun safe, and now lock the stuff up in there.

[LoungeLizard]

Report to police. Report to your insurance.

[davidwixom]

Ebay might be a good place to look as well...sorry man :(

[Daylon]

Well if you bought insurance when you rented the unit, usually it covers 50% of the value, max...

I'd check pawn shops within a 5-10 mile radius - do you know your serial numbers? Also if it's camera bodies, do you put any EXIF info into your pics that ID's you?

Originally Posted by JamesDH

Just a few days ago I had my storage unit broken into and all my gear stolen.
Besides hitting the local pawn shops what would you recommend doing?

Craiglist?
Camera stores?

How liable do you think the storage facility should be?

Regards
James

[C!LLY]

I had a home break in last summer and filed a police report and checked the pawn shops and online to no avail. I reported it to the insurance co and got brand new gear (much better than what I started out with). But nothing replaces emotional attachment.

[ST77]

That sucks, happened to me last october out of my car I ran into the store and was back out in less that 10min but it was gone (smash and grab). I have insurance on all my gear for replacement value and zero detectable for 110 a year so I got the money for it all. report the S/N/s if you know them, though I have heard nothing is every really done with them its not like they are put into some huge nation wide stolen goods database. As stated pawn shops normally wont touch that stuff anymore and the ones that will probably aren't places you want to go poking around looking for your gear. Flea Markets and swap meets are the ideal places to get rid of stolen goods these days.

[JamesDH]

Man.. I just got back from inventorying what all was taken.

D3, D200, 200-400, 70-200, 24-70, 17-55, 18-70, 105 VR, Sigma 10-20, TC-14II, SB-800, SB-400, Gitzo 3540LS w/Markins M10, Gitzo 5540 Monopod w/swivel & Wimberely Arca plate, CPL for 200-400, Wimberely Sidekick, Dell XPS M1710 (fully loaded), Tons of Think Tank, Computer.. Quad core, 4GB, 1.5Tera SATA disks, 2 EVGA 8800GT in SLI, 20" monitor along with a lot of supporting gear.
No homeowners insurance, no storage insurance.
At least $25,000 worth.
All I have left is my D40, 18-55, new in the box 14-24, MB-200 new in the box and a severly broken heart.
I was only storing some junk in there and had dropped my camera & computer gear off while I went to Africa for a month on business.

Please learn the lesson that I've learned.. get some kind of insurance. Not from the storage unit as they are only responsible for 50% and NOT valuables such as jewelry.

One tough lesson learned!!

[ST77]

who knew your gear was going to be there? Sounds like if it was not normally there either some thief got very lucky or it was someone that knew you were going to store it. Not saying your friends are thieves but experience has taught me there are very few coincedences in the world.

[JamesDH]

The guy working up front saw me unloading it but other than that only my family.
Speaking of the guy up front.. he looks like an escaped convict and has only been working there a little while.
I hope the police have been checking him out.

I was not the only storage unit that was hit. Everyone in the builidng I was in and the next building was hit. They opened every room in both buildings.
You would think the security cameras would have captured something.

[dcnctx]

Lousy news, lousy individuals... actually worthless individuals.

Good luck, maybe you'll be one of the few that gets your stuff back.

[ST77]

if that many units were hit sound like a inside job.

[JustinRD]

Originally Posted by ST77

if that many units were hit sound like a inside job.

I'd second that and put money on it as well. Thats speaking after being in law enforment and taking every kind of detective/law class known to man for 3 years.

Not sure how much time you would have but, on weekends or weekdays when you have time, ride by there. Keep asking questions to the storage guy, give hints that the police are conducting an investigation..etc...people get nervous quick...and that can blurt out information that is not so good. Just a few tips...that i have seen work in my time.

Good luck with everything!!

[adirty1]

some one hit the whole storage lot in our area. started at that back of the complex and cut holes or unscrewed the sheet metal to get to the next one.

sounds like a spreading problem with storage units.

sorry to hear it.