Stolen Gear

[Kevin Lang]

I recently had a complete Varicam package stolen in Charlotte:angry03: . It was actually my whole production trailer. We had just finished shooting the green screen elements for EA's new Nascar 09 video game, I parked the trailer at our office in Charlotte at the Film Foundry where 24hr security was more like 23hr because when the change of security to place they jacked it. No matter what kind of chains and locks I had on there those guys wanted it. (Next one is going to have Lojack).
I think they just wanted the trailer because they where driving a construction type truck. (caught on surveilence cam) I am just glad we didnt have our Red's yet cause good luck getting replacement on those. They did get our new 2575, MB20 and filters, 26in,17,9in monitor's just to name a few. I imagine they probably just thru it all in a dumpster somewhere after they couldnt figure out how to put the camera together or get there xbox to work on the monitors.
We do have insurance (I strongly recommend having that) but its just the hassle of it all.

[Shawn Booth]

Sorry to hear about your loss -

[Andrew Benz]

I am really sorry Kevin, I am properly torqued for you sir. I hope things go smooth for you with the insurance company.

That is just wrong, I hope Karma prevails...

[donatello b]

"Next one is going to have Lojack"

Lojack is very low tech.. the signal range is limited and it is NOT nationwide - tends to be in major city's ...police car that has lojack receiver unit in it must be within X feet ... i have it in a auto and would not buy it agian ...

i would look more at GSP system .... in other auto i have OnStar ( GPS) and anytime they can tell you exactly ( Ok within 10ft) where your auto is located ...

[Tico Llaurador]

Boy, talk about a major bummer, Kevin. So much for "security".

Reminds me of the "X Files"...

http://xfiles.wearehere.net/images/tag2.jpg

[Sam Druckerman]

It's a real shame, and I was very sorry to hear about this Kevin.

I hope those responsible are caught, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

And even with insurance, you're never fully compensated financially, not to mention all the hours you put in to customizing the interior of the trailer.

Bummer.

[Kevin Lang]

Thanks guys...I had heard about a GPS system you can put in the frame and will ring your cell if it goes a half mile from where you left it and will track it. I really like the trailer idea just have to make more difficult to steal.

[Andrew Madu]

That is just wrong, I hope Karma prevails...

Ah, there's no hope involved here, it's the law and you don't need to be there to witness occurring either.

Just have it in mind your equipment being returned you intact and leave the rest to, well, the greater good ;-)

[Andrew Benz]

Ah, there's no hope involved here, it's the law and you don't need to be there to witness occurring either.

Just have it in mind your equipment being returned you intact and leave the rest to, well, the greater good ;-)

Sorry if that was too broad a stroke... I was simply trying to be positive for Kevin.

I am well aware of the law and the fact that assholes who steal or cheat usually do not get their get their proper comeuppance. I have dealt with many and they come in all flavors... even in the form of insurance companies.:)

I just really hate it for any of us...

Cheers Uzo hope all is well over the pond,

Andrew

[KETCH ROSSi]

very sorry about that Klang, when you have stuff stolen from you it sucks big time, believe me I know!

But I still will not apply to the " Trust no one" policy, never, as I do believe they are always bad apple, but the good ones should not miss on the opportunity of ones good heart because of the few bad ones.

Ciao

[Matt Gottshalk]

Thieves should be shot.

My condolences.

[KETCH ROSSi]

Thieves should be shot.

My condolences.

Yeah, but the thing is that us I know well ... most of the times thieves are the criminal ones and the ones doing the shooting, it is not an easy thing to do ... shoot some one.


* No object is warted a mans live!*

Ciao

[Kevin Lang]

I am going to post the security cam footage of those rednecks stealing my trailer on youtube I think.

Ketch I agree with you someones stuff is not worth a life... I think about what happend to you alot, very scary stuff.

[KETCH ROSSi]

I still remember reading about your tragedy and that was not cool.

You need to stay alert of your surroundings.

I'm no John Wayne or some bad ass and I hope to God I never come across something like this but all I or anyone can do is be extremely cautious.

Ketch, I've agreed to everything you've ever posted until I read this post. If someone is going to rob me they are not going to walk away.

"A gun is not a guarantee, it simply changes the odds."

Abu Reno, I first of all like to thank you for your support in my posts.

I have been a very bad boy most of my life, i was a professional fighter (an Ass) for over 12 years, and fought in several countries in Asia, Europe and the America's, I have had just about every bone broken, and lost several molars, a broken nose Etc. but I have also done serious damage to many, I have always had guns, and been in situation were I could have taken a life, one time was during the LA fires in early 90, pulling the trigger and prepare your self to take an other human life it is not easy, and I thank God for not letting me take that man's life on that day, He was trying top steal my car, a car covered by insurance, something that you can get back with money, a man's life can never be replaced by any amount of money.





KLang, I'm glad you agree with me, and believe in the preciousness of life.

At times I go back in time and think what could I have done differently to desarm my attacker, but the truth is if I had taken his gun away, especially after He had already shot me, I would have killed him no doubt, so I thank God that I'm alive, and I thank God that I didn't tuck his gun away, otherwise He now would have been dead, and I for the rest of my life have the weight of a man's life on my conscience.

Ciao

[Tom Lowe]

What a pain in the ass.

BTW, reading this, it makes me wonder: What percentage of Lojack users are people who have been ripped off previously. My guess is, the percentage is very high.

[Ivan G]

After writing my last post I deleted it thinking it was a little harsh for the forums. I guess I didn't catch it on time. I didn't want to hijack the thread about "How to protect yourself."

I guess we look at situations a little different. But none the less you are ok and life goes on...

[mdo]

I am going to post the security cam footage of those rednecks stealing my trailer on youtube I think.

Ketch I agree with you someones stuff is not worth a life... I think about what happend to you alot, very scary stuff.

Offer a hundred dollar reward. Include a link to some of the best quality frame grabs you can get off the video. And then put out a press release on one of these inexpensive press release distribution channels about how YouTube is being used to track down criminals, giving a link to the video and the frame grabs. Then fax the release to every TV station and newspaper within a 50-mile radius of the theft. Then call the TV stations and talk to the news directors just to make sure they got it.

Betcha find your guys.

[Zach Hilton]

We do have insurance (I strongly recommend having that) but its just the hassle of it all.

If you don't mind me asking, what company are you going through and how much are the monthly payments? We want to get insurance for our equipment but are relatively new to all of this. If you'd rather, you can PM me the response. Thanks.

[mdo]

Almost forgot. Be sure to have a link to a high-res version (such as it is) of the video that the TV stations can download.

If you decide to roll with this, let me know if you need some help with the press release.

[Stuart English]

Offer a hundred dollar reward. Include a link to some of the best quality frame grabs you can get off the video. And then put out a press release on one of these inexpensive press release distribution channels about how YouTube is being used to track down criminals, giving a link to the video and the frame grabs. Then fax the release to every TV station and newspaper within a 50-mile radius of the theft. Then call the TV stations and talk to the news directors just to make sure they got it.

Betcha find your guys.

If you did have a RED stolen, report your camera PIN to RED and e-Bay and the camera rental companies. Every time the RED-ONE camera boots up the PIN is present on the rear LCD and in the displays, and the PIN is also recorded in every frame of video.

[laguun]

If you did have a RED stolen, report your camera PIN to RED and e-Bay and the camera rental companies. Every time the RED-ONE camera boots up the PIN is present on the rear LCD and in the displays, and the PIN is also recorded in every frame of video.

very good! its remarkable that you guys even integrate those small, but very helpful details even under the amount of pressure r&d at red has.

and to the thread starter: my condolence. i hope that the insurance will compensate you correctly.

[Andrew Madu]

I am well aware of the law and the fact that assholes who steal or cheat usually do not get their get their proper comeuppance. I have dealt with many and they come in all flavors... even in the form of insurance companies.:)

Hi Andrew,
I was actually referring to the law of karma and not that of man, which, as we know, at times is mesmerizing in its stupidity. Think of karma in terms of accounts, the books *must* always balance.

All is lovely over in London, a bit cold but all good none the less.

Many thanks.

[Kevin Lang]

4104

4105

4106Here is some stills of the security feed of the red necks stealing my trailer! The police still have no clue and could care less about finding it. My insurance company is covering everything, thank God! It has taken long enough though, got my Reds last week and had no tripod to speak to put them on till today! That was very frustrating, but things are coming together. I am going on a major shopping spree at NAB with my Insurance check in hand! Thinking about getting two HDX900's to replace the Varicam, anyone have any thoughts on those cameras?

[KETCH ROSSi]

I'm happy for you, that at the end you didn't came out at a total lost.

Ciao

[NateWeaver]

Actually, thank god nobody had a brain fart and left the days tapes in the trailer.

I think you should buy my XDCAM HD instead of HDX-900s :)

In addition, maybe it was best the Varicam was stolen. I would imagine it was insured for more than you can get for it on the open market...Varicams are taking a beating I've noticed.

[wshultz]

Which Oconnor is that?

[Kevin Lang]

Actually, thank god nobody had a brain fart and left the days tapes in the trailer.

I think you should buy my XDCAM HD instead of HDX-900s :)

In addition, maybe it was best the Varicam was stolen. I would imagine it was insured for more than you can get for it on the open market...Varicams are taking a beating I've noticed.

Actually we did have the tapes in there, but the client had the dubs we made.

I don't know about that xdcam stuff!

[Kevin Lang]

Which Oconnor is that?

That is the badass 2575!!

[fightordie]

Abu Reno, I first of all like to thank you for your support in my posts.

I have been a very bad boy most of my life, i was a professional fighter (an Ass) for over 12 years, and fought in several countries in Asia, Europe and the America's, I have had just about every bone broken, and lost several molars, a broken nose Etc. but I have also done serious damage to many, I have always had guns, and been in situation were I could have taken a life, one time was during the LA fires in early 90, pulling the trigger and prepare your self to take an other human life it is not easy, and I thank God for not letting me take that man's life on that day, He was trying top steal my car, a car covered by insurance, something that you can get back with money, a man's life can never be replaced by any amount of money.





KLang, I'm glad you agree with me, and believe in the preciousness of life.

At times I go back in time and think what could I have done differently to desarm my attacker, but the truth is if I had taken his gun away, especially after He had already shot me, I would have killed him no doubt, so I thank God that I'm alive, and I thank God that I didn't tuck his gun away, otherwise He now would have been dead, and I for the rest of my life have the weight of a man's life on my conscience.

Ciao

A real pleasure to read Ketch. Thankyou

[Michael Schrengohst]

I saw a news report today that guys are ripping off catalytic convertors.
Just sawing them right off and selling the metal. Thats the real story.
If scum didn't buy all the ripped stuff then there would not be a market for it.
Trailers are not secure unless you can park them in a garage.
I am doing a video for a video surveilance company. His business is going through the roof.
It's all IP video now recording on DVR. He has set-ups where you can get
cameras set-up and monitor them over the internet. Motion detection tied in with burglar and fire alarms -
good stuff. He can even set-up the system so that it rings your PDA if a motion detector goes off
and you can see the feed on your wireless PDA....

[Brian Ferguson]

"Next one is going to have Lojack"

Lojack is very low tech.. the signal range is limited and it is NOT nationwide - tends to be in major city's ...police car that has lojack receiver unit in it must be within X feet ...

All good points but if you are in a major city like anywhere in Southern California... LoJack could be a good tool.

There is an additional LoJack add-on service called Early Warning. It is a motion detector that if your vehicle leaves without a key fob "electronic key" it calls your cell phone, text SMS, email whatever method you want to be alerted that your vehicle was moved without your knowledge. It is pretty effective and it gives you a chance to alert law enforcement to turn on your LoJack search as your vehicle is moved before you would normally know it is gone. Just my 2 cents.

I was with a production in Baja for the offroad race and within an hour of being there a whole HVX system was stolen right under our noses. Robbery sucks but I agree that a property crime is not worth personal injury.

Good insurance is well worth the money. I have a small edit bay that was burgled last September. I couldn't believe how fast the insurance company acted to make sure I had the funds to replace my gear. More than made up for the previous years premiums. Your RED investment is not trivial so make sure you protect it.

briferg