Stolen lens, with serial number polished. [Archive]

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 06:59 AM

Hi everyone

I've got a Rpp set stolen 6 months ago (http://www.reduser.net/forum/showpost.php?p=549082&postcount=8), and two days ago a (Red owner) friend of mine in the search of a RPP set to buy, found a set which appeared to be stolen.

Buy a magic turn of events including my friend shouting at a policeman crossing the street, the seller run away leaving the bag full of lenses (yes, a bag !) in my friend's hand.

Now, the serials are polished and paint. But on the cosmetic side, there are several specific signs (a souvenir from a bad bad AC) that confirms they are mine, but who knows....
I asked Red if a lens service could find another serial, maybe inside the lens... so I can check them. I'm waiting for the answer, but I was thinking maybe Dr Lens or Jacek know it directly ?
No one in France really knows them, or wants to know them.

Gunleik Groven

07-30-2010, 07:34 AM

Wow - what a story!

Jaime Vallés

07-30-2010, 07:37 AM

Incredible that you got them back!

Jon B.

07-30-2010, 07:37 AM

Where were the lenses advertised?

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 07:42 AM

The RPP do have some markings inside but I have no way of deciphering them. I doubt they match anything linked to sale records. How exactly are the serial numbers "polished"? Pics would help.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 08:11 AM

My friend has leave with it to shoot a little, so I don't have them for the moment, but I looked at them quite closely. The room where the numbers are, is simply empty. It is flat --well round--... It is like they were no numbers at all. A little further, I can see where the guy paint them, with a big poskas (marker for tags on the street's wall) to match the color. It look flat, but when you touch it, it's like there is a colored tape sticked on it. I tried to take it off, but no, it's a marker :)

There is the same motors sign on the gear ring, and the same spot on the pl mount, a souvenir from the pl mount's ear.

I don't know if i'm really understandable....

Where were the lenses advertised?

I have no idea, and didn't ask, but it was a french speaking guy in Marocco... I'll tell you more in a few minutes.

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 08:14 AM

Sounds like he just filled the engravings with something. Try to just pick out the engravings with something, like a pin or paperclip. Unless he welded over the engravings and polished the barrel, which I doubt, then they must still be there.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 08:16 AM

ok, I'll try that !

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 08:21 AM

Sometimes I receive requests from customers to fill the engravings. Specifically on Zeiss Super Speeds since the engravings are facing the scene, customers often ask that we fill them (black them out) so they don't show in reflections or bounce light. I do this by filling the engraving with grease pencil and wiping the excess to leave an almost flush surface. It makes the engravings very difficult to see. This could be why you cant find the engravings on the RPP. As I said, they would have to go to great lengths to remove the engravings entirely.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 09:14 AM

Hi again

The guy has welded it.... it even has some caps melted

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 09:15 AM

ouch...

David (dudi) Namir

07-30-2010, 09:30 AM

Hope you will get your lenses back. I remember when you announced them as stolen.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 09:58 AM

I have them back now. And I have made some pictures that should be posted when I get home (30-40minutes)

The insurance guy told me he would not write it in their records... because it would be stored in a warehouse otherwise...:( but I should told the police about it, so that I won't be charge for --Ii don't know the word in french-- " "recel" of stolen goods"

About advertising...

My friend was on a shoot, in the middle of mohamed street, and the thief asked him if he was looking for gear.

Zakaree Sandberg

07-30-2010, 10:06 AM

Curious.. how much was the thief asking for the lenses?

just wondering if he had any idea on the value of what he had.

Jay Gannon

07-30-2010, 10:13 AM

My friend was on a shoot, in the middle of mohamed street, and the thief asked him if he was looking for gear.

This happens more than I care to remember in Morocco and Tunisia, and around the ports in Spain and Marseilles. People offering big camera (Actually D3's and 1d3's) to tourists for only 500 euros, stolen gear from across Europe seems to make its way down that direction.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 10:54 AM

Curious.. how much was the thief asking for the lenses?

It was outrageously expensive. 11 000€, about 14 000$.
I mean for stolen goods, if I was thinking about buying stolen (which I don't), I wouldn't pay more than 5 000€...

His price was the market price. The guy had 5D around his neck, and a 18-85 zoom too, in another backpack... too bad it needed two hands to carry the RPP set.

My friend phoned again to his number, it was a phonebooth (a lady answered), and the email was on a public provider. Not tracable... too bad. I would have cut his hand old school.

yeah, I think I'm going to spend some time in Marocco to became a vigilente.

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 11:07 AM

2 pictures from my phone :

not all the lenses are polished flat. The 35mm has a complete hole in the barrel.
we tried to do as you told, but we made a scratch.

http://berenger.brillante.free.fr/reduser/35mm.jpg

http://berenger.brillante.free.fr/reduser/85mm.jpg

Dan Kanes

07-30-2010, 02:00 PM

After you determine that they are indeed yours, Wanna sell your damaged set since I imagine your insurance allowed you to buy a new set? It should at least help you recover your lost time, and also your deductible from the insurance co.

Dan

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 02:09 PM

Its pretty clear the engravings were filed off then spray painted. You didn't scratch the lens, you scratched the spray paint off the lens. So sad. It least you have the glass back.

Eirik Tyrihjel

07-30-2010, 03:55 PM

Remains of the serial numbers might still be there, they have probably filed them down enough to add and smoothen some material and then paint it.

I worked as a prop master for many years and did all kinds of "faking" and "fixing" and if I had a lens that I would want to hide the serial number on, I wouldn´t bother to do more work than necessary - if I am right, they are buried in there, but you will need to dig out whatever material they put in it , or have the lenses x-rayed. Judging from the pictures it´s pretty easy to see where the new paint is, they didn´t do very nice work imho. (their only interest was to hide the numbers from initial inspection)

Good thing you got your glass back!

Bérenger Brillante

07-30-2010, 05:35 PM

I have phoned to several rental houses, most of their technicians are in vacation, but I should have an answer in about ten days, from the french rental facility TSF.

Matthew Duclos

07-30-2010, 08:00 PM

Best of luck, Berenger. If there is anything i can do to help, please let me know. I have quite a bit of experience with RPP.

Roberto Lequeux

07-30-2010, 08:03 PM

Wow. Hope you can get them identified cause I bet it will make you feel much better. The X-ray idea could be a nice back up plan if it is affordable. Glad you got them back.

What a story. Did you get a new set from the insurance?

Bérenger Brillante

07-31-2010, 05:41 AM

Thanks Matthews, if they need some help (i'm sure they will), I would be happy to let you know :)

I'm looking for X ray services rightnow, but I have found nothing yet. Any ideas ?

The insurance refund me half a set a 6 weeks ago, and I've bought a set on these boards.
I may sell them and add some cash to get anamorphic lomos or better.... I'm in a private auction for 7 Leitz Vandiemen really really really cheap (and legal !). I'm waiting.

A question though :

Is there someone here who got his metrics RPP stolen recently ? I've seen several imperial but no metric. Someone ?

Jay Gannon

07-31-2010, 06:20 AM

For the X-Ray find a large Veterinary Surgery (Best look outside of Paris there's a few around Fontainebleau but thats a bit far) most have an X-Ray that is not used a lot and can be asked to do it for a small fee.

Jay Gannon

07-31-2010, 06:21 AM

Also if you do have them Xrayed and the serieals are not yours, I am sure RED can put you in contact with the owner.

Bérenger Brillante

07-31-2010, 06:29 AM

yes, I've contacted Red to do so, but, I'm not sure the serial can be read. When you touch the lens, there is a hole instead....

thanks for the information !

Brian Petrie

07-31-2010, 08:25 AM

There is a good chance that an X-ray or something to that affect could work. At first I was thinking they just welded or soldered some fill onto the numbers then ground it smooth. However, I don't know if that could easily be done b/c the lens would get so hot and damage internals, so I'd bet they used Bondo b/c it's extremely cheap and easy to work with. Not to mention, Bondo would fill the serials perfectly but it is just plastic so hopefully you'll be able to read them somehow. Anyways, I am really glad to hear someone get their stuff back. I keep reading people getting their stuff stolen and it honestly makes me sick to think of all that hard work/money gone b/c of some a$$hole. Goodluck

Bérenger Brillante

07-31-2010, 11:09 AM

Stephen Williams

07-31-2010, 11:42 AM

I have to find a X-ray, but I m still working on it. I have some but always in public hospital... I have to find a private X-ray...

Honestly, I'm a lucky bastard, this is the third time a theft like this happens to me : in high school for audio gear, in college for a motorbike, and now for lenses... each time there is an extra zero on the bill.... i'm a little afraid for the next time...

Hi,

If the insurance have paid you out, then the lenses belong to the insurance company, you need to proceed very carefully IMHO. You will have to negotiate with the insurance if you want to keep them.

Stephen

Bérenger Brillante

07-31-2010, 11:55 AM

well, that would be the case in the numbers matches. On one hand, I honestly don't think we will find numbers, the holes are too deep, on the other hand the cosmetics signs I do recognize are known by me and the AC that made them, I doubt he even remember making these... I do, but it's a personnal thing...

Actually, the insurance guy told me friday I should keep them, because the file is closed. Nobody ever get their stuff back usually and they are used to do so...

Stephen Williams

07-31-2010, 12:31 PM

Actually, the insurance guy told me friday I should keep them, because the file is closed. Nobody ever get their stuff back usually and they are used to do so...

Insurance is based on 'utmost good faith'. We all end up paying higher premiums because of this sort of behaviour.

Abdelhay Elanbassi

07-31-2010, 10:29 PM

Glad to hear you got your lens back. If you need any help in Morocco, please let me know I will there in couple of days, and i will be traveling around.

Dan Kanes

08-06-2010, 08:58 PM

Bérenger Brillante

08-07-2010, 03:48 AM

I'm still waiting for X-ray, everthing is closed here during vacation... I'm eager to see if we can get their number back.

If they are mine, I don't think I will sell them though.

If I sell my new set, I will be upset to work with the stolen and now back set, it is so sad and they are ugly. I don't want a daily reminder of this theft.

If I sell the stolen and now back set, I will be selling it for really too cheap, because of the same ugliness.

:(

Robert Horwell

08-07-2010, 05:35 AM

Berenger, i would be interested in buying your RPP's.

Sorry to hear about what has happened, i was stung myself a few years ago when i unwittingly purchased a stolen camera and lost 10K GBP, when i sent it in for a service. Needless to say the crooks had spent the money and i had no way of getting it back :embarassed:

Dan Kanes

08-25-2010, 01:45 AM

Berenger, i would be interested in buying your RPP's.

Oh, you mean basically exactly what I offered to do a few posts up...:lol:

Bérenger Brillante

08-25-2010, 03:16 AM

lol

Anyway, I plan to keep them and let my friend use them as a reward.
If I need money, I will sell them, but not before epic ship I guess.

btw, nothing was readable on the set.

Dan Kanes

08-25-2010, 03:52 PM

lol

Anyway, I plan to keep them and let my friend use them as a reward.
If I need money, I will sell them, but not before epic ship I guess.

btw, nothing was readable on the set.

That's very kind of you, and exactly what I would do. Please remember me in the future if you do decide to sell as ideally a set of beat up RPPs would make an ideal purchase for me.