Leica Store Robberies - San Francisco store is latest for 180k

[Ted Hoppe]

Most recent Leica store - Leica stores world wide are being plague by armed robbery.

https://petapixel.com/2022/11/28/lei...-178k-in-gear/
Leica Store in San Francisco Robbed at Gunpoint of $178K in Gear



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Not much other information has been shared. Of note, the SF Chronicle reports that the armed robbery comes just a week after both Mayor London Breed and San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott assured locals that the area was safe for holiday shopping and urged them to return. ABC7 reports that the pleas appear to be working as the area has seen more traffic over compared to last year, but despite the increase in police presence, the smash-and-grab robberies that have plagued the area for at least the last year are clearly a problem.

Camera equipment has proven to be a high-priority target for thieves in San Francisco. Since the equipment cannot be locked by an owner like smartphones, tablets, and computers can, they tend to be much more tantalizing considering their high value. That means that photographers are often targeted, especially in the city by the bay. Thieves are becoming more brazen as well. Many recent assaults on photographers and their equipment have happened in broad daylight. In addition to the Leica Store robbery which happened in the early afternoon, so did the attack at the Palace of Fine arts as well as a separate armed robbery near the Golden Gate Bridge where a camera crew was robbed of $35,000 in equipment in March.

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I have really begun to shown extra care with my own equipment when on assignments. I do take public transportation with my large kit and often seen loading up in public spaces. I also have been followed home.

[Breakaway]

We were on a shoot in Miami, Ted. Most of the shooters gear on a cart right next to the boat we were doing. Our bad, we went below for few minutes. Like three minutes. Came up and $25k of gear was gone.

In another Miami incident, we went to lunch in a restaurant. I hung my bag with a DSLR, a lav mic, an action cam on the the back of my chair.

Mid lunch, five of us at the table talking, a young man leans over and asks me if everything is good with the meal. I say yes almost automatically.

Well, he used that moment to slip my bag off the back of the chair. I did not notice.

Fortunately a few seconds later, I just happened to look to the side and noticed a guy with a bag just like mine.

It took me another second. Then I caught up to him outside and got it back.

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[Ted Hoppe]

Oh man, that sucks. It doesn't matter if it was insured or not. The loss and trauma are bad; the gathering of lost item lists and the set backs for production can be staggering. Glad you recovered that camera bag and did not have trouble with the thief. You never know how some will act.

It is always my concern. I try to keep a minimalist kit on a single cart but that is really limits my options. I finally am making some significant changes going purchasing (rather than renting) full rig and rail system for complex double camera shoots which is doubling the square footage of the regular kit. Significant investment in lenses means a another special case for them. This is all happening when I am finding I misplace my keys and iphone more regularly. I use black pelican cases much of the time but have wondered if I should go to orange or yellow so I can visibly see and keep track of them. The flip side is they stand out and catch other rare people attention who seek crimes of opportunity.

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[LeeG]

Maybe equipment needs hidden compartments for placing tracking devices,

[Paul Pless]

looks more like a jewelry store than a camera store

pity there's no local liberal solution to such lawlessness

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[Paul Pless]

tom beat me too it

[Joe (SoCal)]

^^^^^ Shoulda stole a lens cap ^^^^^

[Ted Hoppe]

^^^^^ Shoulda stole a lens cap ^^^^^

iPhones require no lens caps which is why they may be better. Sadly if you pass a well used iPhone down to your children and grandchildren, the esteem of the gift is less.

[Paul Pless]

there's no reason digital cameras, and even film cameras and lenses couldnt be locked just like smart phones, tablets, and laptops

[Joe (SoCal)]

iPhones require no lens caps which is why they may be better. Sadly if you pass a well used iPhone down to your children and grandchildren, the esteem of the gift is less.

So. my buddy Mark always has his camera bag with either his Leica digital rangefinder or his Fuji rangefinder. he takes amazing photos but it's always a bit of a hassle, getting it out, setting the multi menu, changing lenses, bracketing shots, it takes time loose some intimacy.

I took this photo of him with my iPhone while he was still setting up to to take a shot.

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[Paul Pless]

iphone 13 pro maxine
right here right now on my morning hike

9926E95A-9BAE-4291-903B-69FEB602BEA6.jpg

[Ted Hoppe]

I think the Leica Q2 might be as easy to shoot with as the iPhone 14 Pro but had at 5x the price. It does make a statement of wealth and status.

[elf]

I left my car unlocked in front of my house a few months ago. They took my wallet and my iPod Touch (v.4 which I was using as a juke box) and left the two Canon DSLRs on the passenger seat.

Must be no market for them any more.

[Paul Pless]

our life long student of art has just vividly (actually in monochrome mode) illustrated for us the difference between making a photograph and taking a snapshot

So. my buddy Mark always has his camera bag with either his Leica digital rangefinder or his Fuji rangefinder. he takes amazing photos but it's always a bit of a hassle, getting it out, setting the multi menu, changing lenses, bracketing shots, it takes time loose some intimacy.

I took this photo of him with my iPhone while he was still setting up to to take a shot.

37A877C3-EFEA-476E-B809-C8C5AFA6905B.jpg

[Joe (SoCal)]

iphone 13 pro maxine
right here right now on my morning hike

9926E95A-9BAE-4291-903B-69FEB602BEA6.jpg

Dude thats an awesome photo, one of your best.

[Joe (SoCal)]

our life long student of art has just vividly (actually in monochrome mode) illustrated for us the difference between making a photograph and taking a snapshot

This was the shot he wanted to take but didn't have his settings set, so I took it for him

F50F6E36-A051-4C40-A8D3-59F722BC4CF3.jpg

Personally, I think they are both photos and not snapshots, hey but to each his own

[Breakaway]

there's no reason digital cameras, and even film cameras and lenses couldnt be locked just like smart phones, tablets, and laptops

Hey, I think you are right!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Breakaway]

Oh man, that sucks. It doesn't matter if it was insured or not. The loss and trauma are bad; the gathering of lost item lists and the set backs for production can be staggering. Glad you recovered that camera bag and did not have trouble with the thief. You never know how some will act.

It is always my concern. I try to keep a minimalist kit on a single cart but that is really limits my options. I finally am making some significant changes going purchasing (rather than renting) full rig and rail system for complex double camera shoots which is doubling the square footage of the regular kit. Significant investment in lenses means a another special case for them. This is all happening when I am finding I misplace my keys and iphone more regularly. I use black pelican cases much of the time but have wondered if I should go to orange or yellow so I can visibly see and keep track of them. The flip side is they stand out and catch other rare people attention who seek crimes of opportunity.

71cJIZYKlyL._AC_SL1500_.jpg

Yes.
They see you with the cases they know theres good stuff inside. Then, they can just wait for the right moment. Thats all it takes


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[L.W. Baxter]

is that surf photo fully cocked?

[L.W. Baxter]

what's in the case?

[Paul Pless]

what's in the case?

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[Joe (SoCal)]

is that surf photo fully cocked?

Yea I apologize, Sorry my bad

Fixed

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[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

The photo has tension. Is the far fellow running away? Downhill, because it is faster. Will the close fellow be able to hit him by flinging the pizza? What is the strange topping? Why are they opponents?

The pizza is particularly crunchy - it scares the opposition.

[Jim Bow]

With modern mirrorless technology do cameras have to look like traditional cameras? Ie: black boxes with cylinders sticking out the front.

[David W Pratt]

^^^^^ Shoulda stole a lens cap ^^^^^

$180,000.00 sounds like two lens caps.

[Paul Pless]

With modern mirrorless technology do cameras have to look like traditional cameras? Ie: black boxes with cylinders sticking out the front.

no, they can look like cell phones

[Kevin T]

1073640.jpg

We're gonna be cool. Now Ringo, I'm gonna count to three, and when I count three, you let go of your gun, and sit your a$$ down. But when you do it, you do it cool.

[Paul Pless]

me too, but its got to wait till we get settled into our new home in michigan

I'm still jonesing the Hasselblad 903 swc:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29530617237...Bk9SR7ba9baHYQ

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

With modern mirrorless technology do cameras have to look like traditional cameras? Ie: black boxes with cylinders sticking out the front.

No
G-Y-K-50.jpg

[LeeG]

Yes.
They see you with the cases they know theres good stuff inside. Then, they can just wait for the right moment. Thats all it takes


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That’s what I was about to say. Get the Pelican cases but disguise them to look like a suitcase in a grocery cart. Or get an old soft suitcase the Pelican can fit into.

[Canoeyawl]

With modern mirrorless technology do cameras have to look like traditional cameras? .

They do if you want averyone to know you have a tesla, er leica

[Joe (SoCal)]

I actually owned one of the first Leica Digital camera the Leica Digilux 1. It had Panasonic electronics and Leica optics.

Leica introduced the Digilux 1, the company’s first point-and-shoot collaboration with Panasonic. Unlike the original Leica Digilux, which was a rebadged Fujifilm camera, the Digilux 1 featured a fast f/2-2.5 Leica DC Vario-Summicron 7-21mm ASPH zoom lens (33-100mm equivalent)* and a body design that smacks of classic Leica, and yes, it even has that precious red badge. Panasonic’s counterpart was the Lumix DMC-LC5, which had a more contemporary design that (in my eyes) never had the curb appeal of the playfully retro Digilux 1.
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It took decent photos

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Thats how long ago it was

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

I'm still jonesing the Hasselblad 903 swc:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/29530617237...Bk9SR7ba9baHYQ

Have you considered the Fujifilm TX-2

[P.I. Stazzer-Newt]

In lieu of the Hasselblad 903 swc?

Indeed

[Jimmy W]

I'm wanting one of these for my MFT