Burglarized

[kwsanders]

Does anyone here ever listen to the Digital Photography Tips from the Top Floor with Christoph Marquardt? I was just listening to the one that he put out last night. He was burglarized the night of June 29th into the 30th.

They took a Canon 5D, a EF 80-200mm 2.8L, the camera bag with all its contents, and his Samsung R50 laptop.

[Belmondo]

Lordy. I have bad dreams about that. Even though I live in a gated community with 24-hour staffing of the gate personnel, the security company hires minimum wage types that really do very little towards maintaining the security of the place. Anyone with any kind of story can talk their way through the gates very easily.

I trust the situation so little that I still have an alarm system, deadbolt locks, and an attack trained Siames cat.

[Ronald S. Jr.]

I'd have a dang fortress set up around the gear you've got, Tom. Razor wire, electrified fence, laser grid, the whole schmear.

[kwsanders]

I forgot to mention in my original post that Christoph mentioned that he was uninsured currently, but was in the process of putting together insurance for everything. All he could do was laugh at that one.

Although I do not have as much as most of you, I do probably have between $3500 to $4000 in what I do have. It is not currently insured. After hearing this, it is definitely time to go take out some insurance and possibly get a safe of some kind with an attack dog.

[PacAce]

Wouldn't his home owner's or renter's insurance cover the camera gear or is that what you meant when you said he was uninsured?

[DeborahB]

Oh that's awful. We've been hit before and my Mom was just hit too(grrrr wiped her out of all her jewelry and all of my Dad's cameras). Most insurance policies have a cap for things like cameras and jewelry (usually around $1000)beyond that you have to list each item and pay more for your coverage.

[IanD]

Originally Posted by belmondo

Lordy. I have bad dreams about that. Even though I live in a gated community with 24-hour staffing of the gate personnel, the security company hires minimum wage types that really do very little towards maintaining the security of the place. Anyone with any kind of story can talk their way through the gates very easily.

I trust the situation so little that I still have an alarm system, deadbolt locks, and an attack trained Siames cat.

Believe me folks, you do not want to mess with the cat.

[thomascanty]

Originally Posted by PacAce

Wouldn't his home owner's or renter's insurance cover the camera gear or is that what you meant when you said he was uninsured?

I asked about this with my insurance company about a year ago. My renter's insurance covers pretty much everything except camera gear. To add that to the policy, my premiums double. It's a scam, I tell ya.

[SuzyView]

I just got insurance since I will be traveling so much and the museum required it for me to shoot there. I spend about $500 a year for my insurance for all my gear, including computers, apprentices, liability, etc. It's great. It covers damage and loss from traveling. I dropped my 20D with 24-70L in the Velocity 6 when I was landing it at the regular spot. It fell about 5 inches, I almost cried. I can't imagine losing gear in any situation. What is he going to do?

[OdiN1701]

Suzie -

What insurance do you have? I'm looking for a company that would provide me with insurance for all my camera gear. I've got quite a lot of expensive stuff piling up.

[Dragonfli Spirit]

Originally Posted by belmondo

Lordy. I have bad dreams about that. Even though I live in a gated community with 24-hour staffing of the gate personnel

Ok, although the situation isn't funny - I'd have to kill someone if my stuff was pinched - I have to say I giggled when I read this... sounds like prison

Sorry....

[zacker]

I also live in a gated community... that is i have a gate on my front yard!!!
lol And the 24 hr security would run and hide if someone actually broke in. He's a good dog and looks mean and scarey but actually will run away from you. Dang, i think my gear would be safer out in my shed.
-zacker-

[zeker]

Cost of the rider to add about $20,000 of equipment on my homeowners policy.........$300

Piece of mind..... Priceless!

[Jon Foster]

Locks keep honest people honest. The crooks will get your stuff if they really want it no matter where you live. Keep it all put away when not in use so nobody even knows you have it. If it's really costly stuff, insure it.

Jon.

[PacAce]

Originally Posted by thomascanty

I asked about this with my insurance company about a year ago. My renter's insurance covers pretty much everything except camera gear. To add that to the policy, my premiums double. It's a scam, I tell ya.

Hmmm, that's interesting. I have Erie and I asked them about my camera gear and they said they were covered by my normal home owners insurance if they were stolen from my house but not if I accidentally broke them. For breakage, I'd have to get a rider at $1 per $100 value.