Help me reunite a 24-105 with its owner!

I'll spare the long story, but I'm trying to reunite a 24-105 f/4 IS with its rightful owner. I believe the lens was stolen, but may have been left in a parking lot. The person who had the lens said they found it in a parking lot. That doesn't hold too much weight, because the same person was in possession of other confirmed stolen property.

We have searched our immediate area for any police reports regarding missing or stolen camera equipment but have yet to find a match. I'm doing this out of desperation. So far, the serial number has not been entered as a stolen item.

If you live in the East Bay (California) and are missing a lens or know someone who is, please PM me with some details. If you have a police report, even better.

If you have questions, PM me.

I know I would FREAK if I got my gear ripped off. I'm hoping to get at least a litte piece back to its righful owner, not to mention adding another charge on the person that 'found' it.

That is so awesome that you're doing this! Have you tried posting in craig's list?

You're doing a good thing trying to find the real owner, good luck.

GimpyPoop wrote in post #5011122
That is so awesome that you're doing this! Have you tried posting in craig's list?

That will be my last resort. I'm 99.99999% sure this is a stolen lens. Most people that have a lens of this caliber are fairly into photography, and there is probably a good chance they surf here. With Craigslist, I'm bound to get a ton of, "It's mine! I left it on my hood!"

If nothing pans out here in a day or two and we don't find any reports, I'll try there. It would be an outright shame to let this piece of glass sit in an evidence locker....

I'm going to try to keep this thread on the first page or two until then, so a periodic 'bump' would be much appreciated!

good man. I saw a 1D IIn + 16-35 for sale today for NZ$750 and wondered wether it's been pinched. More likely they've typo'd the price in the ad.

I used to live in Pleasanton/San Ramon, so I'll ask around to other photogs I knew in the area.

deletedpenguin wrote in post #5011249
I used to live in Pleasanton/San Ramon, so I'll ask around to other photogs I knew in the area.

That would be great. That area is in the ball park...

I think you should still give craigslist a try. And post of FM if you haven't.

Just post that you need the exact serial number of the lens to claim it. If that person is indeed the owner, he should still have that number.

Props to you!

PS. I lost mine... is the serial 123456780?

Hate to disagree, but I think posting on Craigslist will only complicate things. How many hundreds of claims do you think you'll get?!

yeah definitely wait a few days, maybe weeks before craigs. you'll get a ton of spam.

kudos to you! question though, how did you get it?

Why don't you post an ad without naming the lens, and if someone contacts you telling you "I lost my 24-105 f/4L," then you can filter out some of the people that would try to steal it from you by lying.

Rellik wrote in post #5011315
And post of FM if you haven't.

yep, I'd say try Fred Miranda also. I used to only read that forum before I found this one. (and I'm glad I found this one)

You could try one or two of the insurance companies. Mine took a list of all my serial numbers when I signed up. It could be that they have already paid out on that lens.

orisky wrote in post #5011398
yeah definitely wait a few days, maybe weeks before craigs. you'll get a ton of spam.

kudos to you! question though, how did you get it?

Through my work....

Chandler. wrote in post #5011406
Why don't you post an ad without naming the lens, and if someone contacts you telling you "I lost my 24-105 f/4L," then you can filter out some of the people that would try to steal it from you by lying.

I thought of that, but I was worried I would get even more of a response from people fishing.