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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Stolen Gear - Maui, HI
Broderick Stearns, Photographer
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Ardmore | OK | USA | Posted: 7:39 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> While on vacation in Maui we had our rental car broken into at Honolulu Beach. The thieves stole my girlfriends purse out of the trunk and then used her room key (with room number written on the paper sleeve) to rob our room. I had removed all my photo gear from my backpack and stored it in the dresser drawers in our room. My photo gear, over $7,000 worth, was the only items taken from our room at the Ritz-Carlton in Kapalua. I've racked my brain as to all of the, could haves and should haves, that I should have done. I'm posting this just to make other shooters aware that thieves are everywhere. Take nothing for granted and for heaven's sake don't keep you room key and the room number together.
I filed reports with the Ritz security staff and the Maui Police. I don't expect to ever see this gear again. I'm just keeping faith that Karma is alive.
-Broderick |
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Jack Howard, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Central | NJ | USA | Posted: 7:51 PM on 11.18.08 |
| ->> Broderick, sorry to hear about your gear, but I have to ask: Wasn't there a room safe of any sort? You might not fit a 300f/2.8 lens in there, but with some careful wedging, you can fit pretty much the contents of a carry-on camera bag into a standard hotel safe... |
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Broderick Stearns, Photographer
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Ardmore | OK | USA | Posted: 9:37 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> Jack,
Yes, there was a small safe and we had some stuff in it. I could have gotten a few items in it but not all of it. Thats one of those should have's. |
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Kent Nishimura, Student/Intern
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Honolulu | HI | USA | Posted: 10:55 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> Broderick,
i'm sorry that you had such a bad experience in Hawaii. Please don't associate the rest of us locals with those thieves. the ritz carlton didnt have video tapes of them?
Marc, my pacsafe goes with me everywhere...good suggestion.
//kent |
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Paul Nelson, Photographer
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Temperance | MI | USA | Posted: 11:10 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> Broderick,
Sorry to hear about this. Thanks for sharing though. Seperating the room # w/the key is a very important step for all of us to factor into our future endeavors.
It's also quite possible that rentals were targeted. |
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Steven E. Frischling, Photographer
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Live HVN : Work SFO-NYC | | | Posted: 11:28 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> Broderick,
I am sorry to hear that you were a victim of theft twice.
There are some simple tips for your next ventures
1) Never write your room number on your key
2) If the hotel room keys are without a logo, remove them from the sleeve, that way no one knows where you're staying
3) When traveling always have your equipment serial numbers accessible. Store this information completely separate from your gear. I store mine in my Blackberry.
4) When storing gear in your room try and use hard to access spot when possible, such as directly under the bed.
5) When leaving gear in your room use a bag protector. A Pelican Case with dual locks and at least two cables is ideal. When not traveling with a Pelican Case look into the PacSafe Anti-Theft Bag Protectors
With the PacSafe Anti-Theft Bag Protector , I still try and lock my gear under the bed. This makes access a bit harder and eliminates the snatch-and-run thieves. Also thieves generally do not travel with a bolt cutter, as it would make them a bit obvious.
You can find more on the PacSafe Anti-Theft Bag Protector here : http://flyingwithfish.blogspot.com/2008/05/protecting-your-bags-in-airports...
If your gear was insured make sure you have police report filed with the local police department. If you have the serial numbers make sure you have supplied them to the PD , as well as any obvious markings on your gear. This information will be sent over to area pawn shops.
Hotels like the Ritz-Carlton usually have significant security in place. Seek out the director of security and ask for copies of the tapes for your floor at the time of the theft (or the time you were not there). The thieves are on tape somewhere, entering or exiting the hotel, and security can match them up across multiple cameras. Hopefully at least one camera caught a solid face shot that can be transmitted to the police department.
I hope karma works in your favour and your gear is returned to you!
-Fish |
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Broderick Stearns, Photographer
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Ardmore | OK | USA | Posted: 11:29 PM on 11.18.08 |
->> Kent,
There are bad apples everywhere in this world. I only name the Ritz to illustrate that even at nice places we need to keep our guard up. We loved Hawaii and I hope to visit again soon. I had backed up all my images on to my Epson P4000 to have multiple copies and they took all my images as well. I can replace my equipment but not the images I had shot. My girlfriend and I had our engagement photos shot in Maui and they are gone as well.
Funny you mention the Pacsafe. 5 minutes after the cops left I told my girlfriend I want a pacsafe for Christmas. |
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Aaron Nagata, Photographer
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KEALAKEKUA | HI | USA | Posted: 11:58 AM on 11.19.08 |
->> Broderick,
Also sorry to have heard of your mishap. It happens to us locals too! While on a family vacation on Oahu (I'm from the Big Island), our car was broken into and everything was removed. We had just arrived on Oahu and had gone to a local shopping center to grab something to eat. I mean EVERYTHING was taken. We had to visit the local WalMart to replace everything down to our underwear.
I have a suggestion for your lost items. Contact your homeowner's insurance agent and see if any of those items were covered. Hopefully, like my policy, because it was taken from a rented vehicle, 90% of my losses were covered!
Aaron N Nagata |
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Bruce Omori, Photographer
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Hilo | HI | USA | Posted: 3:09 PM on 11.20.08 |
->> Broderick, another Hawaii local here saddened to hear of your bad experience. Unfortunately, rather than being an isolated incident, this is probably something that occurs more frequently at the most desirable tourist destinations. :( We photographers, need to be extra careful with our gear, always mindful of where we are. I live here, and believe me, I deal with this potential everyday.
Not sure if you're still in the state but there is an organization called the Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii that helps people like you and your fiance deal with unfortunate experiences while in our wonderful state. I think on Maui their number is: (808) 244-3530. Give them a call with an explanation, and I'm sure you'll be taken care of with true "aloha".
And, yes, what goes around will definitely come around.
Aloha,
Bruce |
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Broderick Stearns, Photographer
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Ardmore | OK | USA | Posted: 4:26 PM on 11.20.08 |
->> Thanks Bruce. They were very helpful when I called. We are back in Oklahoma now but they are still going to contact the police dept to see what the status is.
Broderick |
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