[VikingPhotography]

Last night I went to the SECC in Glasgow to shoot the Jay-Z concert for my agency. Knowing that the stage lighting was going to be fairly bright, I packed my Lowepro Slingshot 200 with two D2X bodies, a 17-55DX lens, a 70-200VR lens and - just in case I was allowed to shoot the support act - a 50 f/1.4 lens as well. I had a 4GB card in each camera, and two spare 4GB cards in the bag.

Once I got to the venue, I was informed by the production crew that I'd only be allowed to shoot the main act so, rather than having the bag hinder me in the pit area, I decided to take it to the coat/bag check area. As an accredited photographer, I don't pay for the service. I had my cameras on my shoulders and checked the bag with the 50 f/1.4 and two spare 4GB cards still in it.

Jay-Z went on stage at 9:30 and we were all done by 9:45. I went to the coat check area with my claim ticket and, after waiting two minutes, was met by the head of security who said "We might have a problem"

I was then informed that it appeared that a few dozen bags were missing from the check area - mine included. I said that I couldn't leave the venue until reporting it to the police for insurance reasons.

Long story short: my bag - and all the others that were nicked - were found in a service corridor with their contents strewn all over the floor. Whomever done it knew that this particular corridor was one that didn't have a CCTV camera in it.

I was able to recover everything that had been in my bag EXCEPT the two 4GB CF cards... the b*stard was obviously looking for small items such as cellphones, cash, jewelery and high value tech stuff.

I was a little surprised that they didn't pocket my 50mm f/1.4 lens but, having had time to think about it, it would be a difficult item for a casual theif to offload - especially without a camera to go with it.

I still need to speak to my insurer regarding the missing CF cards but venue management said that I could also claim them if my insurer doesn't want to play ball. I can say one thing with certainty: I'll never use a coat/bag check area of any kind again.

[Gary Bagshawe]

Sorry to hear of your misfortune mate, and the really sad thing is if the b####### do get caught they will probably get a community service or given pity because of having a bad childhood and sent away on holiday.
Chop their bloody hands off is more like it. Just my humble opinion which im sure isn't everybodies but im a miseraable old git!!!!!

[VikingPhotography]

There was one poor lass who had traveled the 50 miles from Edinburgh for the show and you can imagine her outrage to find out her stuff had been rummaged through - not to mention the delays this caused her in getting home.

The police reckon it was an inside job and, if so, the least that will happen to the person is that they'll be handed their P45 and probably not be able to get a decent job again. The 17 or so other folks that were affected by this will have them up on criminal charges too. FWIW, I have a sneaky suspicion it might have been one of the tour crew; don't ask me why, but I reckon that might have been the case.

I don't know about chopping off of hands ;P but I'm all for custodial sentences; the issue at stake will be how much of what was stolen will be recovered and the value of the missing items. The b*stard managed to nick £300 of CF cards in one fell swoop and there's no telling what else they made off with.

As for the loss of the cards, well - I need to speak to my insurer on Monday to see how best to proceed. I'm more inclined to claim the venue for their loss since doing so won't affect my future insurance etc.

The only upside to this whole tale is I got at least 40 cracking shots out out of around 200 or so taken... 30 were wired to my larger agency (camerapress.com) and 10 off to the smaller one (xposurephotos.com) - so now I just have to wait and see who pickes them up in the rags and mags

[Sonsey]

Sorry to hear about this mate, at least you seem to be completely covered for costs if not for the major hastle. With any luck the return's from the photos will make it a worthwhile job after all.

[Dave]

Sorry to hear of that. Years ago I attended a Pink Floyd concert in the Isle of Dogs & tried to sneak a Yashica compact in with me. I was sussed & told to book the camera in to security, which I did & had a ticket. At the end of the gig when I handed my ticket back over I was told the camera had mysterously disappeared . Claimed on their insureance for that one.

[Steve]

Sorry to read this and it would really upset me if it were my equipment that had been stolen Like you have already suggested I would claim of their insurance rather than your own so it will have no effect on your future insurance premiums. I also agree it has to be an inside job, the fact that the bags and other stuff were found in a corridor that had no CC coverage screams to much of a coincidence for it not to be.

[VikingPhotography]

Update:

I got a call from the venue asking how much the missing items (2 x 4GB CF cards) were worth... I told them £150 each which is the average retail value for Extreme III CF cards.

They said they'd be sending me a letter in the next few days with an offer to settle my loss and, once I've signed the letter and returned it to them, they'd issue a cheque for the amount stated in the offer;
hopefully this means they're going to pony up the full £300 worth for the cards - all the better since this means I don't have to claim on my own insurance and thus lose my 30% no claims discount.

[stepheno]

Hope you get a good result. It'll be nice to get £300 but better that you don't have to claim off your own policy

[Steve]

I am glad that they are taking steps to replace your stolen cards finally. I wonder what would happen to the people that would not be able to replace the cards themselves in the time it has taken the venue to come up with the goods.

[Sonsey]

Originally Posted by Steve

I wonder what would happen to the people that would not be able to replace the cards themselves in the time it has taken the venue to come up with the goods.

One word by the looks of it... "Unlucky"

[VikingPhotography]

I received a letter from the venue today with a settlement offer of £260 total for the loss of my spare memory cards. I'll be accepting the offer since it's only £40 lower than the average retail value of the cards (which could be bought online for less) and it also means I don't need to claim my own insurance. Not too bad all things considered, so I'll call this a good result.

[Sonsey]

Glad it worked out reasonably well for you