Do you lock your kit up?

You have to secure the outer perimeter - locking things inside the house just means they will make a hell of a mess to get it!
 
OK, well here's a completely different take.
I keep mine in the trunk of my car.
I never, EVER, show a camera anywhere in the neighborhood. No one knows what I do.
If I need a camera out of the car, I'll drive several blocks away to get one out, put in in a grocery bag and return home
This has worked for over 20 years of shooting, never been robbed.

Cheers!

Andrew
TheDiscerningPhotographer
 
I live 3 floors up - so the chances of a through the window burglary are slim. The only access is through the front door, which is double locked, using the highest standard insurance approved mortice lock. If I'm out and my kit is in - all internal doors also have locks - and these get activated. Power to light switches is turned off - and the alarm set. IP CCTV is streaming 24 hours with IR cams - so pictures whether it's day or night.

If they get past that lot - they deserve the camera.
 
awp said:
You have to secure the outer perimeter - locking things inside the house just means they will make a hell of a mess to get it!
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Quite right - I was once told never to lock internal doors as it's just more damage for you to replace after they've got into the premises - and once they're in they'll make as much noise as they like - no-one will notice...

If I'm not in the house, the cameras will be with me anyway...
Plus I live in Germany - the only people robbing properties round our way (very conservative neighbourhood, one could almost say Na-aaa.. - but no...we don't want to go there...) are Turks and Ukrainians...that may smack of 'profiling', but it's sadly true...

Anyone looking out of place gets noticed. Everyone round my way knows about the angry Englishman with the loud American car ("Das ist ein veil auto...hammer!").

Plus the houses - built in the 1930's - are almost bomb-proof (and some are in reality bomb-proof, I think...talk about forward planning...lol)...Take some effort to get in.
 
we are moving and building a studio. We will be installing a "strong cupboard" - concrete blocks, steel door... enough to deter anyone unprepared. The Strong cupboard will house the cameras, PC's, Macs and NAS's etc.. Door dependant, it will also be flood proof

Obviously this will include PIR's and alarms
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by treeman
I only mentioned that as I have one (I have to have a shotgun for work), and in moments of paranoia I've managed to stash my camera and lenses in there. Ultimately it would only be a stalling tactic, as you could get in there with a bit of effort.
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A lot of effort surely, that being the point of a Police Approved Gun Cabinet. Plus I'd imagine if they were trying to get in the Gun Safe they'd be more interested in the shooter than your kit which would be a nice "extra". Although if you were to have 2 Gun Safes 1 for the Camera gear and 1 for the shooter(s) I'm sure your FEO would be quite pleased as anyone breaking in would have to pick which cabinet to break into and get a 50:50 chance of getting it right. Or even better split the gun across two cabinets and your kit across 2 cabinets so that they's have to get in to both to get the gun and all your kit.
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Ok, I've never tried breaking in to my gun cabinet, but to be honest, it don't look that strong. And actually any burglar with a brain knows not to touch firearms, as this immediately launches a major man hunt, as opposed to the usual Police line "sorry mate, maybe you should get some better locks".

Back to topic, anyone know how much space there usually is under the floorboards of an upstairs room? (before I start ripping things up).:)
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Depends on age of house, floor span blah blah blah...

Should be a least 6" joists, so you have 6" but you might have cables, pipes, insulation taking up all the space!

treeman said:
Ok, I've never tried breaking in to my gun cabinet, but to be honest, it don't look that strong. And actually any burglar with a brain knows not to touch firearms, as this immediately launches a major man hunt, as opposed to the usual Police line "sorry mate, maybe you should get some better locks".

Back to topic, anyone know how much space there usually is under the floorboards of an upstairs room? (before I start ripping things up).:)
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artyman said:
But if you should catch a burglar nicking your gear he will probably get away with it if you clobber him http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...wielding-burglar-jailed-intruder-let-off.html

Flipping worlds gone mad, if you don't want to get clobbered don't break into houses. Judges are stupid or so it seems. I agree the guy may have overreacted but when your family is threatened by this sort of low life he deserved what he got.
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if i remember rightly youre allowed to defend yourself, however if the burgalar/attacker is retreating you are not allowed to persue. chasing the attacker and whacking them a few times with a cricket bat, no matter how tempting, will land you in trouble.

but i agree in that case the burgalar should of been jailed.
 
You are allowed to use "such force as is reasonable in the circumstances"

Of course that is decided at your trial by a bunch of people sitting down. Not by you in the heat of the moment with adrenaline pumping everywhere as your fight or flight mechanism kicks in.

Basically you can counter the amount of force they use and you can chase them off, but you can't shoot them in the back a la Tony Martin.
 
I have ... slightly more kit to worry about than the average photographer.

So, first off we don't tell anyone where it all is. Customers who hire from us send the lenses back to a mailbox, and customers who come to collect in person meet us at the lcoal coffee shop (not a "chain" shop, run by Italiams, best coffee in town!!!) rather than at the office.

Then:
- everything is kept in locked cupboards which are locked when the office is closed
- the blinds are always drawn when there's nobody in the office
- the office has an alarm system
- the building has a different alarm system
- and there are tigers in the grounds

I'm sure a really determined thief could find a way round all that (though he'll probably need to bring along a sacrifical goat to keep the tigers busy), but hopefully it will deter the casual burglar. So far, so good....!
 
I think I'm just going to have to find a bullet proof insurance company that will cover me, even though I don't have mortice locks, double glazing with locks and my dog would welcome you with open paws for tummy tickle. :)
 
NorthernNikon said:
How long's a piece of string?

It depends on your age, your eployment, where you live, how many claims you've had etc etc etc.
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I realise that, just that my family were recently held hostage,whilst i was forced to open the PO safe, none of our possesions were taken, and only having business insurance i thought it prudent to cover the house seperately, even with the burglary, the primium was only 270 quid, with all the camera/hifi equipement item listed, which i didnt think was too bad
 
Looking around atm, I have my camera and 50-500 mounted on the tripod at back of dining room, 3 lenses sitting out on coffee table in sitting room(cleaned them last night and not put them away yet) 2 pretty nondescript camera bags sitting in dining room almost empty apart from flashes, filters etc....

You lot are making me paranoid now. :lol:

Tommy.
 
EdinburghGary said:
Absolutely, I have a little fob, when I lock the front door, I activate all the perimeter alarms in the house. Burglaries can happen when you are at home too :)

Gary.
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they can indeed.. I was burgled by some scrote who just walked into my house in the middle of the day, the kids (both adults) were upstairs.. grabbed a laptop, phone and camera plus sons bike from garden.. (which is probably what brought them in initially then chanced their luck on trying the door which was unlocked)

in an out in minutes, son had only called back for a few mins so hadn't locked bike up.. good job he didnt come face to face with whoever it was, would have been murder!

neighbour watched this lad roll bike out of garden, saw someone on the corner watching out and did booger all about it :suspect:

anyway.. dont have expensive kit but its hidden out of the way when not in use :)
 
I used Imaging Insurance, and I verballu confirmed various scenarios on the phone with them. Whilst I have not even looked at the small print, at least what I was told was reassuring.

It cost me just over £400 for the year for approx £15K worth of stuff, covered both at home and in the shop, against theft, accidental damage, loss...it includes public liability, professional indemnity, it covers my kit in the motorhome and car when I am traveling, AND if out of site in the vehicle (but on it's own).

I have had the chance to test them once, I left my tripod on the beach - completely brain fart, they covered for the cost of a new one, no problems at all. I like to think of it as the STUPID clause :D Stupidity Cover if you will.

Highly recommended.

Gary.
 
mich66 said:
they can indeed.. I was burgled by some scrote who just walked into my house in the middle of the day, the kids (both adults) were upstairs.. grabbed a laptop, phone and camera plus sons bike from garden.. (which is probably what brought them in initially then chanced their luck on trying the door which was unlocked)

in an out in minutes, son had only called back for a few mins so hadn't locked bike up.. good job he didnt come face to face with whoever it was, would have been murder!

neighbour watched this lad roll bike out of garden, saw someone on the corner watching out and did booger all about it :suspect:

anyway.. dont have expensive kit but its hidden out of the way when not in use :)
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My setup might seem paranoid, but like you have just described, it proves you can never be too careful.

My neighbor over the road, this is a few days before I got my security installed (and the reason I did), thieves got into his house in the middle of the night, and took FOUR of his cars. A nice XK8, two 4x4's and an old Astra banger. He discovered the next morning and had heard nothing. Rumour has it that he forgot to lock his front door, and we are pretty certain this is the case...but still, it gave me a fright.

About 3 months later, I must have forgotten to lock my car. Next morning, got in the car to find EVERYTHING thrown all over the place. They had searched in vein as I never leave valuables, but I was lucky the car never went (Elise).

So whilst I have been lucky so far, not taking ANY chances. I hate *******s who steal, and if I did catch one, I would insert the sharpest and biggest object to hand, in their face. Twice. :D

Gary.
 
EdinburghGary said:
I have had the chance to test them once, I left my tripod on the beach - completely brain fart, they covered for the cost of a new one, no problems at all. I like to think of it as the STUPID clause :D Stupidity Cover if you will.
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Hope that wasn't your £800 tripod......
 
I just wear my Ninja ghi, not had a problem yet.....
 
More important than the actual kit are the serial numbers/receipts, originals kept in fireproof safe with copies in other semi secure places. Without this info insurance is not a lot of use.

Nigel.
 
Seismic sensors on every window and door, multiple locks, digital CCTV, monitored alarm, dog, browning 12 gauge, beretta 20 gauge.

in a sleepy Cheshire village
 
ryanyboy said:
After last week's events I've just bought 3 rottweilers, a burglar alarm, 2 german shepherds, pepper-spray, baseball bats, infrared triggers etc etc.
Just in case they are reading......
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Oh thats overkill, I just joined the army and took my kit with me :clap:

Barney
 
Burglers are professionals in finding hidden things.
It is what they do.

You can make it not worth their while with safes and security , but you can not stop them.

If you make it easy they simply help them selves.
... and they come back for more when it has been replaced....
 
Mines locked away in my gun cabinet when it's not in use, keeps it free from condensation too..
 
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