davehendley Posted January 16, 2014 Share #1 Posted January 16, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Despite being all too aware of the city's reputation I had my precious M9 stolen last Sunday in Rome along with my beloved 28mm Elmarit (a companion for 28 years) and 28mm finder. The theft occurred on a very crowded bus (classic scenario) and the camera was very expertly fished from out of my Billingham bag. The Hadley Pro is great in normal circumstances but has no zip and is too easy to access - Ironically this ease of opening is why I normally use this bag. The M9 is black (the paint is polished like an MP) with a black dot and red soft release. It is brassed here and there particularly on the base plate. It has a distinctive dent on the right hand side of the top deck where I bounced it out of a cab in Tokyo. It is wearing an Artist & Artisan's olive green web strap with red leather trim and the serial number is 4200963. Unfortunately I don't seem to have a record of the lens s/no. The camera, lens and viewfinder can be seen here on Tokyo Camera Style. Thought it was worth posting here in case anyone is offered this camera. Thanks for reading! - Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 16, 2014 Posted January 16, 2014 Hi davehendley, Take a look here M9 stolen in Rome!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
wda Posted January 16, 2014 Share #2 Posted January 16, 2014 Dave, that is devastating news. I am sorry. I hope you reported it to local police and obtained a record of that fact. Also report the theft to your insurance company and Leica who will record the serial numbers and last ownership. Although not always possible, I avoid all crowd/crush situations because you lose most personal sensory warning signals against a noisy vibrating background. But that won't help you retrieve your M9. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wattsy Posted January 17, 2014 Share #3 Posted January 17, 2014 the camera was very expertly fished from out of my Billingham bag. The Hadley Pro is great in normal circumstances but has no zip and is too easy to access - Ironically this ease of opening is why I normally use this bag. That's bad luck, sorry to hear about the theft. Just out of interest, did you have your Billingham buckled up when the camera was nicked or did the thief stick his or her hand under a completely loose flap? I often wonder about the security against casual theft offered by the quick-release straps that Billingham use. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 17, 2014 Share #4 Posted January 17, 2014 ... First of all, my deep regrets for your loss. Yes, there are some bus routes in Rome, which are notorious for pickpockets, for example the bus from center to Trastevere. Similarly, the often crowded suburban trains are at an increased risk. However, pickpockets can easily disappear from busses because of the more frequent stops. Therefore one should avoid at all to act like a potential victim. Walking around with a noble Billingham or Hadley camera bag, is almost an invitation for any pickpockets. All things needed for the photo trip are better transported in a simple, neutral looking daypack or a laptop backpack, whose covered zippers are protected with small locks against quick opening. This daypack is in crowded public transport not on the back, but in sight between the legs. The photo equipments have to be kept to a minimum. Only one camera body, two to a maximum of three lenses and a small pocket tripod, perhaps. Of course one should not take pictures before boarding at stations and bus stops, but only a few streets and squares later, after leaving the transport. Even more uncertain than in crowded buses, I felt however at an evening visit to the Trevi Fountain, overcrowded with people. Perhaps one should enjoy an evening there better without any camera. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moritz Posted January 17, 2014 Share #5 Posted January 17, 2014 Hello Dave, sorry for the loss. I have been robbed in Rome as well in 2011. It was at the train station Roma Termini, when a thief attacked me from behind, grapped and cut the strap of my black Leica Billingham with a Leica M7 a la carte and a Leica Summicron M-28 and all papers, passport, etc. You should email Leica the serialnumbers, so you get informed when your items will show up. Best Regards, Moritz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerard Posted January 17, 2014 Share #6 Posted January 17, 2014 Sad news. I hope you are reunited at some point Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm23221 Posted January 18, 2014 Share #7 Posted January 18, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I highly recommend Pacsafe products. Sorry for your loss. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 18, 2014 Share #8 Posted January 18, 2014 That's bad luck, sorry to hear about the theft. Just out of interest, did you have your Billingham buckled up when the camera was nicked or did the thief stick his or her hand under a completely loose flap? I often wonder about the security against casual theft offered by the quick-release straps that Billingham use.I carry Billingham bags the wrong way around with the buckles against my body in crowded situations. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted January 18, 2014 Share #9 Posted January 18, 2014 I highly recommend Pacsafe products. Sorry for your loss. Very sorry to hear of the theft. Awful. +1 on Pacsafe. Last time I was in Rome I used a small Pacsafe bag which held my DLux6 (with black taped dot) and which I bought specifically for the Rome trip. They are excellent products and in order to steal from them, the thief would need to physically part you from the bag, but could not do a 'slash and run' since the straps are slash proof, as are the bags. I have since used the bag whenever I travel light in cities, without my M stuff. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted January 18, 2014 Share #10 Posted January 18, 2014 I am sorry for your loss. I was in Rome with my kit in a Hadley Pro in November, but I avoided buses and rush hour travel in general. At the Trevi my bag was fastened and at the front. It is no worse than lots of other places, and better than many. My usual caveat on pacsafe, particularly in parts of Italy. If you really want to be dragged down the road behind a speeding moped until you are a bloody pulp, they are a grand idea... The best protections are keeping your wits about you, looking generally less gormless, preoccupied and easily targeted than the tourist beside you, and as a last resort, insurance. Sent from another Galaxy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 18, 2014 Share #11 Posted January 18, 2014 What does work though is the Billingham waist strap. It makes grab and run nearly impossible, even from a moped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcraf Posted January 18, 2014 Share #12 Posted January 18, 2014 My usual caveat on pacsafe, particularly in parts of Italy. If you really want to be dragged down the road behind a speeding moped until you are a bloody pulp, they are a grand idea... The best protections are keeping your wits about you, looking generally less gormless, preoccupied and easily targeted than the tourist beside you, and as a last resort, insurance. Sent from another Galaxy These savages are, of course, cowards, and rely on speed of attack, so the idea that they'd hold on to their prey when the initial 'slash and run' tactic didn't work seems unlikely to me. They'd be off to the next target. Still, even with a small discrete PacSafe, not waving it around and keeping it to the front makes sense. The trouble with Billinghams, sadly, is that they shout CAMERA!!!!, and to those in the know, DISTINCT POSSIBILITY OF A LEICA!!!! I also use a black Hadley Pro, which I think is as stealthy as a Billingham gets, but even with that I've noticed 'interested eyes' around London. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianUK Posted January 18, 2014 Share #13 Posted January 18, 2014 What a horrid and sad story. While in the great scheme of things, it's only equipment, nevertheless I know how devastated I would feel to lose my M6 TTL and 35 Summicron Asph, companions for thirteen years. Quite apart from the financial loss, there are a lot memories when one has equipment for a long time - just looking at my M6's dings and dents, reminds me of our history together. There is always a slim chance you'll be reunited: as has been mentioned, report the serial numbers to Leica. Good luck. You have my sympathy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
joeswe Posted January 18, 2014 Share #14 Posted January 18, 2014 What does work though is the Billingham waist strap. It makes grab and run nearly impossible, even from a moped. The best and easiest countermeasure against a motorized "scippo" in Italy is to not have the bag on the side of your body that is next to the road. After a day or so, you will do this automatically. There have been cases where people have been killed or severeley injured by being dragged along with their bag after a motorized scippo and I would advise against anything that attaches your bag permanently to your body. Billingham bags ... I assume these bags have a top position on the priority list of potential targets for pocket thieves and robbers at the tourist hotspots around Europe. If I owned one, I would leave it at home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 18, 2014 Share #15 Posted January 18, 2014 On my second last stay in Rome, I traveled as a supervisor and organist of a boys' choir. There was no difficulty to take some nice photos safely accompanied by some uniformed young men over 18 years of this boys' choir. The only difficulty was to find a gap to take pictures between the tall guys ... So never travel alone to Rome. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianUK Posted January 18, 2014 Share #16 Posted January 18, 2014 ...There have been cases where people have been killed or severeley injured by being dragged along with their bag after a motorized scippo and I would advise against anything that attaches your bag permanently to your body. Timely advice. Last year the wife of a good friend of mine was targeted by a couple of scooter thieves (in Paris), the pillion tried to pull off her shoulder bag by passing his arm through the shoulder strap while travelling at speed. She was dragged along the pavement, breaking her hip in two places and fracturing her elbow and wrist. Only this year has she recovered enough to be out of her wheelchair. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ansel_Adams Posted January 18, 2014 Share #17 Posted January 18, 2014 I wouldn't blame it on the bag. People are robbed on busses, in the tube, etc. etc. all the time and don't carry expensive camera bags with them. I had some possession stolen from a very cheap looking bag a few years ago at a coach station in the UK. When out and about I usually do not take a camera bag, but hang my M6 round my neck and keep it under my coat, which I zip up when not in use/if the weather turns bad, etc. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
davehendley Posted January 19, 2014 Author Share #18 Posted January 19, 2014 Many thanks for all the kind comments they are all very much appreciated. It's been really helpful to have such great support from the Leica community. I've been taking photographs since 1969 and have been in a few pretty dodgy places but was particularly anxious in regards to Rome. Problem with that city seems to be that you really only have to drop your guard momentarily. There's always an aspect of self blame when your are a victim of this sort of thing. If only I'd done this or that, not been there at time etc. Bottom line is that people shouldn't steal other people's stuff. I will sorely miss the M9, it's a great camera, but my priority is getting back a 28mm as it's a lens I use a lot. It's back to film for the foreseeable future though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LucisPictor Posted January 19, 2014 Share #19 Posted January 19, 2014 Oh no! I'm really sorry for you. Hope you will find a suitable replacement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 20, 2014 Share #20 Posted January 20, 2014 If you haven't already done so, report the camera and lens to Leica and to as many Leica dealers as you wish to (there's a list on the website). There's a good chance that the camera will find its way to a dealer at some point, offered for cash, or it will be returned to Leica for some repair/adjustment in the future and they will reunite you. Professional thieves are as good or better than magicians at diverting your attention to accomplish their task. I once 'lost' my wallet and phone from a coat pocket in a crowded bar. It's unlikely the same thing will happen to you again! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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