Berlinman Posted May 25, 2014 Share #1 Posted May 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) On 05/23/2014 the following item were stolen in Barcelona: Leica M240 black Nr. 04444453 with EVF-2, brown half case, thumbie... Leica Super-Elmar-M 1:3,4/21mm Asph. Nr. 04181335 Leica Summicron-M 1:1,4/50mm Asph. Nr. 04214491 Leica Summicron-M 1:2,0/90mm Asph. Nr. ?? Leica Apo-Telyt-R 1:3,4/180mm Nr. 2814981 Leica R-M-Adapter all together in a brown Dothebag mono_5. I can say: be very careful in Barcelona - very nice city, but.. Unfortunately my SD-Cards with the pictures are stolen too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted May 25, 2014 Posted May 25, 2014 Hi Berlinman, Take a look here Stolen M240 in Barcelona. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
mca Posted May 25, 2014 Share #2 Posted May 25, 2014 That's very unfortunate Was it in the street or from the hotel? If you share the details on how it happened, maybe it serves as advice to everyone else when travelling to big cities like Barcelona to be more vigilant in certain types of situations. In the mean time, I hope you can find your things soon, maybe they'll show up on eBay or something. I have often thought about this: Leica should provide a kind of database where you could report stolen cameras and lenses. When I buy something used, especially lenses, from a private person on eBay or on camera foruns, how can one know for sure if the item is not stolen? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manolo Laguillo Posted May 25, 2014 Share #3 Posted May 25, 2014 I'm very sorry to hear this... Did you have an insurance? I hope so. I do live in Barcelona, and I agree with you regarding thieves. They have developed very clever and/or violent techniques. For instance: 1. Two perfectly well dressed gentlemen are sitting in a trendy cafeteria, and behave like absolutely normal tourists, taking pictures from each other, etc. In reality they are watching the customers, because they want to pick that woman's bag which is hanging on the back of her chair. They do it so well, that the woman notices her bag has gone long time after the two thieves abandoned the cafeteria. They have a good eye, and know in advance which bag is the best one. 2. A friend of mine could catch the thieve after he grabbed her camera bag which was on the floor between her legs, with the strap around her ankle (!!!), only because the waiter was on the thieve's way. These two examples happened in connection with people living in Barcelona, and in surroundings with not so much foreign visitors. The tourists are exposed to a much greater risk. Please understand me well: I am not saying: "do refrain from visiting this city", quite on the contrary. Only that great attention must be given when strolling through certain parts of Barcelona. La Sagrada Familia is one of them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berlinman Posted May 25, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted May 25, 2014 I was sitting in a Café with a friend on a little place near the opera. I had the camera bag between my feet. One moment I had a bad feeling, looked down ... and the bag was stolen. My friend beside me looked in my direction the whole time. I send all numbers to Leica. I think they had a database for that. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manolo Laguillo Posted May 25, 2014 Share #5 Posted May 25, 2014 Berlinman, I would do the following if still in the city: At 10 am (they open at this time) I would go personally to the Leica Shop in Barcelona, and would inform them. They do speak english. The shop name's: Casanova The address: Ronda Universitat 35. It's very near the Barça Shop, which is at the corner of Rambla Catalunya and Ronda Universitat. A friend of mine, a seasoned photojournalist, was robbed of his camera bag a couple of years ago in exactly the same way... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wogg Posted May 26, 2014 Share #6 Posted May 26, 2014 I know it's too late, but one strategy I have for cafes is to run the bag strap under the table or chair leg nearest me. That way there is no way to grab and run without having to lift chair or table, or detach strap. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted May 26, 2014 Share #7 Posted May 26, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Inform the police . It's possible there is CCTV footage near the cafe and they might be able to identify the thieves. If you are still in Barcelona, maybe go back to the site and ask about CCTV coverage in the area. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted May 26, 2014 Share #8 Posted May 26, 2014 Could someone please pm me the best contact at Leica to get something added to this database? Unfortunately I had a lens stolen last year, so while it's not an entire kit it really made me feel bad. Best of luck replacing your kit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted May 26, 2014 Share #9 Posted May 26, 2014 CCTV is so cheap these days. I live in Korea and everyone has cameras mounted on their windscreens recording the road ahead on a loop which goes onto an SD card. Great if your in a not at fault accident... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sgm311 Posted May 26, 2014 Share #10 Posted May 26, 2014 Oh my... Sorry for your lost Berlinman... Now I'm not so sure anymore to bring my M 240 + Nocti around Europe for travel :confused: Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DigitalHeMan Posted May 26, 2014 Share #11 Posted May 26, 2014 Oh my... Sorry for your lost Berlinman... Now I'm not so sure anymore to bring my M 240 + Nocti around Europe for travel :confused: Why not? If you choose to only use your camera where there aren't any thefts, you won't ever take any photos..... Just get good insurance instead Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
2wk Posted May 26, 2014 Share #12 Posted May 26, 2014 Inform the police . It's possible there is CCTV footage near the cafe and they might be able to identify the thieves. If you are still in Barcelona, maybe go back to the site and ask about CCTV coverage in the area. Agreed, the value of your goods was/is equivalent to a car. This is grand theft and I hope taken seriously. I'm sorry for your loss. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carduelis Posted May 26, 2014 Share #13 Posted May 26, 2014 I am sorry to hear about your loss and hope you can recover your equipment some way. About 25 years ago when I was on a business trip to Barcelona, I had a briefcase stolen which was resting against my chair whilst outdoors at a restaurant. Suggest you persevere travelling with your camera but try and be alert at all times particularly in crowded places. I often put my arms and legs through twisted straps of my rucksack when stationary and keep compartments zippered up at all times. I have double zips and can attach a small padlock to the zips as they come together. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamriman Posted May 27, 2014 Share #14 Posted May 27, 2014 I feel your pain. A few years back my house was robbed and all that was taken was my Leica and other camera equipment. I wish you the best of luck and hope you get your gear replaced soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
algrove Posted May 27, 2014 Share #15 Posted May 27, 2014 I also feel your pain especially since about one or two years ago I advised against going to that city in that the thieves are much more organized than in most. You are a target the moment you enter the city. The blame of all this thievery is probably due to the failure of the police who deleted my file since it was over Euros5 k in theft, the judges who give little or no sentencing and also the politicians who do not enact tough theft laws. Did you file a report at one of the 20 police stations? I waited over 2 hours in line with others who had many things stolen that same morning as I. The thieves follow you with cell phones passing you off to the next group until they can strike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted May 29, 2014 Share #16 Posted May 29, 2014 Inform the police . It's possible there is CCTV footage near the cafe and they might be able to identify the thieves. If you are still in Barcelona, maybe go back to the site and ask about CCTV coverage in the area. Sadly it's not that simple. I was having a sandwich and a smoothie at the Starbucks behind Sagrada Familia and had my camera bag on the floor, leaning against my leg. And this was the small room inside the Starbucks, I was not seated in the main area close to the entrance. I bent forward to take a bite from my gf's sandwich and leaned back to notice my bag was gone. 1 camera and 4 lenses. I immediately asked the people around if they saw anything - no luck. I clearly remember a guy and a woman sitting at the next table, behind a floor to ceiling thick stone pillar (which in hindsight would have shielded them from the CCTV for most of the time) and both were wearing dark sunglasses. I asked the manager to look at the CCTV footage and he said I need to file a police complaint and only the police could access the footage. So I called the cops who arrived 45 minutes later, complained about the stolen gear and told them to check the footage. The cops then said they have to file a request with the local court and the judge has to give permission only after which they can view the footage. I was flying out in 2 days and I wasn't insured but I learned my lesson. I was well aware of Rome and Barcelona but this was my stupidity/overconfidence. Keep your bag in your lap. Don't even leave your stuff on the table as they will grab it and run away. As somebody already said, they usually operate in groups. So watch out for ... whatever you dan watch out for. This is probably their main preoccupation and being a distracted tourist makes you an easy and lucrative target. Of late, there are reports of physical violence (punches/kicks) around the bylanes of Ramblas so try to travel in numbers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted May 29, 2014 Share #17 Posted May 29, 2014 Holy shit, that's terrible. I would have tried to bribe the cafe owner, but I'm really sorry about your loss. I lost a lens not insured this year as well so I know how it feels, even though it wasn't a whole kit or camera body. I'm really sorry for you. Sadly it's not that simple. I was having a sandwich and a smoothie at the Starbucks behind Sagrada Familia and had my camera bag on the floor, leaning against my leg. And this was the small room inside the Starbucks, I was not seated in the main area close to the entrance. I bent forward to take a bite from my gf's sandwich and leaned back to notice my bag was gone. 1 camera and 4 lenses. I immediately asked the people around if they saw anything - no luck. I clearly remember a guy and a woman sitting at the next table, behind a floor to ceiling thick stone pillar (which in hindsight would have shielded them from the CCTV for most of the time) and both were wearing dark sunglasses. I asked the manager to look at the CCTV footage and he said I need to file a police complaint and only the police could access the footage. So I called the cops who arrived 45 minutes later, complained about the stolen gear and told them to check the footage. The cops then said they have to file a request with the local court and the judge has to give permission only after which they can view the footage. I was flying out in 2 days and I wasn't insured but I learned my lesson. I was well aware of Rome and Barcelona but this was my stupidity/overconfidence. Keep your bag in your lap. Don't even leave your stuff on the table as they will grab it and run away. As somebody already said, they usually operate in groups. So watch out for ... whatever you dan watch out for. This is probably their main preoccupation and being a distracted tourist makes you an easy and lucrative target. Of late, there are reports of physical violence (punches/kicks) around the bylanes of Ramblas so try to travel in numbers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted May 29, 2014 Share #18 Posted May 29, 2014 Very sorry to hear of your loss. It is something that can happen, especially in any tourist area, and Barcelona is one of the major tourist concentrations on the planet, which makes the chance of being a pickpocket/bag grabber target very real. In general Spanish cities including Madrid and Barcelona are very safe places to be, with remarkably low violent and sexual crime rates, so this is not a reason not to visit. This link gives good tips to be safe. Additionally for Leica: Get a solid extra long camera strap like Gordy’s that will allow you to carry your camera bandolier style, diagonally. The strap on Billingham bags will allow this too. That, and not having Nikon or Canon plastered all over your bag and strap will help divert attention elsewhere. Leicas are not the most sought after targets, as they are more difficult to sell off. But when opportunity is seen it will be taken…. And, of course, never travel without insurance. Anywhere. Once again, I am very sorry to hear about your loss, but I sincerely hope it will not put you off using your Leica for travel in the future. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted May 29, 2014 Share #19 Posted May 29, 2014 Holy shit, that's terrible.I would have tried to bribe the cafe owner, but I'm really sorry about your loss. I lost a lens not insured this year as well so I know how it feels, even though it wasn't a whole kit or camera body. I'm really sorry for you. Lesson learnt the hard way ... Thank you for the sympathy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGodParticle/Hari Posted May 29, 2014 Share #20 Posted May 29, 2014 Very sorry to hear of your loss. It is something that can happen, especially in any tourist area, and Barcelona is one of the major tourist concentrations on the planet, which makes the chance of being a pickpocket/bag grabber target very real. In general Spanish cities including Madrid and Barcelona are very safe places to be, with remarkably low violent and sexual crime rates, so this is not a reason not to visit. This link gives good tips to be safe. Additionally for Leica: Get a solid extra long camera strap like Gordy’s that will allow you to carry your camera bandolier style, diagonally. The strap on Billingham bags will allow this too. That, and not having Nikon or Canon plastered all over your bag and strap will help divert attention elsewhere. Leicas are not the most sought after targets, as they are more difficult to sell off. But when opportunity is seen it will be taken…. And, of course, never travel without insurance. Anywhere. Once again, I am very sorry to hear about your loss, but I sincerely hope it will not put you off using your Leica for travel in the future. I've been to Barcelona a few more times since but I just downplay the "flashiness" now - no bright colored camera straps or fancy looking camera bag. Logo taped over till I'm back in my hometown. I make it a point to put my camera inside the bag while I'm still in the taxi so I don't waltz into a cafe/restaurant with the camera around my neck. I try to travel with only one body and two lenses - typically the (black) M9 with the (black) 35FLE and 75Lux (only black AFAIK) I used to carry two bodies and 4-5 lenses but if I have to spend most of my time worrying, it's a damper. So i get my camera serviced before I go for vacation and rely on just one body which is (hopefully) in perfect working order. Thank you for the sympathy Jaap Barfelona (intended) is a wonderful city and a little precaution and being paranoid like hell surely makes for a memorable trip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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