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Great Challenge but sad end


lanetomlane

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Ouch, that's the last thing we need to have happen. Were you still in Portugal or back in the UK by then?  Hope that the insurance will cover it all.

 

Thanks for the serial nos.  I recommend that you let Leica Germany know - contact Andrea Frankl in Customer Service.

 

I'll pass the nos. on to Ivor at RDC as well.

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That's most upsetting news Tom. I can only wish you eventually recover the gear or hopefully insurance. As for the winning night shot, clearly you had it. That was what the thief really wanted! Best wishes from Melanie and me.

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Firstly, many thanks for your kind comments which have been most appreciated.

 

For anyone who may be interested here's the full story and the outcome.

 

We had gone to the village of Obidos, north of Lisbon and I had just taken the M and 35mm, leaving the camera bag in the boot (trunk) of the car. We were gone about two hours and when we got back to the car I opened the boot to put the M back in the bag and couldn't believe that the bag was gone. There was no visible damage to the car but the police said if I looked closely there would be a small hole drilled near the lock. It was raining and I couldn't be bothered to look. When I returned the car at the airport the rental company inspected the car but they mustn't have noticed anything as they never commented. (The police did say this happens, as the thieves know the rental cars, know that people are touring and that there will be valuables in the boot.)

 

Anyway, everything has turned out okay. I rang the insurance company and they wanted a quote for replacing everything ..... turned out to be £19,980.00. They rang me the following day and said the maximum pay-out for items stolen from a car is £10,000; which I had to agree to. I rang Stephens Premier (I've dealt with them for over 40 years) and they did me a deal. £10,000 for a mint S/H Monochrom, a mint 90mm F2.8 and their ex-demo f0.95 Noctilux, which I thought was very generous. I also bought a new APO 75mm, so I'm now back to full strength.

 

I also discovered yesterday that I didn't have the 16-18-21 stolen, as I'd taken it out of the bag before we left UK, as I didn't think I'd use it and didn't want the extra weight. Couldn't believe it when I opened a draw and it was there. Didn't tell the insurance company as even without it the rest of the gear was worth more than the £10,000 they paid out.

 

Best regards

 

 

Tom

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The other thing to add, is that thankfully the SatNav, which was on the windscreen wasn't taken. If it had have been, we may still be driving round Lisbon looking for the hotel, as I didn't have the address with me.

 

It was also fortunate that I'd removed my Passport and Cash from the bag, on Saturday morning, before the actual challenge.

 

It is however unfortunate that the winning Nighttime Challenge shot has been lost for ever.  :)  ;)  :p

 

Cheers, Tom

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Good to see, that the damage was limited. I have the suspicion, that SatNavs have no value any more, since most people nagivate with their phones anyhow.

 

(Off-topic: Some time ago, I started to find my way with maps again, using the phone as a backup only, in case I really get lost. I had the feeling I was losing my sense of direction due to lack of training. Apart from that, I have always found maps fascinating.)

 

Stefan

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It's a relief you have managed to get back your standard gear: Stephens Premier did really good by you.

 

 

Yes, Stephens Premier really did good by me. I guess it's one advantage of building up a long term relationship with one dealer.

 

Regards, Tom

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I'm glad that it's worked out well-ish for you, Tom.  It's interesting to hear about the small hole drilled in the boot to gain entry, that's a new one for me.  Perhaps leave your pet tiger in the boot next time.  ;)

 

Pete.

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Sorry to hear about this, Tom. It was the expression 'sad end' that caught my eye. Unfortunately, most cars are far too easy to break into. In the mountains of County Wicklow, near where I live, the normal advice given to people who park at forestry carparks is not to leave anything on view, but if it is easy as drilling a small hole then leaving anything in a car is a risk. Motor manufacturers need to step up to the plate on this one.

 

I am delighted that everything turned out pretty well on the equipment/cost aspect.

 

Best Wishes

 

William

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Glad to hear that - more or less - everything has worked out well for you.

 

"but if it is easy as drilling a small hole then leaving anything in a car is a risk. Motor manufacturers need to step up to the plate on this one."

 

Indeed, I had not heard of this one before, is nothing safe nowadays?

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Apologies for the hair-splitting remark, but nothing has ever been completely safe, which I find somewhat comforting - I find it sufficient, to apply reasonable safety measures, and if this still fails, so be it. Paranoia is not going to save one, since then completely unlikely failures appear.

 

As a side note, since I rent cars rather than owning one, I can spot a rental car a mile agains the wind...

 

Stefan

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Hi Luis

 

Many thanks for your kind thoughts and offer to look out for the equipment on the secondhand market; both of which are greatly appreciated.

 

The equipment was: -

 

Monochrom (Type 246) - S/N 4831833

 

75mm APO-Summicron - S/N 4044946

 

50mm Summilux - S/N 4187920

 

16-18-21 Tri-Elmar - S/N 4008111

 

90mm Elmarit - S/N 3711130

 

Many thanks & kind regards

 

Tom

 

Really sorry to hear it, you must be devastated, I know I would be. It's not consolation I know but I've started backing up my files to an Ipad on holiday so at least I have it in two places then uploading any special pics to the cloud if possible. 

 

I've passed on your S/N on to a friend in Porto to keep an eye out. 

 

Rob

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm glad that it's worked out well-ish for you, Tom.  It's interesting to hear about the small hole drilled in the boot to gain entry, that's a new one for me.  Perhaps leave your pet tiger in the boot next time.  ;)

 

Pete.

Black Mamba - works even better ;) I always like to hear a story with a relatively happy end, Tom.

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