TSA agent steals $200K worth of gear..

(dcervenka) · (dcervenka) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 10-29-2008, 12:55 AM

TSA agent steals $200K worth of gear, resells it on eBay

"Finally busted, police discovered an inventory of 66 cameras, 31 laptops, assorted jewelry, and more when they searched his home"

"His latest haul: A near-$50,000 camera that an HBO employee had been traveling with"

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/107092

(wakesurf12) · (wakesurf12) **Join Date: Jun 2003** 10-29-2008, 5:33 AM

Hmm.... it's a good thing I carry on my cameras... Always. That isn't fun to read though.

(steezyshots) · (steezyshots) **Join Date: Feb 2008** 10-29-2008, 9:08 AM

Always Carry on your cameras!

(homedawg678) · (homedawg678) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 10-29-2008, 6:47 PM

Did he really think he could get away with selling it on Ebay?

(antbug) · (antbug) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 10-30-2008, 11:21 AM

yeah, who would check in 3k worth of gear let alone a 50k camera?

That's just nuts.

X3 for always carry on your cameras.

(scott_a) · (scott_a) **Join Date: Dec 2002** 10-30-2008, 1:06 PM

"yeah, who would check in 3k worth of gear let alone a 50k camera?"

What do you do when you can't carry it all with you?

Has anyone looked into FedEx'ing their gear instead of checking it in? With all the talk of airlines charging for 2nd carry-on's, I think I might look into mailing my gear next time (which would then be trackable, lockable, insured, etc)...

(dcervenka) · (dcervenka) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 10-30-2008, 1:07 PM

Is it just me or do Scott's posts keep disappearing... I get them over email, but when I check the thread they are not here..

It's definitely disconcerning that this sort of stuff is happening even after the heighten security at all the airports. Either way common sense says don't let your valuables out of your possession and if you do.. ship them via UPS or FEDEX and insure then for their value (insurance is pretty cheap.. something like $8 for $1200 worth of gear.)

This is good reading for those who travel (or plan to) with their gear: http://thinktankphoto.com/airport/

(dakid) · (dakid) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 10-30-2008, 1:35 PM

can you even hand-carry a $50k camera on-board?

(scott_a) · (scott_a) **Join Date: Dec 2002** 10-30-2008, 2:19 PM

haha...wtf? I dunno...and when I opened up my laptop and clicked on the A/V forum to check this thread it opened with the full text of my previous post in this box. Weird. I blame the weather!

(antbug) · (antbug) **Join Date: Jul 2004** 10-30-2008, 4:11 PM

I guess you wouldn't be able too, but I would never check it in. I guess advance shipping insured is the way to go at that point.

(dcervenka) · (dcervenka) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 10-30-2008, 4:24 PM

btw - I just checked my UPS statement and it shows that to insure my jib arm for $1200 was $10.80.

Scott - The weather must "really" suck where you're at then. :-p

Joe - Probably not.. but then again a lot of the studio camera guys don't own the cameras so they are probably a little bit more relaxed than us.

kc700 10-30-2008, 5:01 PM

thats why whenever i go on shoots I only bring my disposable hd cam. so rad.

(mammoth) · (mammoth) **Join Date: Apr 2005** 10-31-2008, 7:30 AM

Strobist had a post about this exploit a while back, but it seems to have vanished. Check your gear in a locked case along with a gun...

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/09/expensive_camer.html