Stolen camera tracking

Mister Guy · 07-05-2009, 04:13 PM

After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere.

Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police?

**ManuH** · 07-05-2009, 04:18 PM

Originally posted by Mister Guy

I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere.

Try with PhotoME, it should report the serial#

EDIT: PhotoME only shows the internal serial# which is not the same as the one printed under the camera.

Duck Dodgers · 07-05-2009, 05:19 PM

I can't remember...is the serial number on the box? (Do you still have the box?)

Bummer, man. I had my car stolen years ago with my main "mother ship" camera bag in it...they got everything photographic I owned except a small worthless tripod. Since then I have religiously kept serial numbers, even emailing them to my self on gmail so I'll always have a copy of them.

Good luck with your recover effort; I know that sucks.

**pentaxman** · 07-05-2009, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by Mister Guy

After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere.

Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police?

The camera store you bought the camera from may have a record of the serial number they sold you. It's worth a try.

j2l3 · 07-05-2009, 05:47 PM

If you registered your camera, the manufacturer will have a record of the serial number.

blind-bat · 07-05-2009, 06:19 PM

Originally posted by ManuH

Try with PhotoME, it should report the serial#

EDIT: PhotoME only shows the internal serial# which is not the same as the one printed under the camera.

Use PhotoMe on a picture you have on off camera & one from the camera.

GLXLR · 07-05-2009, 06:23 PM

Originally posted by Mister Guy

After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere.

Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police?

Dang... that sucks.

But are you sure its not an excuse to get the K-7?

jkjkjkjk

Hope it all gets figured out. Why not try look through your yard ( like no1 thought of that

)

sebberry · 07-05-2009, 09:45 PM

Confront the neighbor, ask him if he saw anyone pick up or play with the camera. Watch his reaction carefully. Ask him if he saw anyone looking at it, browsing pictures on it, etc. Ask if he remembers anyone standing around the table. If all else fails, look really bumed out about it and tell him it was a gift from a family member and it meant a lot to you. Maybe he'll have a change of heart and it will show up on your doorstep one morning.

Pretty low-life thing for a neighbor to do

Arpe · 07-06-2009, 01:52 AM

I just read here that the army are micro-chipping all their rifles so they can track them. Would that add much to the cost of a camera?

Mister Guy · 07-06-2009, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by sebberry

Confront the neighbor, ask him if he saw anyone pick up or play with the camera. Watch his reaction carefully. Ask him if he saw anyone looking at it, browsing pictures on it, etc. Ask if he remembers anyone standing around the table. If all else fails, look really bumed out about it and tell him it was a gift from a family member and it meant a lot to you. Maybe he'll have a change of heart and it will show up on your doorstep one morning.

Pretty low-life thing for a neighbor to do

Low life isn't even the word. I'm convinced he took it and have absolutely no proof. There's a slip of paper in the box that I missed the first time that's a six or seven digit number that I THINK is the serial number. The card it's on says "This is a serial number card, not a warranty card", so I'm guessing that number is what I need. I'm pretty sure my odds of getting it back are slim to none. I'm going to the police substation near my house today to see what I can do.

The worst part is that this is the camera I was teaching my girlfriend to use a DSLR with, so it's got all her fourth of july pictures on it, including many of her nephew's first fourth of July -- his little one month old hands clenched on an American flag, etc. She's completely distraught and intimidated by the size of the K20D.

The one bright lining is that now I DO have an excuse to order a K-7, but I'm thinking the odds of being able to get one of the first shipment of them is unlikely at this point. Ordered from Adorama late last night and got a backorder notice today. She's going to visit her best friend in Vermont on Friday, and I was going to send the K110D with her. Hopefully I can put a K-7 in her hands by this weekend, because I'm guessing the size and feel of it will be more comfortable for her than the K20D.

**lawsonstone** · 07-06-2009, 07:39 AM

Your suspicions might be sufficient "probable cause" for the police to take out a search warrant for the neighbor's place looking for the camera.

noblepa · 07-06-2009, 11:22 AM

Originally posted by lawsonstone

Your suspicions might be sufficient "probable cause" for the police to take out a search warrant for the neighbor's place looking for the camera.

I'm not a lawyer, but with nothing more than his uncorroborated suspicion, I don't think he's even CLOSE to having probable cause. If a couple of guests were willing to swear that they saw the neighbor holding the camera, maybe.

Damn Brit · 07-06-2009, 12:20 PM

The bigger problem here is, whether true or not, that person will still be a neighbour.

sebberry · 07-06-2009, 12:32 PM

Originally posted by Damn Brit

The bigger problem here is, whether true or not, that person will still be a neighbour.

Reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace.

I still think going over there looking really upset about the lost camera and not revealing your suspicions through body language or tone of voice is the best way to get it back, if he in fact has it.

Some people who steal actually have a heart and will return the item anonymously once they realize how badly they hurt someone. I know, the chance is slim but I can't think of another way to actually talk to the person who took it and let him see your emotions.

Once you get the police involved you can bet he won't respond nicely.

You could even tell him that you were using it to teach someone photography and that hopefully the perp will have a change of heart and return it in the middle of the night.

Mister Guy · 07-06-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally posted by sebberry

Reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace.

I still think going over there looking really upset about the lost camera and not revealing your suspicions through body language or tone of voice is the best way to get it back, if he in fact has it.

Some people who steal actually have a heart and will return the item anonymously once they realize how badly they hurt someone. I know, the chance is slim but I can't think of another way to actually talk to the person who took it and let him see your emotions.

Once you get the police involved you can bet he won't respond nicely.

You could even tell him that you were using it to teach someone photography and that hopefully the perp will have a change of heart and return it in the middle of the night.

To be honest, that's what I had hoped he'd do as a last ditch effort. He's a real screw up as a kid and has multiple legal problems. He wouldn't admit to taking the camera when confronted, even though he admitted to stealing other inexpensive things we KNOW he took (Beer, fireworks). I kept trying to give him an out to spin it off as an accident, since he was drunk and drugged up when he was over. I really hoped when I drove some of my friends home yesterday it would show up mysteriously under the porch or some place we "forgot to look /wink wink". I'm just hoping it'll eventually turn up at a pawnshop, and the serial number will get it back for me. My gut level feeling is he stole it and immediately passed it off to someone else in exchange for drugs. By then, I'll be able to just give it to my girlfriend and have a shiny new K-7 for myself...

Man, I'm going to have to really look follow up some wedding leads this fall to pay for this stuff!

07-05-2009, 04:13 PM	#1
Mister Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 244	Stolen camera tracking After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere. Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police?

07-06-2009, 11:22 AM	#12
noblepa Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Village, Ohio USA Posts: 1,142	Probable cause Originally posted by lawsonstone Your suspicions might be sufficient "probable cause" for the police to take out a search warrant for the neighbor's place looking for the camera. I'm not a lawyer, but with nothing more than his uncorroborated suspicion, I don't think he's even CLOSE to having probable cause. If a couple of guests were willing to swear that they saw the neighbor holding the camera, maybe.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Camera equipment stolen	cwhans	General Talk	21	11-02-2010 09:23 AM
Stolen Camera: Pentax S2	Mike Cash	Film SLRs and Compact Film Cameras	17	09-01-2009 07:54 PM
price tracking	deejjjaaaa	Site Suggestions and Help	10	08-08-2009 02:33 PM
Stolen camera & lenses	philippe	General Talk	15	02-04-2009 01:57 AM
Suggestion Stolen/Lost camera list	ChipB	Site Suggestions and Help	7	09-30-2008 12:29 PM

07-05-2009, 04:18 PM	#2
ManuH Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,249	Originally posted by Mister Guy I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere. Try with PhotoME, it should report the serial# EDIT: PhotoME only shows the internal serial# which is not the same as the one printed under the camera.

07-05-2009, 05:19 PM	#3
Duck Dodgers Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: in the 24½th Century! Photos: Gallery Posts: 439	I can't remember...is the serial number on the box? (Do you still have the box?) Bummer, man. I had my car stolen years ago with my main "mother ship" camera bag in it...they got everything photographic I owned except a small worthless tripod. Since then I have religiously kept serial numbers, even emailing them to my self on gmail so I'll always have a copy of them. Good luck with your recover effort; I know that sucks.

07-05-2009, 05:23 PM	#4
pentaxman Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Washington Photos: Gallery Posts: 250	Originally posted by Mister Guy After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere. Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police? The camera store you bought the camera from may have a record of the serial number they sold you. It's worth a try.

07-05-2009, 05:47 PM	#5
j2l3 Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 5	If you registered your camera, the manufacturer will have a record of the serial number.

07-05-2009, 06:19 PM	#6
blind-bat Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 256	Originally posted by ManuH Try with PhotoME, it should report the serial# EDIT: PhotoME only shows the internal serial# which is not the same as the one printed under the camera. Use PhotoMe on a picture you have on off camera & one from the camera.

07-05-2009, 06:23 PM	#7
GLXLR Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Sugar Land, TX Photos: Gallery Posts: 684	Originally posted by Mister Guy After a heavy day of Fourth of July partying, it's really looking like my next door neighbor swiped my K110D from the table it had been on during our cook out. I'm trying to find something that has the serial number on it so I can file a police report for pawn shops and such, and I since I can't find one, I was wondering if there was one in the exif data somewhere. Any suggestions on what I may be able to do to try and recover it as far as tracking it, or searching for pictures from my camera in online services, or what might be helpful for the police? Dang... that sucks. But are you sure its not an excuse to get the K-7? jkjkjkjk Hope it all gets figured out. Why not try look through your yard ( like no1 thought of that )

07-05-2009, 09:45 PM	#8
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	Confront the neighbor, ask him if he saw anyone pick up or play with the camera. Watch his reaction carefully. Ask him if he saw anyone looking at it, browsing pictures on it, etc. Ask if he remembers anyone standing around the table. If all else fails, look really bumed out about it and tell him it was a gift from a family member and it meant a lot to you. Maybe he'll have a change of heart and it will show up on your doorstep one morning. Pretty low-life thing for a neighbor to do

07-06-2009, 01:52 AM	#9
Arpe Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,452	I just read here that the army are micro-chipping all their rifles so they can track them. Would that add much to the cost of a camera?

07-06-2009, 07:07 AM	#10
Mister Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 244 Original Poster	Originally posted by sebberry Confront the neighbor, ask him if he saw anyone pick up or play with the camera. Watch his reaction carefully. Ask him if he saw anyone looking at it, browsing pictures on it, etc. Ask if he remembers anyone standing around the table. If all else fails, look really bumed out about it and tell him it was a gift from a family member and it meant a lot to you. Maybe he'll have a change of heart and it will show up on your doorstep one morning. Pretty low-life thing for a neighbor to do Low life isn't even the word. I'm convinced he took it and have absolutely no proof. There's a slip of paper in the box that I missed the first time that's a six or seven digit number that I THINK is the serial number. The card it's on says "This is a serial number card, not a warranty card", so I'm guessing that number is what I need. I'm pretty sure my odds of getting it back are slim to none. I'm going to the police substation near my house today to see what I can do. The worst part is that this is the camera I was teaching my girlfriend to use a DSLR with, so it's got all her fourth of july pictures on it, including many of her nephew's first fourth of July -- his little one month old hands clenched on an American flag, etc. She's completely distraught and intimidated by the size of the K20D. The one bright lining is that now I DO have an excuse to order a K-7, but I'm thinking the odds of being able to get one of the first shipment of them is unlikely at this point. Ordered from Adorama late last night and got a backorder notice today. She's going to visit her best friend in Vermont on Friday, and I was going to send the K110D with her. Hopefully I can put a K-7 in her hands by this weekend, because I'm guessing the size and feel of it will be more comfortable for her than the K20D.

07-06-2009, 07:39 AM	#11
lawsonstone Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wilmore, KY Posts: 376	Your suspicions might be sufficient "probable cause" for the police to take out a search warrant for the neighbor's place looking for the camera.

07-06-2009, 12:20 PM	#13
Damn Brit Guest	The bigger problem here is, whether true or not, that person will still be a neighbour.

07-06-2009, 12:32 PM	#14
sebberry Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Frozen white North Photos: Albums Posts: 1,135	Originally posted by Damn Brit The bigger problem here is, whether true or not, that person will still be a neighbour. Reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace. I still think going over there looking really upset about the lost camera and not revealing your suspicions through body language or tone of voice is the best way to get it back, if he in fact has it. Some people who steal actually have a heart and will return the item anonymously once they realize how badly they hurt someone. I know, the chance is slim but I can't think of another way to actually talk to the person who took it and let him see your emotions. Once you get the police involved you can bet he won't respond nicely. You could even tell him that you were using it to teach someone photography and that hopefully the perp will have a change of heart and return it in the middle of the night.

07-06-2009, 01:50 PM	#15
Mister Guy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 244 Original Poster	Originally posted by sebberry Reminds me of the movie Lakeview Terrace. I still think going over there looking really upset about the lost camera and not revealing your suspicions through body language or tone of voice is the best way to get it back, if he in fact has it. Some people who steal actually have a heart and will return the item anonymously once they realize how badly they hurt someone. I know, the chance is slim but I can't think of another way to actually talk to the person who took it and let him see your emotions. Once you get the police involved you can bet he won't respond nicely. You could even tell him that you were using it to teach someone photography and that hopefully the perp will have a change of heart and return it in the middle of the night. To be honest, that's what I had hoped he'd do as a last ditch effort. He's a real screw up as a kid and has multiple legal problems. He wouldn't admit to taking the camera when confronted, even though he admitted to stealing other inexpensive things we KNOW he took (Beer, fireworks). I kept trying to give him an out to spin it off as an accident, since he was drunk and drugged up when he was over. I really hoped when I drove some of my friends home yesterday it would show up mysteriously under the porch or some place we "forgot to look /wink wink". I'm just hoping it'll eventually turn up at a pawnshop, and the serial number will get it back for me. My gut level feeling is he stole it and immediately passed it off to someone else in exchange for drugs. By then, I'll be able to just give it to my girlfriend and have a shiny new K-7 for myself... Man, I'm going to have to really look follow up some wedding leads this fall to pay for this stuff!