My HV20 just got stolen 30 minutes ago while I was filming. Guy rode by on a bike and grabbed the entire tripod right out of my hands. I chased him for a bit... but it was all downhill so I had no chance. What is this world coming too? What am I supposed to do-hand cuff myself to the camera? Hire an armed guard? What do you guys do? Thank god I didn't have my wide adapter on or I would have lost that too. But this makes me scared to even go shooting in the future. Anyway, thanks for letting me vent guys.

That really stinks -- seems this sort of thing is happening more often these days (http://www.dvinfo.net/conf/showthread.php?t=97450), unfortunately.

In any kind of a populated area, if you're going to be away from the camera at any time, it's usually a good idea to bring a friend with you when you're shooting so that the tripod is never left unattended. Even if you're only a few feet away, it's an opportunity for theft. Any time I take my camera and sticks into San Antonio or Austin, my wife comes along for extra security. Just having another body and an extra set of eyes makes all the difference.

What a sad situation -- just remember it could have been worse.

This is terrible. :( :( :(
It makes me want to buy the Canon ZR800, which is the cheapest of all, and shoot with that instead of getting my HV20 out and about.

That really is unfortunate. Last year my daughter was talking on her cell phone in Brooklyn when a young boy rode by on a bike and stole it out of her hand in the middle of a conversation.

What drag.... Worse, the guy will probably fence it for $50.00.... not knowing what he has....

If you have homeowners, there may be coverage, though here in the states when you make a claim on you homeowners, they start looking at raising your rates, and/or cancelling policy...

Sorry to hear about your problem..

bad luck man

really feel your pain.
I wouldnt have expected that either

Friggin' gruesome. Don't you just wish that you had someone with you who was sitting in their car idling at the side of the road who could have leapt into action and caught up to the guy.

I've had a few things stolen from me over the years, but I've never seen them do it. That would make me so furious. So sorry it happened to you.

Hey Derek, sorry to hear about your loss. Bummer!!! Your story just convinced me to attach some kind of leash that connects my camera/tripod to my belt when I'm out in public. Yep, what is this world coming to...

I wonder how much a repair would be if it DID get picked off by a stranger and he tugged at the camera while riding a bike.

Well, at least you would have the footage you have taken!

Joseph

Thanks for the supportive words everyone. Nathan, I like your idea of the leash thing. I probably would have been able to yank the guy off his bike.

get a permit to carry a TAZER. Its legal, and sane. If this happens again you have about 15-20 feet to take the guy down, and sure enough with the 200-300 tazer it is 100% legal.



edit:

this is the link http://www.taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx

I own one, just incase someone trys to mug me at a gas station or anything. Not saying i live in a bad area, but it doesnt take a bad area to be cautious and safe.


EDIT AGAIN: I do not know the laws in canada but I am sure they would probably be similar. The other thing that you might want to do, depending on your local law officers, is you can qualify yourself to carry handcuffs or even ziptie handcuffs and have the "citizen authority" to make "arrests". After the guy is disabled, handcuff him and call the police. simple. press charges after.

I'm really sorry this happened to you.

A few years ago I was video taping a wedding for a friend of mine and I had a backup camera in a bag sitting in the reception area. I just happened to come into the room to look for the Bride and Groom who were wandering around and there was a guy running out the back door with my camera bag. Well I chased him wityh my main camera on my shoulder and video taped him walking across the parking lot while I chased him. I caught up to the scum and he turned around and set my camera down and said sorry five times and ran off. I later filed a report and made a copy of the tape for the police but they never did find him. I was told there is a pretty large black market that sends people to events to steal cameras. They actually know what to look for.

A clip on security belt for the tripod is a good idea. For HV20 handheld use, Canon have a WS20 wrist strap accessory, very well worth it when you're shooting anywhere.

A clip on security belt for the tripod is a good idea. For HV20 handheld use, Canon have a WS20 wrist strap accessory, very well worth it when you're shooting anywhere.

I was thinking perhaps having a leash between the HV20 and tripod and also a leash between the tripod and belt.

sorry to hear about this to i have yet to finaly purchase a HV20 but intend to get one eventually but i do have a dvx100b and ijust took it out the other day and had it sitting alone on the side to film my self no one was with me im lucky when ihear this some one didnt to the same to me thanx for sharing, make me more watchfull and informed what not to do, i hope it wont be to hard for you to finacial get another.


peace n luv

Martin

Maybe tying something like this (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/5580-REG/Bogen_Manfrotto_3295_RC0_Anti_Theft_Lock_Plate.html) between the tripod and your belt would have made it harder for the thief to perform his act...

I honestly think this was a freak occurrence... I wouldn't be too worried about it (to the other owners)

I feel really bad, I've left my camera on the field where I was filming for 5-10 minutes and walked away... I haven't had anything stolen, which is fortunate... lost filters and batteries though :(

Your story just convinced me to attach some kind of leash that connects my camera/tripod to my belt when I'm out in public.

A clip on security belt for the tripod is a good idea. For HV20 handheld use, Canon have a WS20 wrist strap accessory, very well worth it when you're shooting anywhere.


Until you turn to go talk to somebody and pull your tripod and camera rig onto the ground.

Tethering yourself to your tripod seems like a terrible idea to me.

Circle of barbed/razor-wire around the base of the tripod.?. Electrified tripod!

What about one of those motion-sensing alarm (http://www.securitykit.com/soniclock30012.htm) thingies? Motion-sensing alarm and "electrified tripod" sign just might work...

I live in Philly, which has been undergoing a tremendous economic and cultural renaissance in recent years, but still has a few bad apples living here. I've gotten maybe 150 feet from my unattended HV20 (to get action shots of myself), but fortunately no one has made off with it yet. After hearing your story, I'll be more careful with my HV20.

In other threads, professionals complain that the HV20 looks like a cheap toy camera. I've always been glad that the HV20 doesn't even look like the $1k camera that it is, since it's couple-hundred-dollar appearance makes it less of a target for theft.

In other threads, professionals complain that the HV20 looks like a cheap toy camera. I've always been glad that the HV20 doesn't even look like the $1k camera that it is, since it's couple-hundred-dollar appearance makes it less of a target for theft.

Funny you bring this up, because I told a friend I got an HDV camera and he was expecting to see some rig that looked huge and more professional. I tried explaining that it's the image the HV20 is capable of capturing that gives it its value. So I think you're right, a much more professional looking camera would definitely attract more attention from would-be robbers.

edit: i just read your post and all the replies. I really feel you pain and no how you feel. this will make me a wiser person and perhaps save me the same grief. you can read my story below which now seems like I was so lucky and stupid. thanks for your post.

I don't know if it's the nature of the people that attend these events but last year I was filming an outdoor bluegrass show at Bean Blossom, Indiana and was informed by a friend of mine that there was a severe storm approaching. We both decided to rush back to our tents about 500 yards away and completely out of site of where I was sitting filming. I didn't even give it a second thought, I set my camera to a wide angle to capture the whole band that was playing and left it on the tripod recording while I went back to batton down my tent. When I returned, the wind was kicking up, lighting was all over and it had just started to spit a few drops. The stage had been abandoned and most people were scrampling to get out of there. I grabbed my camera and tripod, got the camera in a bag and headed back to the tent. By the time I got to the tent, the storm seemed to be so severe, I decided to wait it out in my car. Now here is the kicker to top this off. I viewed the most remarkable film I ever shot while the camera taped when I was gone. Their was a standalone performer who finished one song and as he started his second song he said "now folks, just get up an leave if it starts to rain". He continued singing for about a minute and than you could see lightning and leaves blowing around over the heads of people in the audience. Than there was some lightning and the performer looked around and just walked off the stage. You could see whole rows of people rise up from there seats and proceed out of the area. I could not believe the coolest thing I ever saw on tape and I wasn't even there.

Also remarkable of course is the fact, that the camera was not stollen. This past trip, I rigged up a mic stand with a good dynamic mic up aobout 8 feet in the air in front of the speaker farm for recording. I was able to run a cable across and up the isle to my seat so I could plug it into my XLR-Pro adaptor. I actually snuck the cable up under a have moon PVC pipe hwer the snake was run up to the sound control station. The point I was going to make though was that I left the stand and the mic in place for the whole week, night and day. I of course would have pulled the mic down if I heard there was rain in the forcast. By the way, this approach to capturing audio worked great. I positioned my chair on an isle about 7 rows back and needed to string 3 XLR cables together to reach my seat. Everyone sets up their chairs and leaves them for however many days they will attend the festival. In a lot of cases their chairs or left in a spot for the whole week. When you not using your chair, it is understood that anyone can use it but they would be expected to give it up if you show. That's how many bluegrass festivals work.

I had my very 1st digi camcorder stolen on my Birthday. We came back from dinner and the door to the house was kicked in, took my camera, DVD players all my movies , went through the jewelry.
I think I would have been more angry though had they ripped it from my hands. If I were a betting man Id say: "Just another bottom dwelling meth-head." He'll be dead long before the camera warranty runs out.

Im sorry this happned to you :-(