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Thieves Steal Nearly $600k in Gear From Photography Equipment Rental LensProToGo

by 17 Comments

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As long as humans are humans, humans will act like humans.  Pretty redundant, but no less profound.  That was made clear to LensProToGo employees who arrived at work yesterday to find a smashed window and discover that they had been robbed.  Descending like vultures in the night, the thieves helped themselves to nearly $600k-worth of photography gear, presumably to support their out-of-control World of Warcraft addictions.

 

While $600k may seem like a good chunk of gear, LPTG stated in a press release that the majority of their inventory was out on rental and mercifully escaped the clutches of the miscreants…to which I simply say, “Wow.”

According to LPTG, no employees were injured, and while they state that this is a significant blow to the growing company, their spirits (we assume a double meaning) are in good health.  In fact, for a company that just saw their property violated and merchandise ransacked like a Scottish seaside village in the 11th century, their sense of humor is remarkable.  “We hope they at least got to wear cool Mission Impossible outfits, but we sadly aren’t sure of that detail,” they included in their opening statements.

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Fortunately for customers, no computers or servers were taken, and all client data remains secure.  According to the company, operations were to resume as normal today with LensRentals.com (my personal choice for renting gear) stepping in to assist in fulfilling orders.

LensProToGo has posted a complete list of the serial numbers of the stolen merchandise for those within the photographic community who may be kind enough to keep a vigilant eye for gear sales online.

While this is a most unfortunate event, we are thankful that nobody was injured and that LensProToGo is continuing to move forward, flipping a giant bird to the things that go bump in the dark.

[via SLR Lounge | LensProToGo]

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About Allen Mowery

Allen Mowery is a commercial and editorial photographer, pseudo-philosopher, and wannabe documentarian killing time amidst the rolling hills of Central Pennsylvania. When not shooting client work or chasing overgrown wildlife from his yard, he loves to capture the stories of the people and culture around him. You can check out his work on his website or follow along on Facebook, Twitter (@allenmowery), and 500px.

  • And from another photo shop a couple towns away, EP Levine.

  • How do they plan on moving the merchandise? Especially when the serial numbers are all public now.

    • Unscrupulous sellers know how to find unscrupulous buyers.

      • average-joe

        Not precisely un-scrupulous, just unaware that these equipment could be stolen. perhaps overseas, maybe on craigslist, not everyone will check up a serial before buying and that doesn’t make them unscrupuluos

    • Rick

      The vast majority of the population will never even hear about this and thus not know to check the serial number.

    • Sell it cheap enough and buyers won’t care.

  • Anonymous

    do these thieves even know if they take any photos with this stolen gear and publish them online they’re busted?

    • shhhhh !! don’t let them know !!

    • Or it could be the poor guy who got a heck of a deal on a used L lens and didn’t know to check the serial

    • Fyrblade

      As easy as that? Unless I’m missing some hidden camera magic, a body or lens doesn’t talk to any stolen property databases and fire off alerts

      • Yup. Site called “LensTag”. Put in the serial and make of camera, and bam, anything that pops up with that online is flagged and directed towards the account it’s under.

  • Anonymous

    Card-board walls?

  • Wow and I use to do business with LensProToGo… I would rent gear I was thinking about buying from them… Never the less once they go over seas there is nothing they can do to recover it.

  • I’m sure they are covered by insurance. Although, it can be an insurance scam or maybe a viral advertising scam. Don’t trust anyone these days.

  • joe_average

    Of all the cameras there, were any of them security cameras? That much gear and no significant security system?!? It was only a matter of time… Or an inside job.

  • If LPTG was smart here, which I am sure they were, all the lenses were put through “LensTag” data base, so as soon as any of the stolen merchandise is used, it will get flagged.

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