Andrew Fedon , Aug 31, 2010; 05:41 p.m.
Just back from vacation in London. Complete disaster. Backpack containing D700/mb-d10 (SNo. 2126484)with 24-120mm , 17-35 sigma, 70-300 sigma, passport, airline ticket, all just siphoned away by scumbags operating in the busy Cambden Town area of London, near to London Zoo. Sitting in a restaurant early evening, fell for the "have you got a light ?.." distraction while the partner scumbag siphons the bag from under the table on the other side. Devastated. Holiday ruined. Lots of hassle getting new passport etc.
And the worst thing about it ? London Police absolutely useless. Not interested. Not a serious enough event to warrent their serious attention. After waiting three and half hours for a cop to show up, they call to say they are too busy to attend and do I want to make a telephone report ? The restaurant, CCTV overlooking the entire scene, captured the whole thing and confirmed to me days later by staff that the footage showed the whole thing, but the boss is not there at the moment. This information goes to the police, but days later the police say " the owner of the restaurant has not cooperated, and we cannot do anything about it" . But this is evidence to a crime, and a gang obviously operating in the area, preying on tourists, which you may catch....... "yes Sir, but if he doesn't hand the footage to us voluntarily, we cannot do anything..." Incredible. Honestly, if I had hair I'd be pulling it out in anger and frustration. Incompetent police, and a restaurant owner who as far as I'm concerned is no better than the thieves.
Had to bite the bullet, and went and bought another D700, with the 24-85 f/2.8 and the sigma 70-300mm for 2500 pounds. My logic being that at least I can recover some of my holiday and go and retake some of my photos, and worry about the money later. Any similar experiences anyone ?
David Haas 
, Aug 31, 2010; 05:48 p.m.
Can't say that I've had anything close to that happen.
Sorry for your losses...it hurts the pocketbook...
I think the next time my wife asks why we take a D40 on vacation with us - I'll show her this.
Dave
Shun Cheung 
, Aug 31, 2010; 06:06 p.m.
Andrew, sorry to learn that.
In the 1990's we lived close to New York City, but usually we went there with a shoulder bag and some NY subway maps, so we kind of looked like tourists.
Once my wife and I had lunch at a fastfood place. We had a small table and we sat face to face. After we sat down, I placed the bag under the table and I opeded it to check the map. After lunch, the bag was gone. Fortunately, there was no camera inside.
Now when I sit down, I put my foot inside the loop of the shoulder strap so that people cannot snatch it. Sometimes my camera bag weights 20, 30 pounds. In a way that is safe also since it is hard to run with it.
Dave Lee 
, Aug 31, 2010; 06:32 p.m.
Well thanks for posting your experience so the rest of us can watch out for this scam. Wife and I traveled around London for 9 days a couple years ago, and ate lunch and dinner at many pubs (we stayed in an apartment so we always had breakfast at home before we went out for the day). One time, in a busy pub just outside Embankment tube station, near the Thames, we were eating dinner and I was on my second beer. And a Brit spoke to me from another table and asked me if I liked bitter, and I said yes, and he gave me the beer. Said it had been placed on his table without his asking, that he didn't order it. I guess it was meant for someone else. Drank half of that, by then I was getting too drunk so we split. Reading your account, I imagine this would be one way to get my bag, which was sitting on the bench next to me, while I leaned over and got the beer from the guy. Thankfully my wife was sitting on the other side of the bag so it couldn't happen. But if I were by myself I'd have to be a lot more wary. Anyway, sucks to be a victim of crime. I hope you got a printed police report so you can report it to your insurance when you get home. Should be full coverage for all items lost minus your deductible.
Jose Perez , Aug 31, 2010; 09:28 p.m.
Andrew,
This is just a thought. Since it was captured on CCTV and happened in a restaurant, try filing a claim against the restaurants insurance. I don't know what the insurance laws in England are. But, the worst that could happen is that the insurance company just declines the claim. I had a coworker that damaged his $1000 (ea) auto rims on freeway construction (metal plates covering pits). He complained to the CALTRANS and they referred him to the contractors insurance that ended up writing a check to replace the rims. Just a thought.
Bob Bill , Sep 01, 2010; 12:12 a.m.
Similar to Shun, I put the leg of the chair I'm sitting on inside the strap and keep my leg in contact with the bag.
Jack Flannery , Sep 01, 2010; 12:58 a.m.
Give nobody anything. A light. Spare change. Conversation. Nothing. Protect your stuff!
Philip Tam , Sep 01, 2010; 02:49 a.m.
I was late meeting a friend for dinner (and very annoyed that he was being so picky about a restaurant) and quickly parked and went to eat. While we were eating, a thief broke into my car and stole my messenger bag, which had my laptop.
The police basically don't care. I was parked in an area covered by security cameras, and this was all recorded. The police know that most of the time, this stuff is covered by homeowners insurance, and they're too busy taking care of public safety and such to care about break ins. They told me it would take 2 hours to send a cop to take the report, and actually told me to file a report through a website.
Really sorry about your stuff. There are some real scumbags around...
kiatchun sin , Sep 01, 2010; 03:32 a.m.
I hate these kind of people. They can have better things to do elsewhere, but chose to steal from others instead.
Could it be the bag was too bling? They must have been following from a distance.
At least you are safe & unharmed.
Gen Kanai , Sep 01, 2010; 04:24 a.m.
Did you have insurance to cover the loss? I need to look into insurance now that I have a D700...
