Comments about ‘Thieves are targeting cameras’

This story would be more useful if they would have disclosed the equipment models and names so we could all watch for it. The police should be investigating pawn shops all over the valley to locate and find this equipment for these people.

Theft is a most heinous crime and too little law enforcement actions to recover these goods. I have visited some pawn shops reselling items that are obviously stolen items because of the means they were obtained. Hastily cut wires, cables, and expensive type of equipment that are not commonly sold to pawn shops by owners when they know it is worth much more than a pawn shop will pay. An easy to sell market to other professionals is always the option professional equipment is resold.

Theft is worse than killing and should have the most severe punishment and police should take it more serious.

As a sports photog myself, I'm always leary about those craigslist / classified ads for photography jobs that inquire about the type of equipment you own. I also started using a PO Box for my business address so nobody knows where my 'stash' is kept.
I guess from now on when shooting weddings at Temple Square, the photogs need to include the 'spectators' in a few shots.

It's time to get rid of the panhandlers. There is one creepy guy that always stand at the intersection of South Temple and Main St.

I've contacted police when panhandlers hassle me and others. The SLPD won't do anything about people being harrassed. It's time SLPD stepped it up and start hauling these bums out.

the sting operation. cameras all over the sl temple grounds and no one has a photo.

come on........ seriously...... come on.......

A local news channel had a crew at 300 S. and 300 West several weeks ago, and their news camera was stolen from their van in the ten minutes they were gone. The theives drilled out the drivers door lock, then opened the hatchback and took the equipment. There is a police substation at 300 S and 400 West. They declined to come; simply assigned a case number.

I find it strange that with all the surveilance around the square that this problem has not been taken care of by now.The morman church has a responsibility to the members getting married at least to protect the precious memories in the photos from being stolen. How about cameras around the area or sting operations with bait cars? Many tracking devices are now available for equipment.

My thought was if these photographers are followed for 10 minutes to a restaurant or photo shop, whats to keep them from being followed to their home?

Then the thief can just bide his time. The break-in could happen tonight, tomorrow, next week....

Now for anyone with these cameras, it will be like constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. They'll never know if, when, where...,,,

When I lived in Salt Lake City, I had more things stolen from me than anywhere I have ever lived before. You would not believe the situations. A for-sale-by-owner sign that someone cut the phone number off and put back up for themselves. A bench taken from the yard. A homemade wreath taken off the front door. Clothes from a temple. I observed other theft victims as well. I've lived in the Philly and DC areas, and SLC is by for the place where I saw sticky fingers. What is it?

Time to turn the tables on these guys.

Photographers, get your own team to tail those who are tailing you. dress them as happy members of wedding parties, give them simpler camaras that hundreds of family members will also be carrying. Have them get pictures, license plate numbers etc. of anybody casing you or your gear. Have them casually follow you when you drive off to see who else may be following you.

Surely, some SLPD cop would love sweeping in and using your evidence to nail these guys, maybe in the very act of breaking into cars. Or there's always a citizen's arrest...

If enough do this, the thieves won't know it they are the prey or the quarry.

If you know your equipments is that expensive/valuable, take it with you...even if it's just 5 MINUTES! Trust no one!! Thieves don't care who you are or how you make a living.
What about the temple square? They have eyes for "trespassers", but not for the sake of their member's safety. And for the police...do your job well on the stake outs!!

I never had anything stolen from me when I lived in Salt Lake. On the other hand, living in Houston and, later, Dallas, I had things stolen out of my house and my garage. What is it?

If I understand it, these cameras aren't stolen from Temple Square. The thieves are following the photographers and stealing the equipment from them when they stop. It could be at home or some errrand stop along the way.
So the investigation is far more difficult than just watching the tape at Temple Square.
I agree; a sting is in order.

To: "Turn the Tables":
Excellent ideas.
I think the police could learn something from you...if they would...

Almost everyone I know who lives in Salt Lake has had their car broken into. I had a friend who left her backpack on the seat of her car during the middle of the day downtown, and when she came back a window was broken and the backpack (with her camera and laptop inside) was gone. And this was during the middle of the day. I feel fortunate that it's never happened to me, but I'm careful to never leave anything valuable in my car. I have another friend who lives alone who's apartment was broken into and robbed while she was at work. This same friend had her coat stolen out of her car during the middle of the winter a few years ago. Anyway, this is a city, so we have to be careful. Don't leave things in your car and secure your home doors and windows. It stinks, but that's the way it is.

As far as these camera thefts go, the saddest part seems like the loss of the wedding photos. I can't imagine how that would feel as a bride.

This is not a kodak moment. We just need to be aware of our surroundings and our property at all times. Hope they catch the theives and robbers.

If you notice someone following you. Stop and Take their picture. Email it to the police.

Zoom in nice and tight. It won't take long to have a library of photos of the losers.

Seriously? I back up all my wedding photos "Just in case". Why would a serious photographer leave all her images on a lap top and not put them on a harddrive that you leave a home? Good grief!

There is nothing I hate more than a thief. They rob hard working people with integrity. The thief has no concern for the trials and hardship they cause to good people. Thiefs are low life, bottom dwellers who can't make it in real life.

The SLC police need to STEP IT UP. If you know it has been a problem for several months....use your resources and FIX IT!

The moral of the story is, don't ever leave your camera in your car. My husband is a photographer and NEVER leaves his camera in his car. Even when you live in Utah you should.

My van got robbed in downtown Seattle and it was likely because my son stepped out into the parking lot with his $2,000-plus Cannon camcorder and made us a target.
It was broad daylight, but woke me up to the dangers of thieves watching.
Vehicle robberies are Seattle's No. 1 crime problem.
It showed me too that car alarms are the most over-rated of electronic devices -- they are worthless.
The Seattle police said it was amateurs who broke into my vehicle, despite the alarm. Imagine what professional thieves could do ....