cdcollura
EF5
Good evening everyone,
This is the sort of email and news that the storm chasing community either cries or vomits when they hear it. I listed the items below, before I tell my sickening story ... If any of these items turn up on EBay or something - LET ME KNOW, or call the Coral Gables (FL) Police Department at (305) 442-1600 and ask to speak with detective Ted Nguyen regarding case #05-1344.
Stolen: Sony HDR-FX1 HD Camcorder (Serial S01-1323375-A), Sony Vaio GRT100P Laptop (Serial A222593-J), Sony TRV100 D8 Camcorder, Canon Rebel 2000 SLR + Lenses, Fuji Finepix 3.8 digital camera, Sony camera hard case (housed the HDR-FX1 and accessories), and finally, and ICom T-81A Quad HT - This is well over $8,000.00 worth of gear off to some thugs ;-(
Last Thursday night (Feb 10) the Weathervine group and I were at the NY Film Festival for some demonstrations of videos and equipment used in this past years hurricane Charley interception. The demonstrations could not go any better, and to celebrate, we all decided to end the wonderful night by eating at TGI Fridays.
Ofcourse, like any storm chaser, our gear was packed away in our vehicles as we ate, locked-up, clubbed, alarms active, and in a well-lit area IN FRONT of TGI fridays.
I came out full and laughing and found my left passenger window smashed and all my items on the floor of the car missing ... And it's a big list.
First, a brand-new $4000 Sony FX-HDR1 HD camcorder is now in the proud hands of a drug dealer. Ouch.
Second, a Sony Vaio Laptop, with Street Atlas GPS, external floppy AND hard disk drives, inverters, and ofcourse, network cards and ballistic nylon case, all valued at over $2,500 is also feeding someone's crack-pipe right now.
Third, a camera hard-case containing an older D8 Sony TRV-110 Camcorder, Canon Rebel 2000 SLR with all lenses, a Fuji Finepix 3.8 Digital camera, plus cables, chargers, and accessories boosted another $1500+ to a kleptomaniac.
This all happening in a well-lit and patrolled parking lot, and $8,000 is a lot of money's worth of stuff to lose to some punk. As for me, I have been OUT OF WORK since July, and you know how I am paying my mortgage and other payments right now? Off my discover credit card! Ofcourse, no one touched the other two chaser's cars next to mine in that same lot ... Maybe 'cuz they are not 'unemployed'?
Ofcourse, trips to the plains are off this year, unless my stuff shows up or I win the lottery or something. I got family in the hospital with "no cure" type health problems, including my roomate and good friend, who may have to have both legs amputated with diabetes ... Meaning he has to move out too (less rent from his rented room). I gotta listen to my family calling me "Your so stipid for leaving all that stuff in your car!!" ... beautiful support to hear when you are literally pucking your guts out and cannot sleep for days.
I really wish someone will catch criminals like this, who steal from people who are already struggling. If I was the police, I would simply gut this punk like a pig (or send him to Iraq and have home tortured)!
---------------------
Hello all, just updating on what the heck went on with replacing my gear...
First of all, and to no suprise, it was NEVER recovered. Pawn shops, EBay, crack-houses, you name it, the police never came up with anything - For what it's worth.
Second, my homeowners insurance, who told me to "calm down and don't worry, telling me they will replace my stuff", after going back and forth producing receipts and pictures of the stolen goods, finally told me that they found out I was a STORM CHASER ... And that since this is a JOB to take pictures and video, they assumed it as sales (business) purposes and DENIED my claim, after pussing it into a LONG investigation ... And GET THIS!!
I am being charged 3rd degree felony charges for "fraudulent / inconcise insurance claiming" because I did not disclose the money I made for DVD sales during hurricane Charley in which most of the stolen equipment was NOT used in it!!
Now, I may go to jail, yet the smelly drug-dealing thug has my stuff ... Aaahhh, what a wonderful world ;-)
Third, since my insurance DID process a claim, it shows on their file, whether you DO or DO NOT (as in this sad case) get money. The result, my homeowners insurance went from about 2,100 a year to 2,500 a year ... Goin' UP anyone??
Since I was lucky enough to finally find a job, and got some tax-money back at the same time, I am now going through the painful process of replacing my Sony Vaio laptop (with a K45 model - better than the stolen one anyway), Sony D8 camcorder (TRV120 off EBay) and both my stolen SLR and ditital with a single digital camera (Digital Canon Rebel 2000) since film cameras are not as hot these days anyway.
My next purchase is the big one, the Sony HDR-FX1, that I need to wait until just before May since I blew all my tax refund as of now replacing the items listed herein.
I am happy I am replacing my stuff, I am NOT happy because after all the comforting and lying I had to munch on by my ever-inflating premium homeowners insurance, I got, well you know, Poo Poo in return, and had to buy all the stolen stuff myself.
You pay for coverage, and you don't get it!
Meanwhile, some thug is doing drugs right now with the money he sold your stolen items for.
And the police ... Looks like giving out tickets is their expertise ;-(
Really disappointed in the insurance and law enforcement areas right now.
---------------------
Adding to this whole spiel about what happened with expensive gear stolen from me back in February 2005, I want to share some conclusions of the way "cheap" and un-reliable insurance companies my operate...
Living in Florida, now being a main target for hurricanes, I had a horrible time finding homeowners insurance in the first place (thanks to hurricane "Andrew" back in 1992). State Farm, Allstate, all those big "trustworthy" companies just would not write a NEW policy for me and my new home. After days (yes DAYS) of searching (I think there was even a commercial making "fun" of this with a young man looking for (car) insurance, with him on the phone and never having any luck finding it), I finally found a company to cover my home.
It was called Tower Hill Insurance out of Gainseville, FL. So if anyone of you is shopping for insurance, Tower Hill now should raise a RED FLAG. Since I had such a lousy experience with them, I already told 4 people interested in them not to consider them. So they just lost 4 potential customers because of me (I feel a lil' better).
My stolen items, and what WAS actually used to make "any" money (denoted by an asterisk). In parenthesis is the original cost and depreciated cost (at time of theft), deparated by a "/". Values are approximate.
1. Sony Vaio Laptop GRT P4 series ($1,600 / $1,000).
2. Sony TRV-110 D8 Camcorder* ($900 / $100).
3. Fuji Finepix 3.8 MP digital Camera ($300 / $250).
4. Canon Rebel 2000 SLR w/ lenses ($500 / $300).
5. Icom T-81A Quad-band HT ($600 / $300).
6. Sony HDR-FX1 HD Camcorder ($3,700 / $3,600).
7. Misc, cases, memory cards, etc. ($1,000 / $200).
8. And more "stuff" in the "bag of tricks" ;-(
* As you see, the TRV110 was used to make money as it was used in the hurricane Charley DVD stuff. Also notice that this item, with depreciation, was the least asset ($100 out of $5,750 in value, with depreciation factored in) in the stolen batch of items!!
The insurance "saw" this MUCH different ... As if it was ONE item, and ALL of the items in it used for business (since money WAS made from hurricane chasing), even though there were many items (all in one "jackpot-for-thiefs special" bag).
The HDR-FX1 was only used for 4 weeks on PERSONAL stuff and not even used in a single storm chase at the time of theft.
Like the old expression goes "You get what you paid for."
This insurance was a cheap and "no frills" kind of company, but literally was the ONLY one I could find (yes, I went through JUA, Joint Underwriters, and all that too). So it was not me being "cheap" or anything, but because there was NO ONE ELSE to "cover" me.
Sure enough, when I needed their help, they were more interested in NOT PAYING for my claim and using the excuse that (some) of the equipment was used for my "career" of "storm chasing" ... And it WORKED, as not only was my claim withdrawn, but charges pressed against me for "fraud", which is a 3rd degree felony in FL.
Nice outcome, I (yes, ME, not the thieves - ME) am in trouble, my insurance gave me S*** (no money), my Discover credit-card now bears the "bill" for my replaced gear, and someone in Miami has my stuff (or sold it by now).
I can swear on my mom's life that had I had State Farm or Allstate for my homeowners insurance, none of this would have happened. They would have replaced my stuff, never questioned anything, never sent my claim to "investigation".
State Farm insurance DID cover my vehicle, and two windows were replaced by noon the SAME day the breakin occurred, no questions asked, and didn't cost me a penny of the $658 dollars for the rapairs. No investigation, not "head games", just the SERVICE I needed.
Ever choose FAST FOOD over a restaurant? Notice that you get your food faster but the order is never right? Notice 20 people in line and only one out of four registers open? Bad SERVICE. Insurance is no different.
A word from the wise, PURCHASE insurance from a REPUTABLE and RENOWNED company. If you live in Florida, you just may be S.O.L. (S*** Out Of Luck), unless you move or something ;-(
Yes, this is very UNFAIR. I had no choice, just could not find insurance, until I settled for "fast insurance" (no pun on "fast food").
You wanna live in the tropics? You wanna laugh at your freezing, snowed-in friends up north in February while sitting under a palm tree? Sorry, Pay the price! I did.
I SHOULD not have to be that way ... FL should have more insurance for homeowners, even if you have to pay a little more.
Meanwhile (as of 7-5-2005), tropical storms Cindy and Dennis are in the Caribbean, Dennis may hit FL, and it is only July 5. Did you know that this is the first time in history 4 named storms developed in the Atlantic by or before July 5?
Is this the Atlantic or West Pacific?
Cheap insurance companies in Florida now have another "excuse" to screw.
---------------------
Chris Collura - KG4PJN
www.sky-chaser.com
[email protected]
This is the sort of email and news that the storm chasing community either cries or vomits when they hear it. I listed the items below, before I tell my sickening story ... If any of these items turn up on EBay or something - LET ME KNOW, or call the Coral Gables (FL) Police Department at (305) 442-1600 and ask to speak with detective Ted Nguyen regarding case #05-1344.
Stolen: Sony HDR-FX1 HD Camcorder (Serial S01-1323375-A), Sony Vaio GRT100P Laptop (Serial A222593-J), Sony TRV100 D8 Camcorder, Canon Rebel 2000 SLR + Lenses, Fuji Finepix 3.8 digital camera, Sony camera hard case (housed the HDR-FX1 and accessories), and finally, and ICom T-81A Quad HT - This is well over $8,000.00 worth of gear off to some thugs ;-(
Last Thursday night (Feb 10) the Weathervine group and I were at the NY Film Festival for some demonstrations of videos and equipment used in this past years hurricane Charley interception. The demonstrations could not go any better, and to celebrate, we all decided to end the wonderful night by eating at TGI Fridays.
Ofcourse, like any storm chaser, our gear was packed away in our vehicles as we ate, locked-up, clubbed, alarms active, and in a well-lit area IN FRONT of TGI fridays.
I came out full and laughing and found my left passenger window smashed and all my items on the floor of the car missing ... And it's a big list.
First, a brand-new $4000 Sony FX-HDR1 HD camcorder is now in the proud hands of a drug dealer. Ouch.
Second, a Sony Vaio Laptop, with Street Atlas GPS, external floppy AND hard disk drives, inverters, and ofcourse, network cards and ballistic nylon case, all valued at over $2,500 is also feeding someone's crack-pipe right now.
Third, a camera hard-case containing an older D8 Sony TRV-110 Camcorder, Canon Rebel 2000 SLR with all lenses, a Fuji Finepix 3.8 Digital camera, plus cables, chargers, and accessories boosted another $1500+ to a kleptomaniac.
This all happening in a well-lit and patrolled parking lot, and $8,000 is a lot of money's worth of stuff to lose to some punk. As for me, I have been OUT OF WORK since July, and you know how I am paying my mortgage and other payments right now? Off my discover credit card! Ofcourse, no one touched the other two chaser's cars next to mine in that same lot ... Maybe 'cuz they are not 'unemployed'?
Ofcourse, trips to the plains are off this year, unless my stuff shows up or I win the lottery or something. I got family in the hospital with "no cure" type health problems, including my roomate and good friend, who may have to have both legs amputated with diabetes ... Meaning he has to move out too (less rent from his rented room). I gotta listen to my family calling me "Your so stipid for leaving all that stuff in your car!!" ... beautiful support to hear when you are literally pucking your guts out and cannot sleep for days.
I really wish someone will catch criminals like this, who steal from people who are already struggling. If I was the police, I would simply gut this punk like a pig (or send him to Iraq and have home tortured)!
---------------------
Hello all, just updating on what the heck went on with replacing my gear...
First of all, and to no suprise, it was NEVER recovered. Pawn shops, EBay, crack-houses, you name it, the police never came up with anything - For what it's worth.
Second, my homeowners insurance, who told me to "calm down and don't worry, telling me they will replace my stuff", after going back and forth producing receipts and pictures of the stolen goods, finally told me that they found out I was a STORM CHASER ... And that since this is a JOB to take pictures and video, they assumed it as sales (business) purposes and DENIED my claim, after pussing it into a LONG investigation ... And GET THIS!!
I am being charged 3rd degree felony charges for "fraudulent / inconcise insurance claiming" because I did not disclose the money I made for DVD sales during hurricane Charley in which most of the stolen equipment was NOT used in it!!
Now, I may go to jail, yet the smelly drug-dealing thug has my stuff ... Aaahhh, what a wonderful world ;-)
Third, since my insurance DID process a claim, it shows on their file, whether you DO or DO NOT (as in this sad case) get money. The result, my homeowners insurance went from about 2,100 a year to 2,500 a year ... Goin' UP anyone??
Since I was lucky enough to finally find a job, and got some tax-money back at the same time, I am now going through the painful process of replacing my Sony Vaio laptop (with a K45 model - better than the stolen one anyway), Sony D8 camcorder (TRV120 off EBay) and both my stolen SLR and ditital with a single digital camera (Digital Canon Rebel 2000) since film cameras are not as hot these days anyway.
My next purchase is the big one, the Sony HDR-FX1, that I need to wait until just before May since I blew all my tax refund as of now replacing the items listed herein.
I am happy I am replacing my stuff, I am NOT happy because after all the comforting and lying I had to munch on by my ever-inflating premium homeowners insurance, I got, well you know, Poo Poo in return, and had to buy all the stolen stuff myself.
You pay for coverage, and you don't get it!
Meanwhile, some thug is doing drugs right now with the money he sold your stolen items for.
And the police ... Looks like giving out tickets is their expertise ;-(
Really disappointed in the insurance and law enforcement areas right now.
---------------------
Adding to this whole spiel about what happened with expensive gear stolen from me back in February 2005, I want to share some conclusions of the way "cheap" and un-reliable insurance companies my operate...
Living in Florida, now being a main target for hurricanes, I had a horrible time finding homeowners insurance in the first place (thanks to hurricane "Andrew" back in 1992). State Farm, Allstate, all those big "trustworthy" companies just would not write a NEW policy for me and my new home. After days (yes DAYS) of searching (I think there was even a commercial making "fun" of this with a young man looking for (car) insurance, with him on the phone and never having any luck finding it), I finally found a company to cover my home.
It was called Tower Hill Insurance out of Gainseville, FL. So if anyone of you is shopping for insurance, Tower Hill now should raise a RED FLAG. Since I had such a lousy experience with them, I already told 4 people interested in them not to consider them. So they just lost 4 potential customers because of me (I feel a lil' better).
My stolen items, and what WAS actually used to make "any" money (denoted by an asterisk). In parenthesis is the original cost and depreciated cost (at time of theft), deparated by a "/". Values are approximate.
1. Sony Vaio Laptop GRT P4 series ($1,600 / $1,000).
2. Sony TRV-110 D8 Camcorder* ($900 / $100).
3. Fuji Finepix 3.8 MP digital Camera ($300 / $250).
4. Canon Rebel 2000 SLR w/ lenses ($500 / $300).
5. Icom T-81A Quad-band HT ($600 / $300).
6. Sony HDR-FX1 HD Camcorder ($3,700 / $3,600).
7. Misc, cases, memory cards, etc. ($1,000 / $200).
8. And more "stuff" in the "bag of tricks" ;-(
* As you see, the TRV110 was used to make money as it was used in the hurricane Charley DVD stuff. Also notice that this item, with depreciation, was the least asset ($100 out of $5,750 in value, with depreciation factored in) in the stolen batch of items!!
The insurance "saw" this MUCH different ... As if it was ONE item, and ALL of the items in it used for business (since money WAS made from hurricane chasing), even though there were many items (all in one "jackpot-for-thiefs special" bag).
The HDR-FX1 was only used for 4 weeks on PERSONAL stuff and not even used in a single storm chase at the time of theft.
Like the old expression goes "You get what you paid for."
This insurance was a cheap and "no frills" kind of company, but literally was the ONLY one I could find (yes, I went through JUA, Joint Underwriters, and all that too). So it was not me being "cheap" or anything, but because there was NO ONE ELSE to "cover" me.
Sure enough, when I needed their help, they were more interested in NOT PAYING for my claim and using the excuse that (some) of the equipment was used for my "career" of "storm chasing" ... And it WORKED, as not only was my claim withdrawn, but charges pressed against me for "fraud", which is a 3rd degree felony in FL.
Nice outcome, I (yes, ME, not the thieves - ME) am in trouble, my insurance gave me S*** (no money), my Discover credit-card now bears the "bill" for my replaced gear, and someone in Miami has my stuff (or sold it by now).
I can swear on my mom's life that had I had State Farm or Allstate for my homeowners insurance, none of this would have happened. They would have replaced my stuff, never questioned anything, never sent my claim to "investigation".
State Farm insurance DID cover my vehicle, and two windows were replaced by noon the SAME day the breakin occurred, no questions asked, and didn't cost me a penny of the $658 dollars for the rapairs. No investigation, not "head games", just the SERVICE I needed.
Ever choose FAST FOOD over a restaurant? Notice that you get your food faster but the order is never right? Notice 20 people in line and only one out of four registers open? Bad SERVICE. Insurance is no different.
A word from the wise, PURCHASE insurance from a REPUTABLE and RENOWNED company. If you live in Florida, you just may be S.O.L. (S*** Out Of Luck), unless you move or something ;-(
Yes, this is very UNFAIR. I had no choice, just could not find insurance, until I settled for "fast insurance" (no pun on "fast food").
You wanna live in the tropics? You wanna laugh at your freezing, snowed-in friends up north in February while sitting under a palm tree? Sorry, Pay the price! I did.
I SHOULD not have to be that way ... FL should have more insurance for homeowners, even if you have to pay a little more.
Meanwhile (as of 7-5-2005), tropical storms Cindy and Dennis are in the Caribbean, Dennis may hit FL, and it is only July 5. Did you know that this is the first time in history 4 named storms developed in the Atlantic by or before July 5?
Is this the Atlantic or West Pacific?
Cheap insurance companies in Florida now have another "excuse" to screw.
---------------------
Chris Collura - KG4PJN
www.sky-chaser.com
[email protected]
i feel your pain... I have nice equipment that i have invested alot into as well.. I have anxiety all the time about it being taken.. 
