Stolen Gear

[Tx]

I just heard tonight that a photographer at KHOU-TV in Houston had his gear stolen. I heard that he was out on a shoot when two guys roughed him up,and stole his camera,and tripod. I hope the photographer is ok.

WC

[Run&Gun]

My condolences(sp?) to the guy. I know how he feels, I had all of my gear(except camera) and truck stolen a couple of months ago while at a hotel in Atlanta.

I hope he can ID the guys and they nail there @$$es to the wall.

[Tx]

If I hear anything else I will post it. I had today off. About three months ago we had a news truck stolen a local grocery store with all the gear in it. They found the truck south of San Antonio after a chase with the police. They put over 10,000 miles on it in one month. Going across the border . The inside was trashed. All the gear was gone. Turns out the gear made into a flea market. All of it sold for $800. The guy turned around and sold it on the internet. The FBI is now involved. We still don`t have the gear back. The truck is back in service. I guess a tracking device on the truck would have helped ? Watch your back.

WC

[focusthis]

Would that tracking device look like station graphics??





/flame on
//naked trux rox
///will miss mine

[Run&Gun]

Would that tracking device look like station graphics??





/flame on
//naked trux rox
///will miss mine

LOL. A lot of stations' vehicles look like parade floats that are so bright and gaudy, even Helen Keller could spot one.

But seriously, every station should consider LoJack for their vehicles if it's available in the area. $700 to $1,000(depending on model and that's a one time fee, no monthly bill) isn't that much when you consider the worth of a live truck or just the gear in a regular unit. It may not stop a theft, but it can make the recovery very quick. I've heard at least one story of a sub-ten minute recovery(after police were called) of a LoJack equiped vehicle.

[backfocus5]

I hope he is doing all right. I have heard that some large market stations are even considering doing away with lettering news vehicles and live trucks. This would seem the sensible thing to do. LoJack is a good thing to have. Worth the investment unless you have a station GM who thinks it's too much to spend.

Thoughts and prayers to the photog.



"Let's Be Careful Out There!"

[1911A1]

I have heard that some large market stations are even considering doing away with lettering news vehicles and live trucks. This would seem the sensible thing to do.


As much as I hate logos on station vehicles, there's really no disguising a live van. Anybody can tell what it is, logo or not.

As for regular news units, many larger market stations do run them without logos so they aren't as vulnerable to theft and break-ins. My station just recently started marking some of its news units after a long period of having no marked units in the fleet and we're the only major affiliate that has done so (with no break-ins of of marked vehicles--so far).

Sadly, most small market stations mark their vehicles like they're parade floats. I've always found it ironic that stations that can least afford to have equipment stolen are the ones that paint "expensive teevee equipment inside" logos on their vehicles.

[Spacey]

Someone check with fMc (FrankMcBride) - he's at KHOU. Certainly hope it's not him, he's a real nice guy (not that anyone deserves it.) BTW, KTRK is the only Houston group I've seen with unmarked units, SAT units are still plastered with the ole' 13.

[svp]

I would think there are pro's and cons to marking vehicles. If they're unmarked, there less likely to be broken into but more likely to be stolen. Theives aren't going to steal a marked news unit. They're too easily spotted. And while marked units are more likely a target for break-ins, its a rolling billboard for the station (free advertising) and makes it easier for cops to find the unit if its stolen. As far as break-ins go, we're told to take EVERYTHING out the of vehicle when we're home at night or at a hotel. The only exception is if you have a secured garage at home to park the vehicle in. If you don't have a garage, yet take your vehicle home, its your own fault if things get stolen. I know its a pain in the a$$ to take everything out every night but its better than having it stolen.

[1911A1]

As far as break-ins go, we're told to take EVERYTHING out the of vehicle when we're home at night or at a hotel. The only exception is if you have a secured garage at home to park the vehicle in. If you don't have a garage, yet take your vehicle home, its your own fault if things get stolen. I know its a pain in the a$$ to take everything out every night but its better than having it stolen.


Our rule is to take the camera inside. Everything else can be replaced more quickly than a camera.

I'm glad, too. It'd take me an hour or two to completely unload my news unit every night. ;)

[svp]

Our rule is to take the camera inside. Everything else can be replaced more quickly than a camera.

I'm glad, too. It'd take me an hour or two to completely unload my news unit every night. ;)


It takes me about 5 minutes. 3 trips from the vehicle to my apartment.

[Shootblue]

Having ridden in 1911a's unit, I can tell you that it would take the better part of the evening to move it all. I get to move all my stuff from my car to the newscar and back each day. It is a total p.i.t.a.

[Clutch City]

Someone check with fMc (FrankMcBride) - he's at KHOU. Certainly hope it's not him, he's a real nice guy (not that anyone deserves it.) BTW, KTRK is the only Houston group I've seen with unmarked units, SAT units are still plastered with the ole' 13.

No. It was not Frank.
All of the Houston stations have unmarked news cars, but most live trucks are marked at every station.

Allen
KPRC

[Tx]

Allen is right, none of our news trucks are marked. Just the live trucks. But for the past two years we are running the trucks. So now we have our gear in a more unsecure vehicle. I`ve given the management staff a list of idea`s for improvement in the live truck operation,but no action yet. I was also told this robbery happened around 5:30pm on Friday in Southwest Houston. Now what do we do when we go to a bad part of town to get a VO of a shooting an hour late ? No cops,nothing but trouble waiting for you ? Watch your back.

WC

[Frank McBride]

The photographer who was attacked was Nathan Kvinge. I will pass along your support and let him know this thread is here. He is back to work and fine today, a little sore but mostly unhappy it ever happened.

What happened, as I understand it, is that he and a reporter were shooting a story in SW Houston on a problem with birds becoming a nuisance in a neighborhood. It was a nightside story, but I don't believe it was very dark at the time of the incident. The shoot was basically over, the reporter was in the unit on the phone with the DA's office and Nathan had spotted on more shot and stopped to shoot it.

Right after he snapped the camera onto the tripod, a guy (I have not heard any descriptions) came up behind him and either punched him in the back of the head or forearmed him to the ground. As Nathan collected himself, the attacker tried to take the camera, but was struggling with removing it from the tripod. Nathan tried to grab the guy and eventually the suspect ran with tripod and camera and threw them into a waiting car which was parked in a lane of traffic. He jumped in and took off.

The reporter witnessed the initial attack from the car, immediately ended his call and dialed 911 as he ran up to the scene, yelling at the guy to stop.

They gave chase briefly, but the thieves were long gone.

I don't know what lessons can be taken from this. We all try to be careful, but unless we hire security everywhere we go, how can you guard against something like this? We of course have to be aware of our surroundings, but when you are targetted like they were, your just likely if you aren't hurt or killed.

I will ask Nathan if I got anything wrong here or if I left out something important. I guess we just have to always expect the worst, eh?

FMc

[khoushooter]

Quick update. Our guy is fine. It was not Frank McBride. I talked with our guy that got jumped briefly this morning. It appears that physically he is fine. Right now he is just trying to gather together some new gear, or whatever he can put together, those were his thoughts this morning.

For the record all of news units are unmarked. This was random and in broad daylight. The guy walked up, thumped him from behind and took off with his camera and sticks.

Bottom line. Keep your eyes open and always be aware of your surroundings. Even though most reporters think we have eyes in the back of our heads!!! HEHEHEHE Just a joke!!!

[mi3ke]

As far as break-ins go, we're told to take EVERYTHING out the of vehicle when we're home at night or at a hotel. The only exception is if you have a secured garage at home to park the vehicle in. If you don't have a garage, yet take your vehicle home, its your own fault if things get stolen. I know its a pain in the a$$ to take everything out every night but its better than having it stolen.>>>> The only problem is that your homeowners insurance won't cover the gear while it is in your house. Two reasons: High dollar items, and it's work related. House burn down? The station could hit YOU up for rteplacement cost of the gear. Something to think about.

Cheers, Mi3ke
KOB-TV

[shoot low and wide]

I am sorry to hear that I knew Nathan when I was only a small kid he was always very nice to me and taught me everything that he knew I could understand about the art of shooting video. I hope that he recovers and I hope they find the people that did this to him.

Jonathan Uhl

[OKC CHIEF]

About the only thing I can think of to help keep one safer is to tell the reporter to keep their eyes peeled. Like a reporter can do more than one thing at a time. Seriously you can shoot your broll in front of the car so the sitting reporter can at least see you. I always try to teach myself to look around every other shot or two especially if I'm by myself in a bad neighborhood.

[Frank McBride]

Sorry that last message got messy toward the end. I was being summoned to a shoot as I wrapped it up.

I just want to clarify two things after speaking with Nathan again.

The incident was in broad daylight, not even close to dark.

Also, the attack happened shortly after he separated from another person who he had been talking with. There was a second person in the car, and the car had the license plate deliberately covered. You can conclude from these things that there was at least some pre-planning and watching going on before it happened.

It happened in a notoriously high-crime part of town, especially recently. It remains to be seen if this is a trend or isolated.

FMc

[Tx]

Hey Frank if you guys get a description of the car let us know. We spotted the car that stole our news truck a while back. You never know we might see it. To bad we can`t carry a gun with us.Our company policy will not let us carry. Texas does have the conceal weapon permit you can get. Take the class, and get a gun. I wonder about mace ? I thought about Bear mace,but it says on the can it could blind humans. It also says it can shoot up to 30 feet. I never carry my wallet when Im out on a shoot. Thats just one more thing they can steal. Again any description let us know. I know the area they were in, not to good. The whole SW area is getting worse every since last hurricane season. Watch your back.

WC

[Spacey]

Is this the "to carry or not to carry" issue? - It's been a while since we had that topic going on. If I remember correctly, one of our good freelancers that is here on the board every now and then, does carry - but in Hou, it seems like it's asking for more trouble than safety.

I didnt know about the other crews getting unmarked units, oughta keep my eyes open.:confused: