Biggest lens theft EVER !!!!!

[Mark Toia]

I thought I'd post this letter I received today hoping that someone in the world can help catch the thieves responsible.


Dear friends,

Unfortunately I have to report that a very large number of Master Prime lenses have been stolen in a burglary from our rental department. Please can you let me know if you hear of any Master Primes being offered for sale, especially if they have any of the following serial numbers:

[TABLE="class: t1, width: 377"]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931821[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930514[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8927969[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931791[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8927988[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8927967[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 16mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8926266[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922492[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922499[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8928002[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931219[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8926318[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8940887[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922390[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 18mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930081[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8928132[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930033[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8929864[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931862[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8933481[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8940908[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8941018[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8928128[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8928135[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 21mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931296[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922051[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922376[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922374[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922375[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931214[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8940619[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922378[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931213[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 25mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8934494[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 27mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8931281[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 27mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8941081[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 27mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8941122[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 27mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8940272[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 27mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930501[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 32mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8927959[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 32mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8927960[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 32mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930413[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"][/TD]
[TD="class: td2"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 35mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922341[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 35mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8922344[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: td1"]Zeiss 35mm T1.3 MASTER Prime[/TD]
[TD="class: td2"]8930490[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Thank you



Kind Regards
Andy Scott
Camera Department Manager

ARRI Media
3 Highbridge, Oxford Road, Uxbridge
Middlesex, UB8 1LX www.arrimedia.com
Tel.: +44 (0) 1895 457100
Fax: +44 (0) 1895 457101
usedequipment@arrimedia.com

 

[Gunleik Groven]

WTF!!!

 

[Bob Gundu]

OMG! So sorry to hear

 

[Curran Giddens]

Holy crap! That is like USD $1 million worth of lenses.

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

All your lens are belong to us!


Er... anyway, that's quite a list. Hope their insurance was paid up! And yes, always good advice to check serial numbers when buying used equipment or when buying from an unknown seller.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Incredible... We'll definitely refer to this list before buying any as new MP's from any one.

 

[Eric Z]

At around $20,000 / lens, this loot is worth around 900K. Wow...

 

[Kwan Khan]

Sorry to hear that Mark

 

[NormLi]

Wow, sorry to hear this Mark. That's crazy.

 

[Mark Pugh]

Sorry to hear that Mark

That's not Mark's personal lens collection. (!!!)

 

[Paul Ellington]

That is so not ok.

 

[Steve G]

Seems that these were stolen from Arri's own rental facility, Arrimedia, in London UK. One can presume strong arm tactics/violence was used by the thieves. This is not a small, unsecured business facility.

 

[Jon Jones]

It was probably an inside job. An employee with an eye for the black market perhaps...

 

[Steve G]

It was probably an inside job. An employee with an eye for the black market perhaps...

I suspect this is not the case. There have been a number of "attacks" on facility companies in London and other major cities in Europe over the last few years. This is the biggest yet, AFAIK. On previous raids, guns have been used, which is certainly not common in the UK. The gangs "shop to order". They have posed as potential clients to scope out premises, check what they have on their lists which are often on line, then strike. They leave behind stuff of low value.... Filters/Matt boxes/tripods etc, just going for the hi value stuff, like lenses and camera bodies. People seem to think the stuff ends up in the middle east/eastern Europe/Asia. Apparently much easier to find technicians who will service dodgy gear.

 

[Jon Jones]

Ahh, well that does suck royally. I only hope that something of this magnitude will be easier to find.

I suspect this is not the case. There have been a number of "attacks" on facility companies in London and other major cities in Europe over the last few years. This is the biggest yet, AFAIK. On previous raids, guns have been used, which is certainly not common in the UK. The gangs "shop to order". They have posed as potential clients to scope out premises, check what they have on their lists which are often on line, then strike. They leave behind stuff of low value.... Filters/Matt boxes/tripods etc, just going for the hi value stuff, like lenses and camera bodies. People seem to think the stuff ends up in the middle east/eastern Europe/Asia. Apparently much easier to find technicians who will service dodgy gear.

 

[Joseph Kh]

Wow. Thieves can come to your shop or via online so easily. It is difficult to know who is legit. Now if they target big companies, what about owners like us? What do we do to protect our gear?

 

[diego torroija]

No cool !!

 

[Will Keir]

Half million dollar new value. So we are going to see a lot of 3rd world films with sharp fast glass? What do the thieves expect to get for these on the black market? Half value? 1/3?

 

[Will Keir]

Simple. Production insurance or mean dogs.

Wow. Thieves can come to your shop or via online so easily. It is difficult to know who is legit. Now if they target big companies, what about owners like us? What do we do to protect our gear?

 

[Brian F Kobylarz]

Simple. Production insurance or mean dogs.

Mean dogs will bark and scare the thieves away.

On the other hand, a puma will hunker down, wait for just the right moment, then enjoy it's prize.