Photographer robbed twice in Detroit, criticizes police response

**Zacha341** · December-08-13, 09:05 PM

Photographer robbed twice in Detroit, criticizes police response

From article:

An internationally known photographer who has chronicled war-torn Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia got a taste of Detroit’s mean streets Wednesday when thieves stole $15,000 in camera equipment from his car.

Adding insult to injury: Shortly after the theft, the photographer, Christopher Morris, was robbed a second time by a man posing as a good Samaritan who claimed he could retrieve the equipment, police said.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131205/METRO01/312050113#ixzz2mwIL3eDE

**Downriviera** · December-08-13, 10:18 PM

Detroit 2 Taliban 0

**wolverine** · December-08-13, 11:29 PM

Whether I'm at a street parking meter or in a secured garage there's always a sign that says "Never leave valuables unattended in your vehicle."

Very unfortunate this is an expensive learning experience for the photographer. Hopefully he has good insurance to replace the stolen equipment.

**KJ5** · December-09-13, 12:38 AM

It's too bad the guy got robbed but...if he's going to criticize the police I'm going to criticize his leaving expensive camera equipment laying in his car in plain sight and giving a stranger on the street $200. He must have had some pretty good babysitters in those war-torn countries what with his complete lack of street smarts.

**acer_ventura** · December-09-13, 01:31 AM

My photo agency has pretty strict security protocols regarding photo shoots in Detroit whether they're PJ or commercial in nature. Obviously, one would never leave anything viewable in the passenger compartment that could be regarded as a saleable item... Apparently, Christopher's Beirut street cred wasn't enough to protect his gear.
Pro gear eventually turns up in a serial number search at a service depot, pawn shop, etc. Good luck to you and call your ins. agent. I'm not sure the police in any major metro area were going to be much more responsive than they already were...

**Sehv313** · December-09-13, 01:50 AM

Originally Posted by KJ5

with his complete lack of street smarts.

No, he just lacks common sense. I Wouldn't leave $15k worth of a camera equipment unattended in a car ANYWHERE!

**Zacha341** · December-09-13, 06:51 AM

I've been to that McDonalds, it draws a decent crowd and a transient one. Folks can easily hit and run, steal your stuff and take off of on foot into the over-grown wildness that is characteristic of much of that area.

Yeah, I have taken photos just for personal interest in some rough areas and always try take someone with me and you have to have your core equipment 'out' and ready, before you even get to the site. No even going into a trunk, or someone will be going into the trunk behind you!

Use one camera per shoot, to avoid too much changing or stuff and SHOWING of stuff as the thieves boldly watch. Sad accommodations but needed. I hope he did not loose any memory cards with photos.... that is irreplaceable.

I left a camera under the seat of a car, hidden [[so I thought) only to have window broken and camera stolen with irreplaceable photos. I now download photos the same day I take them for safekeeping, backed up.

Originally Posted by acer_ventura

...Christopher's Beirut street cred wasn't enough to protect his gear. Pro gear eventually turns up in a serial number search at a service depot, pawn shop, etc. Good luck to you and call your ins. agent. I'm not sure the police in any major metro area were going to be much more responsive than they already were...

**Zacha341** · December-09-13, 06:58 AM

It's sad... and the dude that claimed he could get his stuff back for $200 was the second half of the 'wrecking crew' that go about engaging in the taking of OPP [[other peoples property - in this cash!). They have no qualms about robbing and taking twice if possible as was this case!

Originally Posted by wolverine

Whether I'm at a street parking meter or in a secured garage there's always a sign that says "Never leave valuables unattended in your vehicle."

Very unfortunate this is an expensive learning experience for the photographer. Hopefully he has good insurance to replace the stolen equipment.

**KJ5** · December-09-13, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Sehv313

No, he just lacks common sense. I Wouldn't leave $15k worth of a camera equipment unattended in a car ANYWHERE!

yeah, I'll agree with that

**Honky Tonk** · December-09-13, 08:08 AM

And in other news......

"Detroit Police Department Criticizes Veteran War Photographer For Lack Of Common Sense"

**Bham1982** · December-09-13, 09:03 AM

It's obviously the fault of the thieves, but who in the hell leaves 15k in fancy equipment in plain view, in Detroit of all places?

I wouldn't leave an empty duffel bag visible, just beause someone might do a smash and grab, hoping to find something of value. I never park on the street in Detroit with anything inside visible, no matter how mundane/worthless.

And then he gave $200 in cash to a dude on the street to "find" his stuff? Did this guy just fall off the turnip truck?

**Chinman** · December-09-13, 10:12 AM

And Gifts were stolen from a car in the parking lot of Oakland Mall! This is being STUPID by leaving things in PLAIN SITE. it is NOT a Detroit thing! It is an Opportunist Thief THING! Move on...Nothing to see here!!!

**WaCoTS** · December-09-13, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by KJ5

It's too bad the guy got robbed but...if he's going to criticize the police I'm going to criticize his leaving expensive camera equipment laying in his car in plain sight and giving a stranger on the street $200. He must have had some pretty good babysitters in those war-torn countries what with his complete lack of street smarts.

lol ditto that

**daddeeo** · December-09-13, 10:52 AM

Someone lacks street smarts or common sense. Doh

Originally Posted by Chinman

And Gifts were stolen from a car in the parking lot of Oakland Mall! This is being STUPID by leaving things in PLAIN SITE. it is NOT a Detroit thing! It is an Opportunist Thief THING! Move on...Nothing to see here!!!

**Wesley Mouch** · December-09-13, 11:01 AM

A man approached the photographer claiming he could help him retrieve his equipment for a $200 fee, Woody said. “When [[Morris) handed over the money, the guy ran off with the cash,” Woody said.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...#ixzz2mzgC00fp

I'm not sure who's the bigger fool. The photog or the guy who asked for $200 when he could so easily have gotten $300.

**drpoundsign** · December-09-13, 11:06 AM

This is probably another casualty of the failed War on Drugs.

**jolla** · December-09-13, 11:35 AM

To be fair, the police response sucked.

But what a maroon!

**Johnnny5** · December-09-13, 11:50 AM

The sad part is that his belongings probably would have been safer left unattended in Kabul, Mogadishu or Baghdad.

**EastsideAl** · December-09-13, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by jolla

To be fair, the police response sucked.

But what a maroon!

The police actually showed up on site to investigate, went with him to the house where he thought his cell phone was, and eventually raided the place. Hell, he got better police response than most of us who actually live here get. Certainly better than when I chased burglars out of my apartment and down the street and was told by the DPD that there would be no police response - but I could go up to Gratiot and file a report sometime.

**Zacha341** · December-09-13, 01:43 PM

Ummm, really? I would not go quite that far.

Originally Posted by Johnnny5

The sad part is that his belongings probably would have been safer left unattended in Kabul, Mogadishu or Baghdad.

**compn** · December-09-13, 09:46 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

camera stolen with irreplaceable photos.

irreplaceable ruin porn photos? dont worry, the packard plant is still there.

even the secret service cant protect a van full of equipment in detroit.

maybe some cops could start putting some lojack stuff out there and catch these thieves? nah. chief james craig dont play simple games like that. he plays the camera game and the statistics game. arresting probation violators.

someones iphone gets swiped out of a car? cant send in 150 ATF, FBI, HOMELAND SECURITY guys after that.

chief james craig cant patrol some art buildings and catch an arsonist?
an arsonist whos targeting KNOWN BUILDINGS OVER AND OVER AGAIN?

thats not chief james craigs' job. chief james craig's job is to run away when someone comes up to his vehicle.

**compn** · December-09-13, 09:50 PM

Originally Posted by Zacha341

Photographer robbed twice in Detroit, criticizes police response

From article:

Adding insult to injury: Shortly after the theft, the photographer, Christopher Morris, was robbed a second time by a man posing as a good Samaritan who claimed he could retrieve the equipment, police said.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20131205/METRO01/312050113#ixzz2mwIL3eDE

is it robbery if he gives his money willingly to a guy, but the guy fails to deliver said equipment?

Robbery. The taking of money or goods in the possession of another, from his or her person or immediate presence, by force or intimidation.

he got fleeced, scammed, tricked, fooled, suckered.

robbed? no.

**Zacha341** · December-09-13, 10:12 PM

^^^ How's about 'ganked'...? Yeah, he got 'ganked' out of the $200. Lovely!

**Zacha341** · December-09-13, 10:17 PM

Hah! Your going down a road beyond my comments. I was speaking in general about the loss of a memory card or negatives. I don't do ruin porn but have had a camera stolen loaded with photos. Not a good day, withstanding the politics of what he was shooting...

Originally Posted by compn

irreplaceable ruin porn photos? dont worry, the packard plant is still there.