Stolen gear at NAB

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davefisk

DVXuser Sponsor
Hey All. There was some gear stolen from Lectrosonics and Zaxcom this year at NAB. I am good friends with both companies, so I am spreading the word for everyone to keep a lookout for the following items listed below. From what I hear Petrol had a camera stolen from them as well, but I don't have the details on that yet. I know we have readers from all over the globe, so I ask that everyone keep an eye out. This stuff could end up anywhere on earth considering that we had people from all over at NAB. If you see something that looks too good to be true on craig's list or ebay, or even in your local pawn shop, let me know immediately. Here is the list:

STOLEN FROM LECTRO:
QTY Model SN SN SN SN Notes
1 WM-20 104 body pack
1 WM-19 102 body pack
1 WM-22 108 body pack
1 WM-23 110 body pack
2 LMA-23 9509 9348 body pack
1 LMA-26 9449 body pack
4 UM400A-21 12265 12266 12267 12268 body pack
2 SRA5P-21 61631 50323 Portable receiver
2 SRA5P-24 65101 61676 Portable receiver
2 SRA-26 100637 100639 Portable receiver
2 SRA-21 105118 100282 Portable receiver
4 UCR411A-22 20182 19927 19928 19929 Portable receiver
4 UCR401-25 5046 5047 5048 5049 receiver
2 UCR100-21 10920 10826 Portable receiver
2 UCR100-22 10901 10902 Portable receiver
4 D4R 208 209 210 211 Digital wireless
4 D4T 190 193 194 195 Digital wireless
4 R400A-21 3353 3563 3564 3565 desk top receiver
4 IFBT4-24 5478 5504 5505 5506 base station
4 IFBR1A-25 2313 23783 23784 23785 belt pack receiver
4 M4R 128 177 123 139 belt pack receiver
4 M4T 101 108 161 162 base station
2 Octopack-L 10149 60119 Portable dock
1 SPNTRIO 5400191 DSP
3 VRMWBL 1501041 1501042 1501043 Rack receiver
1 VRS-22 8146 Receiver module
2 VRS-23 8157 8156 Receiver module
2 VRS-25 8172 8171 Receiver module
1 VRS-19 8134 Receiver module
1 MM400C-19 1566 body pack
1 MM400C-23 1563 body pack
1 MM400C-25 1608 body pack
1 MM400C-26 1522 body pack
4 HM-25 4153 4189 4190 3776 plug-on
4 SMV-21 1680 1907 1908 1909 body pack
1 SMQV-25 5981 body pack
2 SMQV-19 5849 6408 body pack
1 SMQV-22 6380 body pack
1 HH-19 ? handheld
1 HH-20 ? Handheld
1 HH-21 ? handheld
1 HH-24 ? handheld

STOLEN FROM ZAXCOM

STA042 #00756
STA042 #00791
STA150 #00792
ERX1TCD #0528TCD
ERX1TCD #0529TCD
ERX1TCD #0530
ERX1TCD #0531
Nomad 6 #10253
Micplexer #1032
mix8 #1090
Mix8 #1091
RX4900 #114
QRX100Q #1170 B26
QRX100Q w/QIFB #1224yB21
ZFR300 #1325
ZFR100 #1326
ZFR200 #1327
QRX100Q #1
 
Well, the Zaxcom theft happened sometime between Wednesday night the Thursday morning. They take down all their gear and lock it in Pelican cases that are underneath their covered tables. Whoever stole it just grabbed the cases and walked out with them. The Lectro stuff was stolen after final tear down on Thursday. Larger companies like that have their gear packed up and in cases, and then the gear is loaded out and shipped back to Lectro. The Lectro theft happened during that time, when nobody from Lectro was around. I have never heard of this volume of high priced gear getting stolen. Usually it's something small like a mic or two. Nothing on this scale.
 
Me too. I'm regularly checking the typical online selling places for gear. It could take a long time, but hopefully it will get found. That, or some overseas manufacturer nabbed the gear to try and reverse engineer it.
 
Hey you can't just quote my eBay add like that!

Couldn't resist. But that is just incredible! How in heck did someone steal all that during a show?

I will keep an eye out. Hope they get nailed but good.




davefisk said:
Hey All. There was some gear stolen from Lectrosonics and Zaxcom this year at NAB. I am good friends with both companies, so I am spreading the word for everyone to keep a lookout for the following items listed below. From what I hear Petrol had a camera stolen from them as well, but I don't have the details on that yet. I know we have readers from all over the globe, so I ask that everyone keep an eye out. This stuff could end up anywhere on earth considering that we had people from all over at NAB. If you see something that looks too good to be true on craig's list or ebay, or even in your local pawn shop, let me know immediately. Here is the list:

STOLEN FROM LECTRO:
QTY Model SN SN SN SN Notes
1 WM-20 104 body pack
1 WM-19 102 body pack
1 WM-22 108 body pack
1 WM-23 110 body pack
2 LMA-23 9509 9348 body pack
1 LMA-26 9449 body pack
4 UM400A-21 12265 12266 12267 12268 body pack
2 SRA5P-21 61631 50323 Portable receiver
2 SRA5P-24 65101 61676 Portable receiver
2 SRA-26 100637 100639 Portable receiver
2 SRA-21 105118 100282 Portable receiver
4 UCR411A-22 20182 19927 19928 19929 Portable receiver
4 UCR401-25 5046 5047 5048 5049 receiver
2 UCR100-21 10920 10826 Portable receiver
2 UCR100-22 10901 10902 Portable receiver
4 D4R 208 209 210 211 Digital wireless
4 D4T 190 193 194 195 Digital wireless
4 R400A-21 3353 3563 3564 3565 desk top receiver
4 IFBT4-24 5478 5504 5505 5506 base station
4 IFBR1A-25 2313 23783 23784 23785 belt pack receiver
4 M4R 128 177 123 139 belt pack receiver
4 M4T 101 108 161 162 base station
2 Octopack-L 10149 60119 Portable dock
1 SPNTRIO 5400191 DSP
3 VRMWBL 1501041 1501042 1501043 Rack receiver
1 VRS-22 8146 Receiver module
2 VRS-23 8157 8156 Receiver module
2 VRS-25 8172 8171 Receiver module
1 VRS-19 8134 Receiver module
1 MM400C-19 1566 body pack
1 MM400C-23 1563 body pack
1 MM400C-25 1608 body pack
1 MM400C-26 1522 body pack
4 HM-25 4153 4189 4190 3776 plug-on
4 SMV-21 1680 1907 1908 1909 body pack
1 SMQV-25 5981 body pack
2 SMQV-19 5849 6408 body pack
1 SMQV-22 6380 body pack
1 HH-19 ? handheld
1 HH-20 ? Handheld
1 HH-21 ? handheld
1 HH-24 ? handheld

STOLEN FROM ZAXCOM

STA042 #00756
STA042 #00791
STA150 #00792
ERX1TCD #0528TCD
ERX1TCD #0529TCD
ERX1TCD #0530
ERX1TCD #0531
Nomad 6 #10253
Micplexer #1032
mix8 #1090
Mix8 #1091
RX4900 #114
QRX100Q #1170 B26
QRX100Q w/QIFB #1224yB21
ZFR300 #1325
ZFR100 #1326
ZFR200 #1327
QRX100Q #1
Click to expand...
 
Noiz2 said:
How in heck did someone steal all that during a show?

I will keep an eye out. Hope they get nailed but good.
Click to expand...

The gear was stolen "after hours" when the show was closed for the evening, or, in the case of Lectro, it was taken after tear down and all the gear was packed up and ready for shipping. Typically what will happen with manufacturers that don't drive the gear in themselves is they'll have the gear shipped right to their booth, and after tear down on the last day, the'll pack it all up, label it, and leave it to be picked up for shipping. It was after it was packed and labeled and the Lectro guys left that the gear was stolen. The thing is, you have no idea when the gear will be picked up. It could be picked up 10 minutes after you leave, or picked up the next day, so you can't expect them to sit there until it leaves. The whole idea is that we, as manufacturers, trust that the NAB people will take care of our stuff once we hand it off to them after the show. Obviously this did not happen with Lectro. We also expect that there will be security patrolling the show floor at night when it is closed to the public. Obviously this did not help Zaxcom. If I showed up, and our case that we lock all our valuable gear up in was stolen, I'd be irate and on a warpath, but that's just me. Colleen from Zaxcom had to spend most of the day on thursday dealing with the cops filling out police reports and all that. Now Lectro has to go through the same thing. There is no video cameras anywhere in the convention center. I am seriously considering bringing our own video surveillance system to have running in our booth next year. If someone walked away with all of our gear, we'd be screwed for the show.
 
I have had the occasion to make acquaintances with individuals who do set up and tear down, the real sweaty muscle parts, at a convention center here in Detroit. From what they told me, everything from pilfering to blatant theft of products is a normal part of the business. I guess except for a few anal retentive event organizers and a few Barney Fife type rent-a-cops, nobody at a large convention venue gives a sh*t about it. Before I'm hit with disparaging comments about what kind of town Detroit is, I have to say that I bet that Las Vegas is that kind of town also, as is most other large cities. It is sad, very sad.
 
They all are. I had a guy take a monitor from our booth during tear down right in front of me. I got it back.

Unfortunately, a vendor has no control of their equipment. it is hands off once it hits the dock until it gets to your booth and visa versa.
 
davefisk said:
The gear was stolen "after hours" when the show was closed for the evening, or, in the case of Lectro, it was taken after tear down and all the gear was packed up and ready for shipping. Typically what will happen with manufacturers that don't drive the gear in themselves is they'll have the gear shipped right to their booth, and after tear down on the last day, the'll pack it all up, label it, and leave it to be picked up for shipping. It was after it was packed and labeled and the Lectro guys left that the gear was stolen. The thing is, you have no idea when the gear will be picked up. It could be picked up 10 minutes after you leave, or picked up the next day, so you can't expect them to sit there until it leaves. The whole idea is that we, as manufacturers, trust that the NAB people will take care of our stuff once we hand it off to them after the show. Obviously this did not happen with Lectro. We also expect that there will be security patrolling the show floor at night when it is closed to the public. Obviously this did not help Zaxcom. If I showed up, and our case that we lock all our valuable gear up in was stolen, I'd be irate and on a warpath, but that's just me. Colleen from Zaxcom had to spend most of the day on thursday dealing with the cops filling out police reports and all that. Now Lectro has to go through the same thing. There is no video cameras anywhere in the convention center. I am seriously considering bringing our own video surveillance system to have running in our booth next year. If someone walked away with all of our gear, we'd be screwed for the show.
Click to expand...

Someone would probably steal the video surveillance system as well.
 
That's just plain ridiculous.

Yes, I get that it comes with the territory, but surely there could be room for a better system which doesn't involve leaving your stuff packaged in lovely wheeled containers ready to be taken away!

I'll keep an eye out and post if I see anything.
 
josh-ozirigpro said:
That's just plain ridiculous.

Yes, I get that it comes with the territory, but surely there could be room for a better system which doesn't involve leaving your stuff packaged in lovely wheeled containers ready to be taken away!

I'll keep an eye out and post if I see anything.
Click to expand...

Depends on the type of booth you have and your budget. We usually rent our booth from Freeman Services, and there is no closet to lock anything in. We could have a custom booth built that has a locked closet, but that costs a ton of money for something we only use once a year. Some bigger manufacturers do have that. At IBC in Amsterdam we are able to rent a booth that does have a closet with a lock on it, and that is nice. It's also a matter of time. Packing everything up at the end of the night and locking it away takes a lot of time, especially if you have a giant booth, and then you have to come in and re-set it up every day, which is even more time. I've had to do that before when I worked at Coffey Sound and we had a ton of expensive gear at the show, and it's a pain in the rear. Either way, these thefts show a big lack of security, and it's very sad to see this happen when we are told that our gear is safe.
 
I was with Comer Electronic in Central Hall. We came back Tuesday morning and found several big Comer batteries and one of their dual charger were stolen too. We just left them on the floor while charging. It happened after hours.
 
NAMM is the same way. Freeman runs that convention too. A couple of years ago, the floor was abuzz because Gibson or Fender had a guitar taken from their booth. One valued in the 5 figures. Will keep my eyes/ears open too. I am always on the prowl for "cheap" gear.

And thieves hold a very particular place in my mind.
 
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davefisk said:
Well, the Zaxcom theft happened sometime between Wednesday night the Thursday morning. They take down all their gear and lock it in Pelican cases that are underneath their covered tables. Whoever stole it just grabbed the cases and walked out with them. The Lectro stuff was stolen after final tear down on Thursday. Larger companies like that have their gear packed up and in cases, and then the gear is loaded out and shipped back to Lectro. The Lectro theft happened during that time, when nobody from Lectro was around. I have never heard of this volume of high priced gear getting stolen. Usually it's something small like a mic or two. Nothing on this scale.
Click to expand...

Do I start one of my anti union rants... I hate being an exhibitor in Las Vegas... The prohibition on exhibitors 'carting' their stuff if the item is bigger than a suitecase... to me just opens up the window of opportunity...

But then a few days ago Tom Petty and his band had their guitars stolen, and a security guard was arrested...

These days I'd put some sort of 3G/4G... heck even a 2G connectable GPS device on boxes with valuable equipment...
 
j1clark@ucsd.edu said:
Do I start one of my anti union rants...
Click to expand...
Of course not, because such a rant is specifically discouraged here at DVXUser. As would a pro-union rant be.

These days I'd put some sort of 3G/4G... heck even a 2G connectable GPS device on boxes with valuable equipment...
Click to expand...
Pretty good idea.

Lectro is not the only booth that had high dollar stuff stolen. We asked why they just don't check the security tapes and see who took it, and what I was told is that the contract that is in place prevents there being any manner of surveillance system used inside the convention center... =:O
 
We asked why they just don't check the security tapes and see who took it, and what I was told is that the contract that is in place prevents there being any manner of surveillance system used inside the convention center... =:O
Click to expand...

Seems ubsurd in this day and age. I would imagine a good number of the venders just assume it has cameras throughout. I would. There's cams every where these days. Especially NAB, being such a high profile show. Curious to know why there's no cams, maybe due to copyright, or trademark infringement??
 
I swear, as much as I wanted to go to NAB............I was not there and I have a solid alibi.

But next year.......I might offer my services as a "Loss Prevention Specialist":



"Put that gear down, or I will shoot"
 

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