Accidental  Plateau wrote:
I am sorry for your unfortunate experience OP.

1) Robbery has the element of force and based on what you wrote this was a larceny.

2) Heads up for next time. Do not leave your things unguarded and people out of your site. They did not have to let you search the car, if you did not observe them take it, and they tried to leave, and you stopped them, you could have been arrested yoruself. Bot wanting to get in a forum debate, but the point is, dont put yourself in the situation where you have to stop and search people. If they tried to leave YOU would have been in big trouble. JUST A FACT.

Never allow people you dont trust to be near your things unobserved.

Thanks!  The boyfriend's mother and the model were sort of helping me search the car, so I wasn't really forcefully searching the car.  They let me search the car, although I really didn't ask, I just said "I have to search your car".

But yeah, lesson well learned and hopefully it won't happen again, but if it does I'll be more prepared as to knowing what to do.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

Thanks!  The boyfriend's mother and the model were sort of helping me search the car, so I wasn't really forcefully searching the car.  They let me search the car, although I really didn't ask, I just said "I have to search your car".

But yeah, lesson well learned and hopefully it won't happen again, but if it does I'll be more prepared as to knowing what to do.

Just a theory but the bf might have acted alone on impulse. The gf and mother may not know and when he did do it do the right thing.

Once again, it bears repeating, organize your things so nothing is left out.

It is far easier to secure ahead of time then recover later. And as I said, you are opening yourself up to problems especially being a man over 35 dealing with teenagers.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
This just happened yesterday.  A model I have worked with many times was here for a video shoot.  I film various non-nude fetish videos.  This time she brought her new boyfriend and his Mom.  Apparently she doesn't get along with her real Mom so they took her in.

They all come in and down to my finished basement where I do all of my video work, as it's quiet and far away from my African Grey parrot upstairs.  I do my photography in my living room which has been converted into my studio space.

At one point during the shoot they ask if they can go out to their car to get cigarettes and have a smoke outside, and so they leave and do that.  They come back after a while and return to my basement.  After the shoot is over we gather all the models stuff and head upstairs.  The Mom and her son go to the car while the model stays behind to sign the release, get her check, and I need to take a photo of her holding her I.D., the release form and the check I'm paying her with.  But guess what, I can't find my D700 that was right on the piano in my living room.  I knew for a fact it was there, and it's nowhere to be found.  I come to the conclusion that I need to search their car, which I tell the model, and we both go outside and I start tearing the car apart in a rage - lol

I first find my old D70, which i didn't know was missing, so now I know for sure the D700 is here somewhere, and sure enough, the boyfriend was reluctant to get out of the front passenger seat of their small SUV as that revealed my D700 on the floor behind his feet and tucked under the seat somewhat.

I'm a very calm and forgiving person, so perhaps stupidly I didn't call the police.  I was a pretty bad kid in my day and did much worse, so I just told them to leave.

So I guess I'm now one of the photographers that does not allow escorts in my house.  They can come with, but they have to stay outside in the car - maybe go see a movie, shop at Walmart, etc etc - anything but come into my home.  I did scan my house and did somewhat of an inventory and nothing else seems to be missing, plus I did tear that car apart really well and found nothing else.

I know it's against the rules to out people in the public forums, so if anyone in my area wants to know who this model is they can message me privately.  Although I honestly don't think the model knew he was going to do that as I have worked with her many times, but I do think the boyfriend's mother knew, as she left with him and a D700 with a D70 is pretty hard not to spot if someone is carrying them.  Plus the fact that I found the D70 in the back and then the D700 in the front makes me think she was carrying the D70.

And now you know why I don't allow escorts!  I don't leave my gear around all that much - it's either around my neck or in a camera bag. 

And it's not just gear that can get stolen - some props have value (jewelry, personal electronics, etc.) and they can walk off a set as well. 

If it was up to me - I'd have called the cops and reported a theft and let the cops ask if their car could be searched.  I'd have bet real money that the BF and maybe even his mother had a record.  A police officer could check ID, and if one of them was on parole, they could have been searched without a warrant (a condition of probation or parole in most states).

Accidental  Plateau wrote:
I am sorry for your unfortunate experience OP.

1) Robbery has the element of force and based on what you wrote this was a larceny.

2) Heads up for next time. Do not leave your things unguarded and people out of your site. They did not have to let you search the car, if you did not observe them take it, and they tried to leave, and you stopped them, you could have been arrested yoruself. Bot wanting to get in a forum debate, but the point is, dont put yourself in the situation where you have to stop and search people. If they tried to leave YOU would have been in big trouble. JUST A FACT.

Never allow people you dont trust to be near your things unobserved.

Yet another reason why I don't allow escorts.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
So I guess I'm now one of the photographers that does not allow escorts in my house.

I wonder how many models will realize from reading this that boyfriends are a greater risk than photographers? Sadly, not many.

Moon Pix Photography wrote:
YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYONE ANY FAVORS BY NOT REPORTING TO THE POLICE... IN FACT, THEY ARE LIKELY TO ROB SOMEONE ELSE BECAUSE OF IT.

He did contact the State Police later.

Jerry Nemeth wrote:

He did contact the State Police later.

Oh good.. I didn't read the entire thread.

Moon Pix Photography wrote:

Oh good.. I didn't read the entire thread.

Yeah, and it was a waste of time, mainly because it was after it happened.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
My wife told me that our home owners insurance would have covered it.  She called and asked.

I'm not sure you can depend on homeowner's insurance.  I had some stuff stolen a few years back and the morning I was expecting them to cut a check for over 10K I was told someone in the office Googled me and since I'm a working photographer all my stolen gear is considered for commercial usage and they would only pay $400.  I got a dedicated policy the next day.

rp_photo wrote:

I wonder how many models will realize from reading this that boyfriends are a greater risk than photographers? Sadly, not many.

Here's the real kicker. How much do you want to bet that if they drove off with the OP's gear, the BF would have snickered and said to the model, "heheheh...look at what I did!" and I'm sure the model would have gotten pissed, told him to go return it, but then realized she'd be implicated in a crime along with him so they decide not to do it. She'd have some guilt over the matter, but that guilt would pass when she bought a new pair of shoes with the money from his camera.

Until I know these people personally, I'd never let ANYONE go through your house unattended for any reason. Even if it's something as simple as "I left something in the car". The list of things the OP did to create this mess is very long, but it still doesn't change the fact that odds are, the model would have been a willing accomplice to this crime too.

YET ANOTHER reason to not allow escorts but also, and even more important, to have an easily accessible list of the serial numbers of all your gear. This can be given to the police and quickly distributed to places like pawn shops that look for and database these things. Pawn shops don't want stolen goods so they check for this stuff. You also then have some recourse if the items shows up on craigslist or eBay as well. Every time I buy a new camera body, lens, or other item of value, the serial number goes on the list before I ever use it.

Thyronne wrote:

I'm not sure you can depend on homeowner's insurance.  I had some stuff stolen a few years back and the morning I was expecting them to cut a check for over 10K I was told someone in the office Googled me and since I'm a working photographer all my stolen gear is considered for commercial usage and they would only pay $400.  I got a dedicated policy the next day.

I only know because my wife called and confirmed with them.

Shot By Adam wrote:
Here's the real kicker. How much do you want to bet that if they drove off with the OP's gear, the BF would have snickered and said to the model, "heheheh...look at what I did!" and I'm sure the model would have gotten pissed, told him to go return it, but then realized she'd be implicated in a crime along with him so they decide not to do it. She'd have some guilt over the matter, but that guilt would pass when she bought a new pair of shoes with the money from his camera.

Until I know these people personally, I'd never let ANYONE go through your house unattended for any reason. Even if it's something as simple as "I left something in the car". The list of things the OP did to create this mess is very long, but it still doesn't change the fact that odds are, the model would have been a willing accomplice to this crime too.

YET ANOTHER reason to not allow escorts but also, and even more important, to have an easily accessible list of the serial numbers of all your gear. This can be given to the police and quickly distributed to places like pawn shops that look for and database these things. Pawn shops don't want stolen goods so they check for this stuff. You also then have some recourse if the items shows up on craigslist or eBay as well. Every time I buy a new camera body, lens, or other item of value, the serial number goes on the list before I ever use it.

I agree totally - especially the first part about the model.  It sucks that there are people who would pull this sort of shit, but I should not have let them wander unattended.  It was very stupid on my part for sure - lesson well learned!

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

I only know because my wife called and confirmed with them.

You NEED a dedicated commercial policy if you're a working photographer. Your homeowners won't cover "work equipment".

Looknsee Photography wrote:
I do allow llama herders, but...

...  One should check the llama herders' references just like one should check models'.
...  I never allow them to wander through the house unllama herdered.
...  I hold the model responsible for the llama herders' behavior.

I would have been tempted to take the model's check back

Erlinda wrote:

I didn't get ummmm what did you call it " get a hair across your ass about this" That's the first time I've ever heard that. I don't get it but it sounds kind of funny...

I guess the way I word things make me seem rude, can't help it. It's just how I roll.

When I wrote my statements the OP hadn't called the police

Telling someone their stupid is rude. Its not a matter of how you "word" things.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

No more escorts in my house - period.  They can walk the model to the door, help with bags, but then it's back out to the car they go.  If a model doesn't like that, then I have tons that won't mind at all.

And sure, maybe I should have called the police, but I could hardly think straight I was so mad.  I really doubt there will be a next time, but if there is I'm definitely calling the cops.

Had my credit card stolen once. Not sure if it was the model or the friend she brought. I wouldn't allow escorts in my house either. You can't keep an eye on them while your occupied shooting.

Misfit Photography wrote:
Telling someone their stupid is rude. Its not a matter of how you "word" things.

This is one for the grammar police

Misfit Photography wrote:
Telling someone their stupid is rude. Its not a matter of how you "word" things.

Oh look another follower, because the other 4 people telling me I'm rude wasn't enough. Cry me a river

It's my opinion. If someone let's a thief run free then yeah me and most sane people would think they are stupid/idiots. Don't like what I have to say? Don't read it better yet, don't Post a thread about letting someone go who just tried to rob you

Erlinda wrote:
Oh look another follower, because the other 463836373 people telling me I'm rude wasn't enough. Cry me a river

It's my opinion. If someone let's a thief run free then yeah me and most sane people would think they are stupid/idiots. Don't like what I have to say? Don't read it better yet, don't Post a thread about letting someone go who just tried to rob you

Its my opinion that MM is full of people that are stunned cunts. I don't go around telling them that, it would be rude. If on the exceptional occasion that i do, i'll fully admit to being rude.
Yeah he let the people go which runs contrary to what most people THINK they would do. Until it happens to you, you might find you react differently. Oh, and its theft, not robbery.
EDIT
And no i'm not making any reference to you in case anyone views it like that.

Misfit Photography wrote:

Its my opinion that MM is full of people that are stunned cunts. I don't go around telling them that, it would be rude. If on the exceptional occasion that i do, i'll fully admit to being rude.
Yeah he let the people go which runs contrary to what most people THINK they would do. Until it happens to you, you might find you react differently. Oh, and its theft, not robbery.

I don't go around the forums everyday calling people stupid and being rude, it's not me. But Sometimes it's do when someone does something that could and most likely will affect other professionals around him because of his actions or lack there of.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
I know it's against the rules to out people in the public forums, so if anyone in my area wants to know who this model is they can message me privately.

My PM is incoming.

John Allan wrote:
Just yesterday, I had an MM model get all huffy because she demanded I let her bring her boyfriend to protect her and I politely said no. She actually blocked me on here as a result (no big deal), but it surprised me a little.

She'll have a new one (or two or three) next month anyway,

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
This guy lets us know if a squirrel farts within 100 feet of the house:

He'd pick me up miles away

Kendra from Canada wrote:
cancel the cheque....and when you advise the model that you did, tell her your professional relationship is over....don't trust her ever again, she knows damn well what type of boyfriend she has!!

If she puts up a fuss, ask her what her boyfriend and the mom's names are so you can report the incident to the police.  Then get a house alarm, they will be back!!
(hope you got the licence plate in case anything further happens)

I would agree with the fact that they maybe back. I was on a Police force and I know many towns to "reports" only so the issue is on file. Remember if there freaking out it that you are going to the police...you run a slight risk of them fabricating another story.

Me on the other hand..... I'm not sure it would have escalated a little more after I found my stuff. Punks like that need to be taught a lesson and same for the crack head mom, for going a long with it.