Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

Young - 20 to 23 tops.

You call that young? I can see maybe... maaaayyybbbeeee letting them go if they were 18 but in there 20's ppppffffttt their ass is toast...

Guess people shouldn't mess with me LOL

Erlinda wrote:

LOL my fat fingers hit the two keys right beside each other... Whats your excuse for letting a thief run free? Stupidity is the only thing that comes to mind to me

Who the hell are you to talk to people like this. You're aggressive and childish and belligerent to say the least. Always pumping the temperature to boiling point.

There's no guarantee going to the police results in a conviction.

They are regular business partners and he believes she was unaware.

People only suggested Police because he can not name her on MM.

Erlinda wrote:
LOL my fat fingers hit the two keys right beside each other... Whats your excuse for letting a thief run free? Stupidity is the only thing that comes to mind to me

Rollo David Snook wrote:
Who the hell are you to talk to people like this. You're aggressive and childish and belligerent to say the least. Always pumping the temperature to boiling point.

There's no guarantee going to the police results in a conviction.

They are regular business partners and he believes she was unaware.

People only suggested Police because he can not name her on MM.

I would suggest a police report, not only for prosecution, but also because it would be required for filing an insurance claim and also because the report (in many locations) puts the serial numbers on record to be watched for in pawn shops and recovered property.

Recommending a police report, IMHO, has NOTHING to do with not being able to name her on MM. NOTHING.

However, filing a police report DOES give something that the OP can provide to the MODS so that they can be given something tangible with regards to her.

Knowing all that, I would agree, if something is stolen, not filing a police report IS stupid, and would cause me to believe the story is bull shit and nothing more than trolling.

(Since the equip in this thread was apparently recovered, refer to my post below saying contact the police non-emergency line and find out if they are willing to take a report or not.)

Rollo David Snook wrote:
People only suggested Police because he can not name her on MM.

Wrong. I still think the OP is in the wrong for not reporting this, because there is a great chance this is not the first nor last time these people will try this kind of bullshit.

Erlinda wrote:

You call that young? I can see maybe... maaaayyybbbeeee letting them go if they were 18 but in there 20's ppppffffttt their ass is toast...

Guess people shouldn't mess with me LOL

Yeah, when you're nearly 50, 20 looks pretty young - lol

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
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.

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.

My bad, if they didn't actually get away with the items, I'd need to do some research to see if it was worth filing a police report or not.

If the items were actually stolen and not recovered, filing a police report seems absolute to me.

Filing a police report for attempted theft for property that you already recovered, I guess I would call the non-emergency number for the local cop shop and ask them what their opinion is.

Who knows, the police might like to have a report so that if these people do it to anyone else, they have another report of the previous (this) attempt.

AaronPawlak wrote:
why would you call the police?
you got your stuff back.



If you were robbed, and luckily managed to get your things back, the thief doesn't deserve punishment??  So if someone robs a bank and returns the money when caught, they should be released?

AaronPawlak wrote:
why would you call the police?
you got your stuff back.

To stop the thieves from attempting it til they get it right. It's called being a responsible citizen, and a responsible member of your community. NOT contacting the authorities about it merely gives the thieves positive reinforcement to make the same actions again.

IMHO alone, as always;

~Danny
http://www.dbiphotography.com/

Tony Lawrence wrote:
Bill you are better then me.   I would have called the police.   Had him arrested and canceled the check.   Odds are he'll do it again as there were no consequences.   Maybe the model didn't know about her BF but she not you is responsible for him.   He's free to rip other shooters off and maybe the next person won't notice until they have left.   Its not too late to speak to the police and would strongly suggest you do.

+100

Tony Lawrence wrote:

He's the evidence.   He checked the car and found his cameras.   Unless they can fly or walk somebody took them.   My suspicion would be that all three were in on it.

Unfortunately, there is a difference between what he knows, and what he can prove.

If everyone involved denied everything, he has nothing.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
How do you delete a thread?  I'm starting to regret posting this at all - lol

I'm glad you posted this.

You are another in the ever-growing number of photographers that have stuff walk away during an escorted shoot.

All it takes is one negative experience shooting an escorted model to change your mind about whether to allow them.

Image K wrote:
All it takes is one negative experience shooting an escorted model to change your mind about whether to allow them.

Oh, I have completely flipped my opinion on the matter - lol

Thanks!

K I C K H A M wrote:
OP-
Considering you got your stuff back, I'd say calling the police was your call.

The model is question- Why did she need an escort after working with you so many times?

However, young girls (and young people in general) aren't known for their intelligence--ESPECIALLY with dating. It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't know.

As far as the future, well, if I ever DO have anyone I don't know in my house, I don't leave valuables out in the open and where I can't see them.

I have no problem with people who allow escorts- but this is one of the major reasons I understand those who don't.

I think her escort was her ride. Why the boyfriend's MOTHER had to come is beyond me.

But I agree with this. You recovered the items, you could have called the police, but I understand why you didn't, and frankly, I might have the done the same. They stole something from you, you got it back, now you just want them gone. I totally get that.

To me, it doesn't sound like the boyfriend planned on stealing anything from you; he saw the opportunity and went with it. He's clearly not a seasoned thief, either, as he didn't hide the stolen merchandise well. And if the model was in on it, I highly doubt she would've let you search the vehicle, she would have made excuses as to why you shouldn't.

I don't see anything really "wrong" or "stupid" about how you handled this. However, I would consider contacting the police and giving whatever information you have on the guy in case he decides to do it to someone else, as well as contacting a mod in case anything like this happens with this model again.
^nevermind, just saw that you did indeed contact a mod.

K I C K H A M wrote:
OP-
Considering you got your stuff back, I'd say calling the police was your call.

The model is question- Why did she need an escort after working with you so many times?

However, young girls (and young people in general) aren't known for their intelligence--ESPECIALLY with dating. It wouldn't surprise me if she didn't know.

As far as the future, well, if I ever DO have anyone I don't know in my house, I don't leave valuables out in the open and where I can't see them.

I have no problem with people who allow escorts- but this is one of the major reasons I understand those who don't.

Thanks!

She doesn't have a car, so she always needs someone to drive her.

I'll never allow anyone but the model inside my house again - ever.

Lauren A Farrington wrote:
I think her escort was her ride. Why the boyfriend's MOTHER had to come is beyond me.

Thanks!

The car was the boyfriend's mother's car, and she drove.  She is/was living with them.

LLOYD WRIGHT wrote:
if you shot with her loads of times why did she bring an escort

She always needs a ride as she does not own a car - i mentioned this already tho, but no biggie, I'm as lazy as they come.

Mirror With A Memory wrote:
A friend had his dog taken from his home during a shoot by an escort. The dog was later returned after finding out it was ill and needed medication.

Did he want a healthy dog in exchange?  LMAO!!!

Erick Prince wrote:
SAY WHATTTTTTTT!!! This can't be true because I just saw another thread here that said those of us that don't allow llama herders are selfish, paranoid, assholes. Where are the white knights at? They have some explaining to do. lol

a hell of a lot.

Rollo David Snook wrote:

Who the hell are you to talk to people like this. You're aggressive and childish and belligerent to say the least. Always pumping the temperature to boiling point.

There's no guarantee going to the police results in a conviction.

They are regular business partners and he believes she was unaware.

People only suggested Police because he can not name her on MM.

And who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that? Telling someone their judgment is stupid and what they did can only be justified by stupidity isn't childish or belligerent, it's called honesty. It's my opinion and if you don't like it don't read it.... We can play this game all day long but I honestly don't wish to waste anymore of my time.

Him reporting the robbery is the smartest thing he could of done even if the charges didn't stick the point is that the robber would have a file and is in the system so next time he pulls something like this it will stick. You honestly think not calling the police wasn't a stupid move? Pretty much everyone in this form has said he should or should have called the police just like me, and I never said call the police on the model I said call the police on the thief. Huge difference. You are all up in my grill because I thought his judgment was stupid. Get over yourself

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:
Thanks!

The car was the boyfriend's mother's car, and she drove.  She is/was living with them.

Ah, I see. Makes sense, I guess. But then my question is, why did the boyfriend have the be there if his mother was the ride?
I've had that happen to me before, though; models have shown up with nearly their entire family in tow and I was not prepared to keep tabs on so many people. I shoot in my home often as well, so several extra escorts makes it hard for me to focus the majority of my attention on the model. I've become accustomed to doing subtle checks for missing items before they leave, but stories like this just anger me. Someone is nice enough to let you into their house when you have no real reason to be there, and then you STEAL from them.
Come on, really? Bastards.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

Yeah, when you're nearly 50, 20 looks pretty young - lol

Damn your old ahahahahahahahahahaha j/k

Erlinda wrote:

Damn your old ahahahahahahahahahaha j/k

It's "you're" old - sheesh you brits just caint spell worf a crap - lol

Tony Lawrence wrote:
Bill you are better then me.   I would have called the police.   Had him arrested and canceled the check.   Odds are he'll do it again as there were no consequences.   Maybe the model didn't know about her BF but she not you is responsible for him.   He's free to rip other shooters off and maybe the next person won't notice until they have left.   Its not too late to speak to the police and would strongly suggest you do.

+1

Erlinda wrote:
And who the hell do you think you are to talk to me like that? Telling someone their judgment is stupid and what they did can only be justified by stupidity isn't childish or belligerent, it's called honesty. It's my opinion and if you don't like it don't read it.... We can play this game all day long but I honestly don't wish to waste anymore of my time.

Him reporting the robbery is the smartest thing he could of done even if the charges didn't stick the point is that the robber would have a file and is in the system so next time he pulls something like this it will stick. You honestly think not calling the police wasn't a stupid move? Pretty much everyone in this form has said he should or should have called the police just like me, and I never said call the police on the llama I said call the police on the thief. Huge difference. You are all up in my grill because I thought his judgment was stupid. Get over yourself

It's not just childish and belligerent, but it's also rude. Telling someone they're stupid is incredibly rude and uncalled for. That's not being honest or frank, it's being flat out rude. Firstly, you don't live anywhere near the OP, so there is no reason for you to get a hair across your ass about this; you'll probably never come in contact with this llama OR her thieving boyfriend. It's not your problem, chill out.
Secondly, OP has already contacted the police and they have told him there really isn't much they can do, considering he got his stuff back and he doesn't have much info on the man who tried to take his cameras.
Thirdly, other people said he should have called the police, but many did not insult his intelligence multiple times, as you did.
I do not think you personally are childish, belligerent, and rude, because I don't know you, but your forum behavior comes across as such. It's fine that you disagree with his actions, but you don't have to attack him for it. It's over and done with, end of story. Calling him stupid won't change anything.

Bill Tracy Photography wrote:

It's "you're" old - sheesh you brits just caint spell worf a crap - lol

I'm not british. Just moved here.... seems like you can't spell either, I need to go back to my ESL class..

Ohhh the good old days of being young ahahahahahahahahahahaha

UnoMundo wrote:

You are a real hard ass lady. He did what he thought was best for the situation at the time.

With advance apologies to Erlinda, I could not resist.

But it is a cute one.

Kendra from Canada wrote:
I'm glad you posted this as well but lets not point solely at escorts; this is a people issue!

I'm not sure that anyone is doing that.

Kendra from Canada wrote:
There are lots of models out there who steal from other models, taking their make-up, clothing and personal things during shoots and while living with each other on international contracts.  There are photographers who steal from other photographers too; I was modeling at a professional photographers course last summer and one photographer stole another persons computer tablet.

That's true...but minimizing risk and mitigating potential loss is a responsibility that every photographer has to himself/herself.

Saying no to escorts after one bad escort experience is certainly understandable, since many feel that a model is justified after one bad experience with a photographer

Image K wrote:

Kendra from Canada wrote:
I'm glad you posted this as well but lets not point solely at escorts; this is a people issue!

I'm not sure that anyone is doing that.

Kendra from Canada wrote:
There are lots of models out there who steal from other models, taking their make-up, clothing and personal things during shoots and while living with each other on international contracts.  There are photographers who steal from other photographers too; I was modeling at a professional photographers course last summer and one photographer stole another persons computer tablet.

That's true...but minimizing risk and mitigating potential loss is a responsibility that every photographer has to himself/herself.

Saying no to escorts after one bad escort experience is certainly understandable, since many feel that a model is justified after one bad experience with a photographer

So, if a model has one bad experience with one photographer she should say NO to all photographers in the future; I think not! 
There are bad apples out there, try to do due diligence and check references of everyone you will be working with.  I google people I'm going to work with; mostly because I want to see their other work but sometimes something interesting pops up on them to make me reconsider working with them.