Stolen Instrument

[Steve Martin]

Leica MS60 s/n 882364 and tripod stolen from the corner of Liberty St. & Moser Ln. El Cerrito 6-30-2020 8:23am

[Jim Frame]

Sorry for the loss. Can you describe the circumstances? I'm always interested in learning what to look out for in order to avoid getting my equipment stolen.

[David Kendall]

http://clsaforum.californiasurveyors.or ... f=6&t=8242

Tough break, you guys are throwing craps about twice a year I see.... You have some nice equipment though, did you ever find the rover?

I'm sorry for your loss, that sounds like a helluva way for the field crew to start the day.....

[Steve Martin]

The instrument was set up on the street corner in a suburban neighborhood, crew was 50' away, vehicle pulls up, passenger jumps out and throw the instrument and tripod in and drives off.

Can you describe your solution to slow them down again Jim?

David,

Yes, a truck was broken into and a GPS rover, Schonstadt and Hilti drill stolen last year. Other than that, not too many other issues in my career.

[Jim Frame]

I usually loop a 1/8" stainless steel cable through the tribrach and tripod and lock it to something like a street sign, fire hydrant or tree. Since I don't do any forced-center work, when the gun was new I engaged the tribrach lock screw and plugged the screwdriver hole with a small rubber plug, which prevents a thief from simply taking the gun out of the tribrach without breaking it. I carry extra cables in the truck if I need more length, but a 15' cable is generally long enough.

On rare occasions I've had to set up in an area with no stationary objects nearby, and I've used a number of substitutes. I've locked it to my truck a few times, but that always makes me nervous (in case I forget and drive off). I keep a couple of varmint trap anchors in the truck; at a few bucks apiece they're cheap enough to leave behind. I often work in areas where parking isn't available nearby, in which case I use a FoldIt aluminum cart to haul my equipment to the site, and I can lock the gun to that. And one time I couldn't use any of those solutions, so I set up 2 spare tripods next to the gun and locked the whole mess together -- it'd be pretty awkward to haul all that off, even with 2 people.

[PLS7393]

Jim,
I like your thinking, but the varmint trap anchors are brilliant!!!
What if you paint them orange for visibility, and advertise look whats here for the thief?
I don't government agencies can use these due to liabilities, cause the crew might get injured, lol.

[Jim Frame]

Note that varmint trap anchors aren't varmint traps, they're just the earth anchors that expose a wire loop above ground as a locking point. No danger to the crew unless they're especially prone to tripping over small things, like dirt clods.

[PLS7393]

Thanks Jim,
But I like my thinking a lot better, lol.

[mpallamary]

Have you guys ever tried these little portable alarms?

https://www.amazon.com/Mace-Brand-Secur ... B00H3J5BQE

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H3J5BQE/ref=dp_cerb_2

[Jim Frame]

I looked at portable alarms, and even bought a cheap one to evaluate, but concluded that they don't really address the kind of theft we're facing. These guys aren't sneaking away with anything, they're driving up, grabbing the instrument, and driving off. They could yell "I'm stealing your instrument" as they step out of the car and you'd still lose your gun.

I talked to one party chief a couple of years ago who had an S6 set up on a centerline intersection monument. He walked over to the curb to get a DI invert, and as soon as he reached the curb a couple of guys pulled up, one jumped out, threw the gun in the back and off they went. An alarm wouldn't have altered that scenario.

[mpallamary]

Got it.

Sad times, indeed.

Whenever I work in a high activity area, I hire a minimum wage person, relative, family friend, to drink coffee and watch the equipment. Funny story. Years ago we were surveying Black's Beach in La Jolla, a nude beach, now pretty much habitated by gay people. We were working on the beach and we had large aerial panels set out on the beach. I needed someone to watch them and so my wife helped. She said it was a very wild day as all these naked guys kept coming over to her asking all kinds of questions about what we were doing "flopping around" I think she said. She sure earned her pay that day!

If interested, check out the attached article.

[Buck Rogers]

All,

Please be on the lookout for a stolen Trimble S7 (Serial Number 37310301). It is a 3" instrument and the dtat collector is not a part of the stolen items. They did get the entire carying case, batteries and 360 degree prism.

If you happen to come accross this item or have ideas of where to look, other than obvious report to police, please let me know.

I can be reached at buck.rogers@kpff.com

Thanks,
Buck (PLS 8348)

[Buck Rogers]

Also stolen is a Trimble Dini (digital) level (Serial Number 772520) with the gigi level rod. Any leads will be appreciated. See abbove for contact info.

Thanks,
Buck

[hellsangle]

You might try posting on the NSPS site.

Disgusting. Where's Bobby Lee when you need him?

https://www.nsps.us.com/general/custom. ... nEquipment

Crazy Phil

[RAM]

in my area, beware, most have a CCWP., not a problem.

[Peter Ehlert]

in my area, beware, most have a CCWP., not a problem.

over here, no permit no problem.
we assume most people are armed at all times

back on point: watch that gear!

[Jon Olin]

We had a Robotic Topcon Instrument Stolen about a year and a half ago in the Hunter's Point area of S.F. Then another one stolen in Oakland at 22nd Ave near I-880 about 2 months ago. In both cases our one person crew was only about 30' from the instrument.

This last time our surveyor yelled " hey what are you doing? You know that has a tracking device built in right? (It actually did not). The thief had the gall to say 'Have a nice day" as he sped away!

We are thinking there must be a chop shop that dismantles these and sells the parts.

[sako]

Don't you guys have tracking device in your guns? I'm pretty sure Trimble and Leica have systems to track down the stolen guns.

[Steve Martin]

You can tell the police that I know my instrument is in that house right there and the police will not respond.

I understand the EBMUD just recovered one instrument after a pawn shop called Leica and Leica told them it was stolen.

[sako]

You can tell the police that I know my instrument is in that house right there and the police will not respond.

I understand the EBMUD just recovered one instrument after a pawn shop called Leica and Leica told them it was stolen.

Steve,
Are you sure about it? If the Cops don't care then what's the purpose of tracking the gun?

[Steve Martin]

Yes, I am sure, at least for Oakland.

The vendor even told me that he had a customer with the locate app and the police would not come out, even though they could tell what house it was in.

My experience is that we provided video of the suspect vehicle backing up to the instrument just before it was taken and had testimony of the neighbors of where said dirtbag was squatting, and the police were too busy to follow up.

Steve

[hellsangle]

The vendor even told me that he had a customer with the locate app and the police would not come out, even though they could tell what house it was in.

If that is true . . . you might consider hiring the Hells Angels to pay 'em a visit. It would be worth it to see the look on their face; don the bikers with body cams; post the video and if it goes viral you might make enough to pay for the "protection" and instrument. LOL!

Where's Bobby Lee Swagger when you need him?

Crazy Phil - Surveyor to Recorder

[btaylor]

Yes, I am sure, at least for Oakland.

The vendor even told me that he had a customer with the locate app and the police would not come out, even though they could tell what house it was in.

My experience is that we provided video of the suspect vehicle backing up to the instrument just before it was taken and had testimony of the neighbors of where said dirtbag was squatting, and the police were too busy to follow up.

Steve

Just curious what reason they actually provide. Is it something to do with needing a warrant and it can't be procured or something?

[Steve Martin]

You may not hear it straight out, but with the whole Defund the Police thing, they are short staffed and property crimes are a lower priority.

You may file a police report online and never get any follow up, or you may talk to an officer, but then he is called away on 10 other things.

In the vender example, I can't really say for sure.

[Buck Rogers]

Hey y'all...

https://offerup.co/BIjUnESrjmb

There is a Trimble S7 in Riverside. The link will take you to the instrument and pictures. one of the pics shows a partial on the sierial number. It doesn't match ours, but may one of you out there.

Regardless, there may be quite a steal for somebody to pick up a cheap S7. I hope this helps someone out there.