Missing Telescope in Tas

[Sconesbie (Scott)]

Hi all. Mainly for people here in Tas.

Between Sunday night 24th March and Friday afternoon 29th, our shack in North East Tas was entered and a few things stolen including my pride and joy.

That being my Skywatcher SW400 (4") on EQ1 mount. It's dollar value is low but sentimental value is high as it is my first telescope and a gift to me from my wife and children for Christmas a few years ago. It didn't have any eyepieces with it so is reasonably useless but the sort of people who take these things don't care (or know).

A police report has been lodged and the caretakers of the park know also.

If anyone in Tas hears of such an item for sale, please let me know.


Regards
Scott

[AstralTraveller (David)]

My condolences Scott. I think most of us have a few low-value high-sentiment items that they'd hate to lose - I know I have.


If you haven't already done so you should look around the local 'Crime Converters' and similar pawn shops. [I'm assuming they are more interested in cash than prime focus photography.]

[leon]

That is sad Scott, just out for a quick buck for their habits i bet, and they probably don't know what end to look in.
I know what you are saying, to you it is highly valued, to them it is junk, because they will probably never be able to flog it.

Hope it comes back mate or finds at least a good home

Leon

[xelasnave]

Go to the local pub and put it around that you want to buy a telescope and that you are prepared to pay for it with drugs☺.

I feel your pain.

However the greatest loss comes from thinking about it over and over as one does...you have the memory and that will alwyas be special so forgive and forget the unpleasant bits.
Alex

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Go to the local pub and put it around that you want to buy a telescope and that you are prepared to pay for it with drugs☺.

I suggest Dulcolax. Enough to cause side effects.

[leon]

Alex what you say may be true, but some scum bags have been in your private space.
If it was my home, they would not leave, maybe under police escort and some un explained scuffs/injuries.

Leon

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

That is a real shame Alex.
I shall keep an "eye and ear out" here in Hobart.

Steve.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by leon

Alex what you say may be true, but some scum bags have been in your private space.
If it was my home, they would not leave, maybe under police escort and some un explained scuffs/injuries.

Leon

Yes I think I would have to follow them up and see how I could help them reform and lead sayisfying lives ... they took the scope ..that may show a deep seated desire to be able to do astronomy, unable by virtue of background have never been able to do..so we could guide them back by giving them astronomy lessons and put them in touch with the universe.

Or we could just shoot them..whichever works.
Alex

[xelasnave]

You could get lucky.
Its a fair assumption that often the holders of these goods get caught during a bust on an untelated matter...and I would hope that there would be a data base that would show it listed in in that list at the Police Station.

So the theif may off ot to a dealer for a credit payment and that dealer may go in the course of things.
Maybe put up posters saying how much you miss it and a plea to return it unharmed maybe for a reward ..no questions asked or a disclaimer for the opposite position in any event the word could go out..we do a utube appeal video with and appeal that goes viral and a follow up of how you are happy to have your scope back..you have to have a vission☺
The more milage we give to threads like these it presumably starts to reach more people...someone knows something so who knows..
I am seeing its return.
So offering a comment in this thread helps the story get out there..a little..the hits to this thread may help if you see what I mean.
If everybody is looking for it maybe it can be found.
Mobilise.
Alex

[PeterM]

Sorry to hear this Scott, it is indeed a much harder loss to cop when the item has sentimental value/personal memories for you.

Look on Gumtree & FB ads to see if anything is listed over the next few weeks - yup they are that dumb that they would list for sale on sites like these.

When Sirius Optics was smashed into and robbed many years ago the culprits took a lot of stuff. Over the course of a year a so a number of items were found during a police raid of a drug lab.

One item a Lunt Solar 60mm was kept under the "cooks" table and the damage that the white enamel copped was incredible - little bubbles and pits all over the tube - and people ingest this stuff!! Amazingly the optics hadn't been exposed so the scope still worked - we had it checked for safety reasons to be sure though, but it was never sold on. I heard the "cook" had no idea what it or the other items were (cameras, eyepieces etc) other than apparently being part of a payment for his wares.
Oh and this is dead set true the street that the items were recovered from had an astronomical name!

I remember John Dobson once telling me about the scopes that were often stolen from him/his van and how he remained philosophical about it, hoping the thieves would put the scope/s to good use and learn/teach something about the sky and the universe they inhabited. He said "I not running out of scopes".

Best wishes in getting your items back Scott.

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Definatly a lot of low life bottom feeders around today , I had one of these enter my home while I was in another room and the stole a nice shiny alloy case full of Circle ' T ' Orthoscopics that took me years to get together , a full set , I filed a report and did a bit of detective work myself ( like Alex suggested ) eg. Ball Pein hammer to hands and shin's etc at the local bar's .

Low and behold the case was found by an honest person in a drain less than 1km from home and handed in ,,, either word got out that I know people that know people and don't take kindly to thieve's or they didn't know what they were and dumped them ,, idiots .

Best of luck .

Brian.

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

Scum, sorry to hear.

Have you a local newsagents, supermarket, CEX, or second hand shops you can email

[Sconesbie (Scott)]

Thank you everyone. A police report has been lodged, as well as an insurance claim.

I'll hopefully be able to replace it with a similar model or if they (insurance) give me the money, I'll buy a slightly different one or a 4-5" dob.

I left it at the shack so I had one there and one at home and would give me some pleasure of a night sometimes.

Anyway, I have put the word out and seeking info through local Facebook buy and sell pages, Cash Converters and Gumtree.

As I mentioned, the dollar value isn't high for the model but because my wife bought it for me for Christmas a few years ago, I get protective of my stuff.

I'll let you know if I hear anything.


Regards
Scott

[stefang (Stefan)]

Perhaps the insurance claim should NOT say

1 X Skywatcher SW400 (4") on 1 X EQ1 mount BUT

1 X Takahashi TOA130 on a 1 X AP1200 mount?

Sorry for your loss.
sG

[Sconesbie (Scott)]

Originally Posted by stefang

Perhaps the insurance claim should NOT say

1 X Skywatcher SW400 (4") on 1 X EQ1 mount BUT

1 X Takahashi TOA130 on a 1 X AP1200 mount?

Sorry for your loss.
sG

Heavens above....I wish.

[DavidU (Dave)]

Originally Posted by stefang

Perhaps the insurance claim should NOT say

1 X Skywatcher SW400 (4") on 1 X EQ1 mount BUT

1 X Takahashi TOA130 on a 1 X AP1200 mount?

Sorry for your loss.
sG