Stolen Equipment

[tphilip]

I'm unsure if this is the appropriate place to post this.

Last week my telescopes, mounts and eyepieces were stolen. They were mainly high end refractors of which one or two may well be unique in Australia. Also a Takahashi Teegul 150 which I think would be one of one.

Eyepieces included Masuyamas, Pentax Orthos, a pair of Takahashi MC Zoom 719s and plenty of other rare eyepieces. A Meade UWA 14mm with the skirt ground off to obtain back focus which I think would be unique.

I don't hold much hope ever getting anything back but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice as to if there are any classifieds sites I should be monitoring. I know ebay, gumtree and cash converters are the places of choice for petty thieves but wonder if anyone knows where people may try to offload high end Takahashi refractors - for example an FC125.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Ahhh, mate my heart bleeds for you.
I honestly hope we can help by looking out in the gumtree listings etc.
I ‘d like to think that your insurance would look after you, but in today’s situation I’m not 100% sure.
Take care.

[Rainmaker (Matt)]

Sorry to hear that.....
Perhaps list the scopes' details here so that anyone seeing them for sale can alert you.

[Stonius (Markus)]

Oh man, that sucks. I feel for you. Have you got any photos of them? That might help? Or serial numbers? Anything like that? If you don't mind me asking, how was it stolen? From a car? From a yard?

Sorry, that must be heartbreaking for you. I hope it turns up.

Markus

[mura_gadi (Steve)]

Hello,

So sorry to hear about your gear. Check all your receipts and start seeing if you have any serial numbers available, that will help with registering at the police station.

Try Astro buy and Sell, Greys Online and Trading Post as well. (Greys and cash convertors should check against stolen goods, so, slim chance there)



Steve
All the best and I hope it was covered under the household contents.

[The Mekon (John Briggs)]

Originally Posted by tphilip

I'm unsure if this is the appropriate place to post this.
where people may try to offload high end Takahashi refractors - for example an FC125.

And that is their problem. They will not be able to offload this equipment easily. Too many in this community are aware of equipment that is available, and will spot this stuff easily. I would post a wanted ad on facebook/gumtree for a FS 125 and try to convey the fact that you will buy this item back at nominal cost with no questions asked. After a few weeks the thieves will know they will never make a dollar from these items.

[tphilip]

Items were stolen from my garage in Adelaide whilst I was away. Looks like druggies as they entirely trashed the house and garage. Stole bikes, musical instruments and other stuff.

Below is a list of items. Eyepieces were all in a dry cabinet and entire cabinet was taken. Most telescopes were in their original Takahashi cardboard boxes. I am trying to get serial numbers and photos off an old computer.

Wouldn't be surprised if most of it has been dumped or trashed already.

Takahashi FS60C
Takahashi FS78
Takahashi FC100 fully multi coated - F on lens ring is coloured orange
Takahashi FSQ106
Vixen VMC200
Takahashi FC125
Takahashi Teegul 100
Takahashi Teegul 150
William Optice FL80mm

Takahashi MC eyepieces 2.8mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 7.5mm, 10mm (1.25")
Takahashi Ortho eyepieces 2.8mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 7mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 25mm (.965")
Two pairs Pentax orthoscopic eyepieces 7mm and 18mm (.965")
Meade UWA14mm with skirt ground off
Pair of Takahashi MC Zoom719 eyepieces
Pair of takahashi MC 40mm orthos
Masuyama eyepieces - 7.5mm, 10mm, 20mm, 25mm, 35mm (1.25")
Takahashi .965", 1.25" and 2" diagonals
William Optics 2" diagonal

Takahashi .965" eyepiece turret

Takahashi EM10 mount
Vixen GP mount

Plus other Meade and Celestron and other items but they would blend in as they aren't very rare of high end.

[AnakChan (Sean)]

Sorry to hear such bad news. These guys probably don't even know what they have in their hands and likely would try to sell them off at local 2nd hand stores.

I hope you get this resolved soon.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by tphilip

I'm unsure if this is the appropriate place to post this.

Last week my telescopes, mounts and eyepieces were stolen. They were mainly high end refractors of which one or two may well be unique in Australia. Also a Takahashi Teegul 150 which I think would be one of one.

Eyepieces included Masuyamas, Pentax Orthos, a pair of Takahashi MC Zoom 719s and plenty of other rare eyepieces. A Meade UWA 14mm with the skirt ground off to obtain back focus which I think would be unique.

I don't hold much hope ever getting anything back but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice as to if there are any classifieds sites I should be monitoring. I know ebay, gumtree and cash converters are the places of choice for petty thieves but wonder if anyone knows where people may try to offload high end Takahashi refractors - for example an FC125.

Facebook/Marketplace is a lively spot for selling stuff..

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Originally Posted by tphilip

I'm unsure if this is the appropriate place to post this.

Last week my telescopes, mounts and eyepieces were stolen. They were mainly high end refractors of which one or two may well be unique in Australia. Also a Takahashi Teegul 150 which I think would be one of one.

Eyepieces included Masuyamas, Pentax Orthos, a pair of Takahashi MC Zoom 719s and plenty of other rare eyepieces. A Meade UWA 14mm with the skirt ground off to obtain back focus which I think would be unique.

I don't hold much hope ever getting anything back but I'm wondering if anyone has any advice as to if there are any classifieds sites I should be monitoring. I know ebay, gumtree and cash converters are the places of choice for petty thieves but wonder if anyone knows where people may try to offload high end Takahashi refractors - for example an FC125.

Would help if you told us where you are so we can look out for items being put up for sale

[OneCosmos (Chris)]

I’m so sorry to read this post. I can’t imagine how I’d feel and makes me more cautious. I hope you the items back and I’ll certainly remain vigilant for any cheap sale items.

[Renato1 (Renato)]

Originally Posted by tphilip

Items were stolen from my garage in Adelaide whilst I was away. Looks like druggies as they entirely trashed the house and garage. Stole bikes, musical instruments and other stuff.

Below is a list of items. Eyepieces were all in a dry cabinet and entire cabinet was taken. Most telescopes were in their original Takahashi cardboard boxes. I am trying to get serial numbers and photos off an old computer.

Wouldn't be surprised if most of it has been dumped or trashed already.

Takahashi FS60C
Takahashi FS78
Takahashi FC100 fully multi coated - F on lens ring is coloured orange
Takahashi FSQ106
Vixen VMC200
Takahashi FC125
Takahashi Teegul 100
Takahashi Teegul 150
William Optice FL80mm

Takahashi MC eyepieces 2.8mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 7.5mm, 10mm (1.25")
Takahashi Ortho eyepieces 2.8mm, 3.5mm, 5mm, 7mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 25mm (.965")
Two pairs Pentax orthoscopic eyepieces 7mm and 18mm (.965")
Meade UWA14mm with skirt ground off
Pair of Takahashi MC Zoom719 eyepieces
Pair of takahashi MC 40mm orthos
Masuyama eyepieces - 7.5mm, 10mm, 20mm, 25mm, 35mm (1.25")
Takahashi .965", 1.25" and 2" diagonals
William Optics 2" diagonal

Takahashi .965" eyepiece turret

Takahashi EM10 mount
Vixen GP mount

Plus other Meade and Celestron and other items but they would blend in as they aren't very rare of high end.

I really feel for you after seeing that list.
Regards,
Renato

[RB (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Would help if you told us where you are so we can look out for items being put up for sale

Adelaide, mentioned in his second post.

Originally Posted by tphilip

Items were stolen from my garage in Adelaide whilst I was away.

[mswhin63 (Malcolm)]

Will keep an eye out there. Hope it come back really

[tphilip]

I forgot to list one scope. Guess my mind was trying to protect itself from the loss.

Takahashi FCT100.

The FC125 and FCT100 were my pride and joy and the ones I used most of the time. The FS78 was also a particularly good example. I had reducers for the FCT100 and FC100 plus lots of adapters. I collected all this stuff over many years when I lived in Japan. Considering that the thieves took copper plumbing pipe and taps from the garden and rear of the house I don't think they were very sophisticated. Who knows what they will try to do with all the telescopes and eyepieces.

[Stonius (Markus)]

Thanks for posting the (heartbreaking ) list. It must have taken a lifetime to accumulate that stuff. As others have said, facebook marketplace is very popular right now and largely unregulated. Maybe gumtree too. Would dodgy pawn shops or cash converters take stuff like this too? Not sure.



I suspect they wouldn't try to sell it on any dedicated astro classifieds because they'd likely get caught.


Good luck. I hope you find it.

[AdamJL]

Ugh, so sorry to hear about this.
Give the police the serial numbers if you can find them. Pawn shops and the like check those against a database the Police have when selling (in NSW at least but I’m sure it’s the same in SA).
Also look at those unregulated places like Gumtree and FB.
Don’t neglect eBay as well.
Best of luck

[casstony]

Check if any neighbours have security systems with cameras pointed towards the street. Even footage from up or down the street a little could be checked for suspicious looking pedestrians or vehicles. One of my neighbours caught thieves that way. Sometimes the thieves are already known to police.

[jahnpahwa (JP)]

I will be keeping a keen eye out for all of this.

That is a truly heart-wrenching list of kit to have lost. I'm sorry mate.

[m11 (Mel)]

So sorry for your loss of equipment.

I hope you can recover the equipment in the same condition you had originally.

It is heartbreaking to have this occur to you and your house. I hope they catch those thieves and insurance can cover some of the loss.

All the best,