UK camera retailer victim of fraud [UPDATE]
More than £45,000 worth of Nikon equipment has been stolen from a UK camera dealer
Robert White Photographic, a camera dealer based in Dorset, was the victim of a fraud resulting in the loss of four Nikon D3x digital SLRs, four D3 models and four 14-24mm lenses. A D3x camera retails at £6000, a D3 at £4000 and a 14-24mm lens at £1600.
‘We received via fax an official order (or so we thought) from the BBC World Service. The order was similar to orders we had received in the past, details such as the document layout and order number were the correct format and the quantities of stock were not suspicious,’ the company tells BJP. ‘We did not have all of the items in stock and had to order for them. When the goods arrived we contacted the name on the order and as the goods were desperately needed a Poole base taxi was sent to collect the items.
‘We were given a code that the taxi driver would be able to confirm. The order was collected and we thought nothing of the matter until another order arrived. We then called the BBC to confirm the details and they had no record of the order. The investigation unit of the BBC seem to be doing all they could to look into the matter. We have contacted Dorset Police regarding the crime but they were very unhelpful. They state that the crime has technically taken place in London so it is a MET Police issue. They will contact them but we fear that the slow and frankly poor service we received from the Police is too little too late.’
‘A third order was received and a taxi again sent to collect. This would have been an ideal opportunity to track the goods to their destination in London but the Police were not interested in following that line. We feel that an opportunity to recover our goods and apprehend someone, was lost, leaving us very frustrated with the political arrangement of the Police Force
‘As yet we have not been issued with a crime number but as soon as we do it will be posted on our website.’
Robert White has asked for help in retrieving the cameras, releasing the serial numbers of the stolen kits. If you have any information, contact Robert White at 01202 723046.
Nikon D3x, serial numbers: 5011228, 5011232, 5011229, and 5011223
Nikon D3, serial numbers: 2082564, 2086984, 2082270, and 2080220
Nikkor lens 14-24mm, serial numbers: 264476, 263414, 261634, and 263409
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