Silverlining
July 2nd, 2009 | PersonalTwo days ago, someone broke into our home and stole these items: D3, D700, 17-35mm & a Powerbook. I was scheduled for a shoot in Penang which I eventually canceled. Even if I could borrow these equipment, I wouldn’t be in the right state of mind to do the shoot. I felt angry, violated and heartbroken.
For the last 48 hours, Jasmine and I went through an emotional roller coaster ride. “Was there an inside collaborator?” “How long have we been watched?” “How did they get in?” “Are we still safe here?” Stressed out & frightened, we consoled each other and prayed. Eventually fatigue knocked us off and we fell asleep.
48 hours on…I realize there are many silverlinings in this unfortunate event:
1. Love & Friendship
Thank you so much for the outpouring of support, prayers and love. There was an explosion of love at Twitter. There were soooooo many emails, tweets, smses. Someone offers me a immediate personal loan to buy new gear. Another offer to loan me his entire gear system for 2 months (including a D3)! If I could weigh your love in gold, I would be richer than Bill Gates! THANK YOU!
2. Police Efficiency
I’ve had my fair share of criticising law enforcement in our country. We always harp on their glaring mistakes but rarely credit them for job well done. The investigating officer was in contact with me until 11:30pm. These guys probably work 18-20 hours a day when they are at the verge of solving a case. They were friendly, informative and fast. The main suspect was nabbed in 18 hours! I am grateful.
3. It could have been worse
I’ve lost things, which are temporal and replaceable. Jasmine and I weren’t in the house so we weren’t harmed. Our passports were not touched! PHEW! Imagine if they were gone…our NY trip/shoot that we’ve planned for so long would have to be canceled. Imagine the horror on my bride’s face!
We’ve spent the last two days improving the security measures in our house, going through evidences, etc. I felt like a CSI. FYI, pixelated CCTV footages cannot be “zoom and made clear” like they did it in the CSI tv series. I was stupid enough to try that!
Thank you for your prayers & support.
p/s – the best part of my day was calling Shen to congratulate him on winning 1st place in his first WPPI print competition entry. Shen took my 3-day workshop last year.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:50 am
Hey Louis, I’m truly sorry to hear about what happened to you. I can only imagine what I would feel if someone stole MY camera.
I never told you what I did for a living – http://www.avantcms.com.bn
We’re a total Security Solutions Provider. Give me a shout out if you need any help or advise with your security layout.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:53 am
Sorry to hear about your gears.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:31 am
Glad that you all are safe, you are definitely right, we tend to criticize the police force a lot but we never or hardly ever also praise them as well. Will be praying for you and Jasmine.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:42 am
glad that things now in control. favor of men is upon you.
is stress, do take care. my prayer has you and jas.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Am inspired and encouraged by your positive attitude in spite of such trying circumstances. And 3 big whoops of cheers to our police force (my faith in them is restored)! Am praying for the recovery of your gear.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:45 am
sorry to hear that too..hope u got insurance for that…
ever thought of changing to canon?
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:55 am
huh!! God bless!! God is good! Glad that both of you were safe at all..
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
It is really sorry to hear about that. Praying the LORD to comfort you.
July 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
OMG, I dunno what to say, sorry to hear that Louis. Hope you’ll be fine soon.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I got wind of this from a friend yesterday morning! I kept refreshing this blog just to see if you would update. I’m so glad you’re alright. He is surely watching over you. I hope you’ll recover soon and be back in action.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
Things happen for a reason. Bad things happen so that you are prepared and prevent Worse thing from happening in the near future.
July 2nd, 2009 at 1:47 pm
if we could be calm and see the sweet spot in a bad time, the world is rounder and lovely. i am glad you have come back and that will make you stronger. like said, gears are replaceable, but the sweet experience of feeling love and the efficiency of our police as well as your safety is priceless. take care!
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Just saw this Louis. Thank God they nabbed that main guy. Keep us updated. Send our regards to Jasmine as well. Regards, Jason and Yee Woon.
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Hi Louis & Jasmine, So glad to hear they caught the culprit, I hope you get your gears back…I’m sure you’ll get into shooting mode in no time at all with more enthusiasm and determination!
July 2nd, 2009 at 2:45 pm
We are a freight train. It’ll have to take a lot more than this to stop us from shooting! LOL
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Really sorry to hear about that. Stay focus and you’ll be fine soon. More time updating your blog?
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Glad to hear that the main suspect was arrested. Don’t let this incident cause you to live in fear. Thank God for His protection over your lives.
July 2nd, 2009 at 3:47 pm
oh dear! i’m sorry to hear that. That’s horrible. I hope it doesn’t take long for you to recover/replace all you have lost.
July 2nd, 2009 at 5:22 pm
Louis sorry to hear what happen to u… nothing will stop u .. will always support u
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:03 pm
Hey Louis. ..I’m sorry to hear about the mishap. Hopefully you will have your equipments back in no time. However I’m really glad that both you and Jasmine are OK ! Do take care and best wishes.
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Oh I can sympathize with your experience. We had two break-ins a couple of years ago. Material things can be replaced but thankfully, again, no one was home. Recently, a friend of mine had his 3-yr old BMW hijacked by guys driving a newer BMW (go figure) but he ran for his life. Most importantly he said about escaping was he just dropped his wife off at a friend’s house 10 minutes ago. Imagine if it happened before. God bless.
July 2nd, 2009 at 7:51 pm
Hi Louis and Jasmine… I m so sorry to hear about your gear. i think the culprit already aim your gears for a certain time. So be extra careful.
God bless! you and Jasmine are safe
July 2nd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Hope you and Jasmine will be fine…..God bless!
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:14 pm
oh louis, i’m so sorry to hear this!
there’s been a lot of break ins recently. just last sunday my pastor said someone walked into his clinic n stole his handphone when his back was turned, then the next day one of our cell members had 2 hand phones n his wife’s handbag fished out through their dining room window (very common) with a long pole, n tt very night our neighbor called us at 3 am to tell us smone was trying to break into her hse!
be very careful when driving too. u must’ve heard about tt uni student who got her vious robbed in hilltop last week but there was also a case last week in khidmat where this guy had to let go of his camry when 3 men got him in front of his gate.
yes, whatever the material loss, look on the bright side tt both of u r safe. .
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:23 pm
Sorry to hear that. But at least the police got that thief! And you know you got a lot of good friend
July 2nd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Hi Louis, i am so sorry to hear that. Were all these items have any insurance to cover? I would suggest you to buy an insurance to cover all your equipments. You can claim from the insurance company just in case any of your item is get stolen. You may seek for an all risks class of insurance and it’s cover worldwide.
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 pm
sorry to hear that, hope everything fine..
July 2nd, 2009 at 10:44 pm
Hi Louis,
Sorry to hear that. But thank god you and Jasmine are unharmed.
Don’t be too stressed out , just be extra careful next time.
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 pm
OMG, I know exactly how you feel, cause my house was broken in too last year and my camera and gears were all gone!! I hope you bought insurance, I got all my gears replaced with my insurance claims
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Was this break in at your condo?
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Wow, this is awful… but as many say, it’s good that both of you are unharmed. Whilst they are the tools of your trade, they are replaceable – and hopefully nothing that can’t be replaced has gone. The intrusion, violation, anger and fear that go with this will slowly pass – beef up the security (and keep watching those Sunday CSI marathons on AXN) and know that you have many many supportive friends on your side (us included!!). Let us know if there’s anything you need to borrow or any help you need.
July 3rd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Hi Louis, Jasmine,
I know how you feel exactly… my house was broken into last year and I went thro the exact same feeling, was I being watched? .. my cameras and lenses were all taken… our home didn’t feel quite the same… our privacy violated, our sense of security taken away. We came back home everyday with fears someone would jump us. I’m happy for you that there is some closure though. Did you manage to get your gear back? But most of all I’m happy to hear that both of you are safe.
I also just wanted to say also after attending your recent workshop in KL, you have indeed showed me what a little spark can do and God bless you both for your sincere heart to share with us all.
July 3rd, 2009 at 10:52 am
Sorry to hear that… but yea, luckily u’re not at home and not hurt. Maybe we photographers should start putting GPS transmitter in our camera
That was a truly awful incident…
July 3rd, 2009 at 1:49 pm
Hi Louis and Jasmine. Sorry to hear about the break-in. It must be frightening and confusing at the same time. My prayers are with you. Glad to know the gear-napper got caught in the end.
July 3rd, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Dear Louis & Jasmine,
Its a very terrible feeling inside realizing what you’ve worked so hard for just vanished in a blink of an eye. I know, I went through it. A couple of years back, our house got broke into and I lost the most. A 300Gb external hard disc (all my backed up event & wedding videos I shot over the years), a video camera & cash. I was devastated & at the verge of loosing myself. I’m still in pain when thinking of the lost but comparing it with what I have today, I’m encouraged by these words from a friend who said something like this, “…probably, if you still had that lousy video camera, you wouldn’t be taking pictures like what you’re doing now.” In that time of devastation, it was hard to deal with the lost. But as days passed on to years, I realized in its simplicity, God’s encouragement through the people around me. As days go by, I’ve learnt not to be satisfied & proud with what I have in the past, but to be more encouraged in getting better in days ahead.
Louis, you are a great motivator and an awesome encouragement to many. Your work inspire people like me. Sometimes we don’t realized the ripple we have caused to our surroundings but do be encouraged that there are people which are being blessed through you. You’ve made a huge impact on the local & international photography scene and I’m sure, your ‘gifts & passion’ is going to blessed even more people. With that humble spirit in you, sir, God is going to nurture & bless your ‘passion’ to even higher heights.
Best wishes,
Anderson Kalang
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:50 pm
I am so sorry it happened, but at least you and Jasmine are safe… and like you said, those are things that are replaceable and it could have been a lot worse. Just glad that you guys are OK… and know that a lot of people love and care about you guys. Take care!
July 6th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Hi Louis and Jasmine,
Very sad to hear that, I have also lost my motorcycle before, and luckily it was recovered..
Best wishes..
July 12th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Hey! I’ve been admiring your photos for a while.
I’m glad that you both were unharmed and managed to find a silver lining in this incident.
My friend had a similar experience; his house got broken into as well. A few old laptops were stolen but what saddens me is that his camera gears (worth rm8k) got stolen as well and since then, he had stopped photography. He was the pioneer in our circle of friends to start photography last year and things were never quite the same since the lost of this “photobuddy” of mine.
Anyway, I wish you all the best and take care in your future undertakings =)
Ken
July 15th, 2009 at 11:52 am
i just read this… oh dear… am so sorry to hear bout this. on a brighter note, thank God that you and jasmine are fine. be blessed that you have such supportive friends & families.
cheers,
valerie