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Post by ExarXan on Oct 19, 2009 17:03:40 GMT 1
A nice year of FACTS it was, but at the moment I am still disturbed by what I am noticing more and more at FACTS the last few years: Things that get stolen.
Few years ago a friend of my lost her photocamera to a thief and this year there was the theft of quite a lot of comics from multiple persons, including myself. I lost 4 hardcover comics from the Dark Tower series and 1 hardcover comic from Y: The Last Man. I heard stories from other people also reported to have comics (manga's) stolen from out the dressing room.
I know the organisers of FACTS cannot be held accountable to it, but I sitll wat to post this in warning for other people and to maybe track down my missing comics, altough I doubt I will ever see those back...
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Post by dragonrulds on Oct 20, 2009 8:51:28 GMT 1
Wow. Just wow. Douchebags.  |
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Post by boomvavavoom on Oct 20, 2009 9:37:26 GMT 1
More people, so more chances to have bad ones between them.
That is said!!
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Post by belgiumnight on Oct 20, 2009 9:45:01 GMT 1
yep and sometimes people are to careless
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Post by ExarXan on Oct 20, 2009 10:20:17 GMT 1
I would not call it careless to leave your stuff in a dressing room that has watchfull eyes and are considered worldwide with cons (in my case a lot of big cons even like Celebration Europe) to be safe places to put your stuff away at.
And I even dare to say that most people, especially the SW cosplayers where I am a part of, but it applies to other cosplayers normally too, know their value of merchandise quite well and keep their hands of other people their stuff.
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Post by dragonrulds on Oct 20, 2009 11:29:56 GMT 1
I wouldn't call it being careless either. What ExarXan said is true, as a cosplayer it'd be pretty annoying and uncomfortable for the cosplayer to drag around all his merchandise, especially if he/she cosplayed as something big and fancy. Imagine the ones that cosplayed as Saint Seiya to have to carry all their merchandise around with that armour of theirs? It's just a big hassle.
A good way to solve it is by having lockers for cosplayers or just deposite your things cloakroom, I'm guessing. Then again, for every item you'll have to pay an euro. That includes your coat, bag and merchandise so it'd cost more than a locker over time.
Those who don't cosplay can just carry their things, imo.
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Post by boomvavavoom on Oct 20, 2009 12:33:32 GMT 1
no
it should have been ONE euro per person and not per item!!
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Post by Stoney3K on Oct 20, 2009 15:30:30 GMT 1
no it should have been ONE euro per person and not per item!! Was the cloakroom run by the Expo or by the FACTS crew? In the former case the Expo might not have understood it, and charged everyone a euro for every item they decide to store. *kerching*! |
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Post by dragonrulds on Oct 20, 2009 16:10:26 GMT 1
no it should have been ONE euro per person and not per item!! Well there was a paper that said: "Each item one Euro". Are you certain? |
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Post by ExarXan on Oct 20, 2009 16:44:12 GMT 1
Another theft reported to me:
A friend of my friends wallet got stolen. He saw it been replaced with another one, an empty one with a note saying "Thank you"...
Seriously this crimewave has me worried about more stories. 3 thefts uncovered in 2 days from this year, from the last 2 editions I also have thefts been told to me...
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Myka
FACTS Sensei
Posts: 214
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Post by Myka on Oct 20, 2009 19:06:59 GMT 1
Although it's horrible that people sink to the level of stealing.
I must say, you guys are a tad at fault too. I wouldn't say careless. But rather naieve. (dont take it badly though). The world just isn't an honnest and peaceful place. Turn on your tv, any channel will have proof. Leaving wallets and valuable items in public dressing drooms, when you might know people with incorrect intentions might want to take, is a bit reckless. In this day and age, it's hard to trust people. Even your friends can turn on you. =_= Which is a horrible thought to begin with.
I spent about a week making safty pockets into my own cosplays to carry things like wallets and cellphones (no matter how naked a cosplay can be - it makes me go creative). And like someone else said, putting locks on bags you carried yoru cosplay in, isn't a bad idea at all.
It's terrible that we have to go to these lenghts already. But then again, you can feel assured all day long that you're not going to be the target.
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absum
FACTS Padawan
Posts: 97
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Post by absum on Oct 20, 2009 19:10:09 GMT 1
I've also seen a person stealing from a stand near the entrance, but luckily, the merchant saw it aswell, ran after him and grabbed the stolen good out of the b*stards hands
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Myka
FACTS Sensei
Posts: 214
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Post by Myka on Oct 20, 2009 19:27:52 GMT 1
He didn't get thrown out ?
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absum
FACTS Padawan
Posts: 97
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Post by absum on Oct 20, 2009 19:30:30 GMT 1
He didn't get thrown out ? nope, the merchant just went back to his table with the retrieved stolen good, no staff member was near and the people involved just continued their day, hopefully not stealing anything else. |
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Post by dragonrulds on Oct 20, 2009 20:06:51 GMT 1
Another theft reported to me: A friend of my friends wallet got stolen. He saw it been replaced with another one, an empty one with a note saying "Thank you"... Seriously this crimewave has me worried about more stories. 3 thefts uncovered in 2 days from this year, from the last 2 editions I also have thefts been told to me... That, to be honest sounds very...unlikely? Then the person who stole your friend's wallet must've stalked your friend for a couple of days in order to find out what kind of a wallet your friend has, to have exactly the same one.  I just find it stupid that people even go that far as in just stealing in plain sight. "Hey, look, this is something I want! *joink*" It's like they've lost their sense of dignity and decided to act like total idiots. |
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absum
FACTS Padawan
Posts: 97
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Post by absum on Oct 20, 2009 20:10:47 GMT 1
Another theft reported to me: A friend of my friends wallet got stolen. He saw it been replaced with another one, an empty one with a note saying "Thank you"... Seriously this crimewave has me worried about more stories. 3 thefts uncovered in 2 days from this year, from the last 2 editions I also have thefts been told to me... That, to be honest sounds very...unlikely? Then the person who stole your friend's wallet must've stalked your friend for a couple of days in order to find out what kind of a wallet your friend has, to have exactly the same one. I just find it stupid that people even go that far as in just stealing in plain sight. "Hey, look, this is something I want! *joink*" It's like they've lost their sense of dignity and decided to act like total idiots. It didn't say it was the same kind of wallet though |
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Post by ExarXan on Oct 20, 2009 21:39:09 GMT 1
That, to be honest sounds very...unlikely? Then the person who stole your friend's wallet must've stalked your friend for a couple of days in order to find out what kind of a wallet your friend has, to have exactly the same one. I just find it stupid that people even go that far as in just stealing in plain sight. "Hey, look, this is something I want! *joink*" It's like they've lost their sense of dignity and decided to act like total idiots. It didn't say it was the same kind of wallet though And it wasnt |
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Post by e-Mino on Oct 20, 2009 21:41:51 GMT 1
Well, just a couple of reactions:
- we tried to find lockers but the only company in and around Ghent which used to rent them stopped doing so, hence we had to change the plan and go for the solution you saw (second cloakroom);
- we had zip nil nothing part of the euros the cloakroom collected;
- whenever you assemble 10.000+ people, there will be some badly intentioned people walking around, esp. when it's crowded. There's simply nothing we can do about that! (although we wish we could);
- one of us caught a thief red handed. We called the police immediately who took notice of his identity after which we escorted him outside the building, asking him never to return.
- part of the thefts are due to a level of what I would dare to call negligence. Going to the toilets while leaving your camera on a booth you just looked at, well.... you just know that you increase the chances of the camera being stolen by a thousandfold!
If you would ever witness any such thing happening, never hesitate to call upon a member of the FACTS-crew who'll be happy to assist!
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latexstrawberry
Nurdz
I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts ~[F4:754608089]
Posts: 780
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Post by latexstrawberry on Oct 20, 2009 21:47:44 GMT 1
it's just too bad people can't keep their hands off of things ;__; I was sure facts was safe and no one would steal, until this year i heard alot about the thievery. I blame the economic breakdown for this D:<. (D*mn you america, DAAAAMNNN YOOUUUU)
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absum
FACTS Padawan
Posts: 97
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Post by absum on Oct 20, 2009 21:54:08 GMT 1
it's just too bad people can't keep their hands off of things ;__; I was sure facts was safe and no one would steal, until this year i heard alot about the thievery. I blame the economic breakdown for this D:<. (D*mn you america, DAAAAMNNN YOOUUUU) we should have like undercover agents walking around at facts! ooooh that would be so cool! <3 |
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Post by MartokII on Oct 20, 2009 22:22:59 GMT 1
I've also seen a person stealing from a stand near the entrance, but luckily, the merchant saw it aswell, ran after him and grabbed the stolen good out of the b*stards hands seeing it but NOT reporting IS al never a good thing you can do, because not saying it to the organizers is equal to the stealing itself. My policy on thievery is simple : ZERO TOLERANCE, Friend or foe, its absolutely not to do !!!!!!!!!!! |
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Post by harlock on Oct 21, 2009 15:53:54 GMT 1
Cosplayers : do the same as I (we) do =>  Problem solved... |
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Post by randomnickftw on Oct 21, 2009 16:58:32 GMT 1
Cosplayers : do the same as I (we) do => Problem solved... because everyone wants to lug around a big metal case on a con? |
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absum
FACTS Padawan
Posts: 97
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Post by absum on Oct 21, 2009 17:08:05 GMT 1
I've also seen a person stealing from a stand near the entrance, but luckily, the merchant saw it aswell, ran after him and grabbed the stolen good out of the b*stards hands seeing it but NOT reporting IS al never a good thing you can do, because not saying it to the organizers is equal to the stealing itself. My policy on thievery is simple : ZERO TOLERANCE, Friend or foe, its absolutely not to do !!!!!!!!!!! It was from quite a distance though, did tell it at one of the people who was putting stamps on your hands when you enter that i had seen a person stealing something, they told me they'd keep an eye out. As soon as i got there to watch what was going on, I just caught up a glimp him before he disappeared in the crowd. So i couldn't really do much. |
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Post by quinn77 on Oct 21, 2009 18:07:28 GMT 1
Cosplayers : do the same as I (we) do => Problem solved... because everyone wants to lug around a big metal case on a con? or a normal travelers bag? and then you put locks on them? ingenious  before you bash an idea, come up with a better one ... it works for them, so i would be logic to think it would work for others, not everyone but atleast some |
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