Re: Is theft a problem?

Posted by Tim Feinstein on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Is-theft-a-problem-tp7584166p7584169.html

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If you are purely looking for deterrence on the cheap, those little opaque
bubbles that cover ceiling cameras can be had for a few bucks.  An
institution where I once worked had a camera on the back door that was not
plugged in for quite a while (rumor had it for a decade or moreŠ), and
that seemed to work.

Best,


Tim

Timothy Feinstein, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
University of Pittsburgh Department of Developmental Biology





On 8/31/15, 10:15 AM, "Confocal Microscopy List on behalf of Smith,
Benjamin E." <[hidden email] on behalf of
[hidden email]> wrote:

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>
>After some laptops were stolen from the room next door, I installed a
>security camera in an obvious position in each room and have a clearly
>posted sign about the camera on the door.  I figure this is much more
>effective as a deterrent than a way to catch thieves, which is ideal in
>my book, as I'd rather not have stuff disappear in the first place.
>
>While I have not had to use the cameras to catch thieves, it has proved
>rather effective at catching people who are not checked-out on the
>equipment trying to sneak in late at night to use it.  This alone helped
>me troubleshoot why one of our microscopes was in such a poor state.  I
>also guess this would constitute a theft of service, as they weren't
>logging their time either.
>
>In general, theft rates vary greatly from institution to institution.
>However, the fact that thefts may be rare at your facility is little
>consolation when a $20,000 objective or $10,000 server wanders off
>unexpectedly.
>
>Cheers,
>   Ben Smith
>
>
>
>________________________________________
>From: Confocal Microscopy List [[hidden email]] on
>behalf of Steffen Dietzel [[hidden email]]
>Sent: Monday, August 31, 2015 8:55 AM
>To: [hidden email]
>Subject: Is theft a problem?
>
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>
>I'd like to tap once more the experience of you listers.
>
>I am currently setting up a web site for a core facility and I am
>wondering how much details I really want to have on the web.
>
>On the one hand, the more information the users can easily find the
>better, whether for planning of experiments or when writing the paper.
>On the other hand, it is usually discouraged to publicly announce in
>which room exactly which valuables can be found - and stolen.
>
>So the question comes up whether theft of microscopes or parts is not
>only a theoretical problem but also an actual risk. I don't expect a
>confocal to get carried out without being noticed, not even on a
>Saturday night, but possibly parts of it? Objectives, cameras maybe? Or
>smaller, portable systems?
>
>I remember one case of stolen objectives in Darmstadt, Germany, that was
>discussed on this list in 2000 (*Subject:*used high quality objectives).
>But other than that, I have not heard about any thefts.
>
>Therefore I would like to ask whether you have experienced or heard of
>other cases.
>
>
>Steffen
>
>--
>------------------------------------------------------------
>Steffen Dietzel, PD Dr. rer. nat
>Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
>Walter-Brendel-Zentrum für experimentelle Medizin (WBex)
>Head of light microscopy
>
>Marchioninistr. 27
>D-81377 München
>Germany