Posted by
Guy Cox-2 on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/Is-theft-a-problem-tp7584166p7584174.html
We have had thefts from individual offices and so, regrettably, we have to advise everyone to lock their offices when they leave them. In terms of the equipment rooms, they are all behind a card access system so we do know who has been in and out. We did have a problem with high-end objectives being borrowed (and always eventually returned) so we had to move to a sign-out system for them. I think there would be potential legal and ethical problems with security cameras.
Guy
-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:
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Sent: Monday, 31 August 2015 11:56 PM
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
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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