Break In at the Astronomy Centre Todmorden

[tich]

That's just awful news, I hope these lowlifes get caught. I'll keep an eye open for any kit that comes up for sale.

[Stargazer33]

Ditto to 'most' of the posts above.

I'm nowhere near you Peter but (don't read any further Betelgeuse1079) I will keep an eye out down here on the South Coast. You never know.

Might be worth checking the 'cash converter'/pawn shops in the area if that hasn't been done already.

What is this Country coming to when people steal from an organisation like this?

I hope you get your kit back and the scum pay (okay so that last bit won't happen with our judicial system today but hey, one can hope!).

Bryan

[L8-Nite]

The great thing about this site, is that members have become an army of awareness throughout the country.

[LeeW]

Don't forget to alert UKAI who have a buy/sell section.

Appeal posted on UKAI too.

[WhiteShiva]

That is really devastating news! Some of this equipment is quite heavy, which could indicate that someone had knowledge and preparation to steal.

Were there any serial numbers for the equipment? It may be possible to identify them in that way.

[Stardust]

I hate hearing of this kind of thing, that's some special equipment and a pretty niche market, so hopefully something will show up soon.

[jimmyjamjoejoe]

Also worth thinking about - Some things might get stripped for sale.

I just saw an ad on astro buy & sell for a PST modding kit - the ERF, blocking filter, and all associated adapters, you just need to add a frac...

I'm not saying that the ad is suspicious - the guy is in the netherlands... but that might be how some of this stuff gets shifted.

[Macavity]

Some of this equipment is quite heavy, which could indicate that someone had knowledge and preparation to steal.

A wonderful Website, fully in the spirit of "Outreach". Neverthess, providing a list of equipment, location of site, access routes - A Video tour, even. The ultimate dilemma, I guess. I have noticed that even neighbours will gossip freely about your "stuff in the shed". Often providing HUGELY inflated estimates (in my case anyway!) of it's value. But I am more guarded, these days. Valuable stuff stays indoors, with me. Sadly, even "nice" people can have bad relatives, dodgy mates etc.

One hopes an (already skeptical?) astro market doesn't collapse into mutual suspicion. But mostly that some Astronomers are still prepared to take these risks to promote the hobby. One wishes them a "speedy recovery" financially, and more...

[keithatrochdale]

The Center was open as normal to the public Saturday night.

Thanks to you all for keeping your eyes open, it is MOST appreciated.

[DrRobin]

Hi Peter,

Sorry to hear of the break in and loss of some great kit. I hope they catch the person and you get the kit back. I will keep my eyes open. Hopefully the specialised nature will make it impossible to conceal/sell and it will turn up somewhere.

[Betelgeuse1079]

the more of us looking for it the better chance peter has of getting his stuff back people, us astronomers stick together and a all part of one big group. shame on you

amazing you would think i robbed them listen i dont live in england

all i saying is reality someone said thats not going to make him feel

better im truly sorry for peter i really am but im not going to lie and

stop thinking peter is some baby im sure peter knows that the chance

of getting his stuff back is slim to none so lets start with his stuff and

what chance he has of getting each item back.

Unique 6" F8 refracting Binocular telescope = very good chance

Unique 6" F8 reflectng binocular telescope = very good chance

12" Meade LX200 OTA = gone no chance thousends in britain

6" F8 black Helios refractor modded Ha scope = very good chance

6" F8 blue Skywatcher refractor = very good chance

3 Coronado PST bodies = gone no chance thousends in britain

2 black EQ6 mounts = gone no chance thousends in britain

1 white EQ6 Pro mount = gone no chance thousends in britain

this as i said before was a steal to order robbery do you really

believe these lowlifes are looking at the night sky with these

scopes now you all attack me like oh dont say that what you should

be doing is getting together and setting up a paypal account each

giving 25-30 pounds to help him buy new stuff but of course the

hypocrite bigmouth above wont do that lets see how much you

care about peter now when your asked to give money im ready

to give are you.

[Betelgeuse1079]

100 people giving 30 pounds each thats 3000 pounds peter can get some

stuff what ever he thinks or chooses it wont bring his old kit back but

it will help him.

[Moonshane]

amazing you would think i robbed them listen i dont live in england

all i saying is reality someone said thats not going to make him feel

better im truly sorry for peter i really am but im not going to lie and

stop thinking peter is some baby im sure peter knows that the chance

of getting his stuff back is slim to none so lets start with his stuff and

what chance he has of getting each item back.

Unique 6" F8 refracting Binocular telescope = very good chance

Unique 6" F8 reflectng binocular telescope = very good chance

12" Meade LX200 OTA = gone no chance thousends in britain

6" F8 black Helios refractor modded Ha scope = very good chance

6" F8 blue Skywatcher refractor = very good chance

3 Coronado PST bodies = gone no chance thousends in britain

2 black EQ6 mounts = gone no chance thousends in britain

1 white EQ6 Pro mount = gone no chance thousends in britain

this as i said before was a steal to order robbery do you really

believe these lowlifes are looking at the night sky with these

scopes now you all attack me like oh dont say that what you should

be doing is getting together and setting up a paypal account each

giving 25-30 pounds to help him buy new stuff but of course the

hypocrite bigmouth above wont do that lets see how much you

care about peter now when your asked to give money im ready

to give are you.

I am almost certain Daniel was in no way accusing you of anything other then perhaps being somewhat brutal in your honesty. I think we all understand where you are coming from but please can everyone keep this thread civil and helpful.

There's no problem with anyone contacting Peter and donating gear or money directly (the forum CoC forbids this being organised on the forum) or of course us all keeping an eye open for possible leads.

Let's all help eh? In whatever way we can.

[username]

I'm very sorry to hear this. Having been burgled before it's not just the money but your life and work being intruded upon.

I'm not in the UK so I doubt I can keep an eye open but some of the stuff looks identifiable so will keep an eye online.

Even on some of the generic equipment, I don't suppose there are serial numbers that people could use to identify it? Surely the meade and eq6's have? Other stuff looks so unique they'd have a hard time shifting it.

@Betelguese - it may not have been stolen to order. What got taken might have filled whatever transport they had from the easiest building to get into. Someone may have been there and realised the cost of astro equipment and so forth. Hopefully they try and sell something unique. Hopefully there's serial numbers for the more generic stuff. We can only try

[swamp thing]

Terrible news. Some people really grind my gears and thieves are some of em.

Stealing from somewhere that's very purpose is to help others is just contemptible.

[Quatermass]

Agreed lets all help in whatever way we can and keep the thread civil please, that is the way forward for all concerned.

Sent from my GT-S5670 using Tapatalk 2

[Keiran]

Really sorry to hear that news, that is horrid. I really dont know how people can do this sort of thing... I hope you manage to recover it all in good condition, and i will keep my eyes open.

[ollypenrice]

On the outside chance that this was stolen by an astronomer then an appeal for him or her to see the consequences of this theft is a good idea. Well said Tyco.

I still think that a better informed professional thief would have stolen different items. This means that they are unusually likely to give themselves away when trying to sell the goods. Betelguese, neither your use of capital letters nor your assertion that you alone are right carry any weight with me.

Olly

[Ponoobersie]

This is very sad news and im sorry to hear this!! Just a thought when you have a full list of the gear taken, would it be an idea to maybe have a break down of parts if you like? Im not sure on the set up of this gear but if they are modded would it not be good to have the parts with which the gear has been modded with? as it could have been broken down and being sold as parts rather than the full gear as they might be thinking this will hide the fact they have the gear if you follow?

[Darkstar_1]

Sorry to hear about this Peter, i live in Pendle so i am very close, will keep my eyes and ears open.

[shellfish]

Sorry to here bout the break in and your loss

100 people giving 30 pounds each thats 3000 pounds peter can get some

stuff what ever he thinks or chooses it wont bring his old kit back but

it will help him.

Maby not £30 each but could we give donations?

[angusb1]

this as i said before was a steal to order robbery

Assumption - the mother of all mess ups. I would stop speculating about this, its pointless and you have no way of knowing it was "stolen to order" or not.

[Black Knight]

This is really a bit of a shocker. Hope the perps are found and your property is safely returned soon.

[BinocularSky]

Here are a couple of pictures of the 150mm refracting binocular. Please feel free to reproduce these elsewhere for the purpose of helping identify this stolen kit. As you can see from the (uncovered) eyepiece end, this is a distinctively unique binocular.

[Peter Drew]

Thanks Steve for posting those pictures. The ones shown however were earlier experimental ones on which the design of the 6" F8 versions were based. The basic layout is still the same, the stolen ones were finished in white, they were badged "TERRASCAN" which was my terrestrial equipment commercial logo, they also had Baader film solar filters built into the objective end caps.