Dallas photographer refuses to give up camera in attempted mugging

WFAA TV ^ | June 19,2012 | DAVID SCHECHTER

[slumber1]

DALLAS - "This camera is everything to me," said photographer Stephen Masker.

And it almost cost him his life.

Masker told Dallas police a group of three or four men riding in a van pulled up while he was shooting pictures of Uptown Station. At gun point, the men demanded his camera -- the one thing he was unwilling to give.

"I said, 'What? Like, what are you talking about?'" Masker recalled. "He repeated himself and said, 'Give me your camera.' I said, 'I'm not giving you my camera.'"

[ClearCase_guy]

Highland Park police say a few minutes before, suspects matching the same description held up another man in an alley

And what description would that be? "Men riding in a van"? Well, round up the usual suspects!

[from occupied ga]

I’m going by the media rules that in the absence of any racial description that they were 0bama’s sones.

[Frank_2001]

“Oh, hey, I’ve got a telephoto lens for you, too! Let me get it for you. BANG! BANG BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Alternative ending;)

[MNDude]

that’s what I thought. For reporting a story on crime, the news is not being very helpful in offering descriptions to catch the guys. What gives?

[PowderMonkey]

"I would've given them the camera if it was a do-over," he said. "If it ever happens again, I'll give away whatever's on me."

Don't feed the vermin, and don't advertise easy pickins'. Just shaddupaboudit. Now that you've got your name, expensive camera equipment, and highly recognizable self in the paper, you might want to consider increasing your insurance coverage, Stephen.

[Reagan69]

As an owner of a couple of these babies ($7,000 @) - I would simply say: FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS !

[SoldierDad]

Masker said if he had to do it all again, he would not do it the same way.

"I would've given them the camera if it was a do-over," he said. "If it ever happens again, I'll give away whatever's on me."

I don't understand. He refused to comply, and the perps drove away. Yet, if this were to happen again, he'd comply instead? Why?

[Reagan69]

If he had a flash unit attached, all he would have to do is shoot one off in the mugger’s eyes. Instantly blinded. It lasts about 15 minutes if you look into one of those mega flash units - up close.

[gortklattu]

My Norman 2000 will last a lot longer....

[US_MilitaryRules]

Umm. Why no pics of the perps or the license plate?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Mess with my camera and you’d better be bulletproof!

[Mr. Wright]

In the words of Paul Simon, “MAMA DON’T TAKE MY KODACHROME AWAY!!!

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

Because in the cold light of day, he’d had a chance to think about what would have been the rational thing to do?

[Bigg Red]

I don’t understand. He refused to comply, and the perps drove away. Yet, if this were to happen again, he’d comply instead? Why?

****
My thoughts, as well. I went to the original story hoping to find an answer. Perhaps there is a piece that the idiot reporter left out.... Or perhaps he wants them to come after him again so that he can photograph them or the car or shoot them. Who knows? Strange, indeed.

[SoldierDad]

This incident occurred in the “cold light of day”, and the perps were obviously not inclined to shoot someone in the “cold light of day” with plenty of witnesses around.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

He was lucky they weren’t crazy enough to do that, some would have been.

[TexanByBirth]

As an owner of a couple of these babies ($7,000 @) - I would simply say: FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS !

Ditto!