HLTV.org robbed at WCG

Towards the end of the first day of World Cyber Games 2010 in Los Angeles, HLTV.org was robbed of equipment worth $3,000.

When the last games of the day were about to end, I (Nix0n), went to visit the bathroom, when returning I discovered that our Canon 7D camera, with a 50mm f/1.8 lens mounted and a borrowed 70-200mm f/4 lens were missing. I had the opportunity to stay in the tournament area to handle HLTV setup.

Nobody besides referees, players and their team leaders, as well as specific media and VIPs can enter the area and the equipment was out of reach from the spectators behind the barricades.

At first I thought someone was pulling a prank on me, but when rushing around the area quizzing people and searching bags, I realized that someone had stolen our equipment. The 70-200mm f/4 lens was not mounted, but stood next to the Canon 7D, on the table where my laptop and other equipment were. Whoever decided to take the equipment, did not take another lens of ours, a cheap 17-85mm f/4-5.6 and also did not take an iPhone that was left charging in the PC next to me.

We can only stress that any help in getting our equipment back will be appreciated, so if any players or managers reading this have seen anything, please let us know. We are a small site without the economic resources to simply go out and buy new equipment like this, the loss of this is something that will affect us for many months to come before we will even have a chance of replacing it. We are sad this will negatively affect our WCG coverage, robbing us of not just the money, but also the opportunity to do proper video interviews.

Clearly it is frustrating that you cannot leave your things for 5 minutes, without someone running off with it. Neverthe less, this will not knock us out, we have spare equipment, though not of the same quality, but equipment that should still be able to secure the top notch coverage we always bring to you guys at home.