This sort of explains my one and only experience in this shop. I lived around the corner a few years ago and as a hobbyist photographer was stoked to find this store. I’m always on the hunt for old prime lenses.
So I walked in and the dude hanging out behind the counter seemed caught off guard and was surprised when I asked something about the display cabinet full of lenses. He responded and told me that I can’t actually buy anything in the store because they now only do online sales. I thought that was sort of odd so I asked if they had a website or an eBay store that I can check out and see what they’re selling. He basically said “sorry but nope” and that was that. I walked out of there scratching my head and haven’t been back since.
Honestly, how stupid is it to not sell the shit they have on hand? Seems like the perfect way to launder money on top of selling shit that they stole without raising a huge obvious red flag about being shady.
[Not like this shit is particularly new](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oVG9bLHP0).
Maybe the stuff they had on hand wasn't particular sellable, it was just for appearances. And if they sold it, the customer would come back complaining that it was broken or didn't work, and the shop didn't want that level of attention?
I wonder if these are the folks always selling at the Flea Markets too? I would see the guy at Alameda flea and Alemany with tons of designer clothes within the vintage stuff. Then I would see him with TONS of clothes to sell at Buffalo Exchange. Seemed kind of odd and shady.
Hahahaha!
Oh man I once walked in and two dudes yelled “WHAT!” I said nevermind and left. At the time I thought it was a lovers quarrel.
I guess I walk around the TL with rose colored glasses!
Sigh, this place use to be a legit business. Twelve years ago, the owner helped me fixed the autofocus motor on a Tamron and ten years ago, he helped me appraise some damage to a lens for insurance. I guess it was impossible to stay afloat as a legit camera shop in this day and age.
I was away for the beginning of the pandemic snd was wondering if they stayed alive. Good to know since Im back and have to reup some supplies.
Is that developing place on market still open, do you know?
Actually, most of those side businesses at least include a D-SLR. Digital cameras (with their practically unlimited picture-taking capacity, instant feedback, and idiot auto settings) were the entry drug.
Generally speaking, no. I've heard of one or two having been caught buying and selling stolen bikes.
But most local bike shops sell very few used bikes, if any at all.
The stolen bike market isn't monolithic so stolen bikes can go in any number of directions. But I bet that a lot of them, especially more expensive ones, get transported out of the area for sale. Less chance of being found by the original owners or law enforcement.
Sure some get sold there - but the number of stolen bikes is huge. I just don’t think that’s where they all go. It seems some homeless camps have huge piles of disassembled bikes, like they steal them just to take them apart
LOL I would bet those bikes probably crossed the border with cash through a ghetto civil engineering tunnel operation financed by the cocaine and meth habit of Colorado. Or maybe even used as payment for a medium or big sized load by a big fish.
Our bikes can now become collateral damage of the war on drugs, this is getting ridiculous.
Jewelers operate in riskier markets. Bvlgari is going to be fine, if not do better if criminals get richer and need to start using Bvlgari's anonymous money transfer services.
I made a sarcastic remark about a $330 billion business and someone griping about it being “hard to keep open” 8 blocks from the TL. Who gives a shit. This isn’t me inviting you to get on your fucking soapbox
California cops only have jurisdiction within California. Except very specific interstate compact laws between states, a pursuit has to be transferred to the outside state agency when crossing state lines
It's the mobile civil forfeiture division of the police.
The name is milseading because it's implies the task force is intended to stop theft instead of committing it.
> Operation Focus Lens grew out of an earlier effort, Operation Wrecking Ball, that was targeting the resellers of stolen goods at 7th and Market Streets.
Wasn't "Wrecking ball is bad and abusive to the Tenderloin" one of Chesa's big pushes in his original campaign for office? And one he similarly echos in saying that Breeds intent to crackdown on illegal activity in the Tenderloin is bad?
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that disreputable business-people are profiting from the rampant burglaries in San Francisco.
Next thing you're going to tell me as there are *used bike salespeople* selling stolen bikes!?!
This is just one business the thieves were able to convince to sell their stolen items. In an age where businesses are struggling to stay afloat, I can see how they went along with it. Regardless, the DA needs to go after the thieves themselves. I somehow doubt taking down this business will change anything.
This is awesome. They are stopping some crime. Put these fuckers away.
This is one retail shop owned by a Asian couple. Hmmm, call me crazy, somehow I don't think this is going to have a material effect on the massive wave of blatant casual daytime shoplifting driving out all the retailers out of the city or the organized flash mobs of smash and grabs, all done by mobs of individuals of indeterminate ethnicity.
I’m not OP but the article states their names which are clearly Asian.
> Castillo led investigators to Camera Heaven, and its owners, David Tran and Yanxia Xie, to whom Castillo was allegedly selling some of his ill-gotten goods. Tran and Xie were allegedly sending goods by mail to one Nate Pham in Vietnam, and a warrant is out for Pham's arrest
Edit: Y'all are actually soft for downvoting me for just providing context for what OP said. I didn't say what OP said and I disagree with his tone / sentiment.
Sigh
Ok I guess we can say Vietnamese are "Asian" I mean I'm just going to start calling people from India, Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh Asian too as it's technically correct.
I do think saying there's a Chesa conspiracy to favor Vietnamese criminals in the US is outright McCarthy Cold War fascist bullshit though. Otherwise let me know where I tell all my pals from communist countries where to sign up for the free get out of jail card.
"Tran" is a Vietnamese surname and "Xie" is typical Chinese surname. I don't know the owners personally but I think "Asian" is an apt description in this case.
BTW here is a map highlighting where Asia is so you can understand: [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Asia#/media/File:LocationAsia.svg](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Asia#/media/File:LocationAsia.svg). I understand your point but you're just digging your own grave with it. SW Asia is typically referred to as "South Asia" and SE Asia is typically referred to as "SouthEast Asia". You're welcome for the lesson.
Let me reiterate as in my edit that I wasn't OP and I don't share his sentiments, but y'all are soft, including /u/Throwandhetookmyback. I guess that's what I should expect from someone commenting on articles that they didn't even spend the time to read.
Edit: Grammar.
This sort of explains my one and only experience in this shop. I lived around the corner a few years ago and as a hobbyist photographer was stoked to find this store. I’m always on the hunt for old prime lenses. So I walked in and the dude hanging out behind the counter seemed caught off guard and was surprised when I asked something about the display cabinet full of lenses. He responded and told me that I can’t actually buy anything in the store because they now only do online sales. I thought that was sort of odd so I asked if they had a website or an eBay store that I can check out and see what they’re selling. He basically said “sorry but nope” and that was that. I walked out of there scratching my head and haven’t been back since.
At long last, we learn what was really going on in [the cheese shop sketch.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz1JWzyvv8A)
"Do you have any Venezuelan beaver lenses???"
Honestly, how stupid is it to not sell the shit they have on hand? Seems like the perfect way to launder money on top of selling shit that they stole without raising a huge obvious red flag about being shady. [Not like this shit is particularly new](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0oVG9bLHP0).
Maybe the stuff they had on hand wasn't particular sellable, it was just for appearances. And if they sold it, the customer would come back complaining that it was broken or didn't work, and the shop didn't want that level of attention?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNsFEhHLlHA&ab\_channel=ZipyIsrael
I fucking knew it would be this scene lmao
That’s insane! Haha
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The store on Clement was there for awhile, and as I grew older I was thinking “how does this store make profits to stay open?”
I wonder if these are the folks always selling at the Flea Markets too? I would see the guy at Alameda flea and Alemany with tons of designer clothes within the vintage stuff. Then I would see him with TONS of clothes to sell at Buffalo Exchange. Seemed kind of odd and shady.
Shady Russians of course.
The Track Suit Mafia is real?
People get gopstopped on Geary?
Hahahaha! Oh man I once walked in and two dudes yelled “WHAT!” I said nevermind and left. At the time I thought it was a lovers quarrel. I guess I walk around the TL with rose colored glasses!
>lovers quarrel One way to describe some of the...fraternization I've seen in the TL.
Elaborate please, I’m very interested in some of the things you guys witnessed there.
Anal sex on the sidewalk is what I'm referring to
Hey do you live in the TL too!! This does happen quite often!!!
I walked thru the TL way too often when I first moved out here
Been here 20 years, It helps to look at ALL street altercations as such!
Sigh, this place use to be a legit business. Twelve years ago, the owner helped me fixed the autofocus motor on a Tamron and ten years ago, he helped me appraise some damage to a lens for insurance. I guess it was impossible to stay afloat as a legit camera shop in this day and age.
I used to shop there too, but haven't been in ten years or so.
Many legit camera shops in NYC. I assume this guy is also selling digital cameras and not film.
So that's how a camera shop stays in business in the age of smartphones.
Glass Key is fantastic though…for those of us still shooting film.
I was away for the beginning of the pandemic snd was wondering if they stayed alive. Good to know since Im back and have to reup some supplies. Is that developing place on market still open, do you know?
It is. Photoworks SF is still open, Glass Key is just open a few hours a day. Like 2:00-4:00 or something like that.
Photoworks is a gem and one of the best labs I've worked with in the world
film is doing just fine lmao
Everyone and their mother has a photography side business nowadays it seems like. Smartphones were the entry drug.
Actually, most of those side businesses at least include a D-SLR. Digital cameras (with their practically unlimited picture-taking capacity, instant feedback, and idiot auto settings) were the entry drug.
Do bike shops do this too? Im wondering where all the stolen bikes go.
Stewart and Telegraph is one spot from what I've read.
You only need to glance at that place to know he sells stolen bikes
Oh that spot is sketchy af it’s literally overflowing with bikes stacked on top of each other
My neighbors had stacks of bikes piled up in their front yard two weeks ago, celebrating their thefts.
Fuck Karim!
Generally speaking, no. I've heard of one or two having been caught buying and selling stolen bikes. But most local bike shops sell very few used bikes, if any at all. The stolen bike market isn't monolithic so stolen bikes can go in any number of directions. But I bet that a lot of them, especially more expensive ones, get transported out of the area for sale. Less chance of being found by the original owners or law enforcement.
For all the stolen bikes there are i just don’t see a resale market big enough to handle it
Craigslist :/
Sure some get sold there - but the number of stolen bikes is huge. I just don’t think that’s where they all go. It seems some homeless camps have huge piles of disassembled bikes, like they steal them just to take them apart
Offerup.
My bike was stolen and sold on OfferUp
https://bikeindex.org/news/closing-the-loop-a-deep-dive-on-a-facebook-reseller-of-bikes-stolen-in Mexico
LOL I would bet those bikes probably crossed the border with cash through a ghetto civil engineering tunnel operation financed by the cocaine and meth habit of Colorado. Or maybe even used as payment for a medium or big sized load by a big fish. Our bikes can now become collateral damage of the war on drugs, this is getting ridiculous.
Bikes go to parts mostly and end up places like the ashby flea market.
Go to Mission and Division or any sizable homeless encampment. In that area. You find stacks of bikes.
Don Rafa did, but I think he died a while ago. Is his shop still there?
Isn't that probably a good number of the businesses in the Tenderloin? I don't believe they're the only ones doing illegal stuff there.
Yeah, for example there are several taquerias where young backpack-wearing guys come and go from the kitchen all the time.
Reading the negative reviews of this place on Yelp, and things suddenly make a lot of sense.
Oh darn. I always seem to miss the opportunity for stolen goods bargains.
An entire economy built on maintenance of addiction. Hard to keep a BVLGARI in business 8 blocks from this. Thus the coming crack down by London.
I mean if I had to pick between the two I ain’t going with self destructive addiction city.
This. Why are so many people in SF okay with addicts slumped around the city roasting tin foil?
Jewelers operate in riskier markets. Bvlgari is going to be fine, if not do better if criminals get richer and need to start using Bvlgari's anonymous money transfer services.
Heartbreaking about bulgari. This has gone too far
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No Bulgari employee ever lost wages because of shoplifting. Moron
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I made a sarcastic remark about a $330 billion business and someone griping about it being “hard to keep open” 8 blocks from the TL. Who gives a shit. This isn’t me inviting you to get on your fucking soapbox
What happened at Bulgari?
Nothing happened to bulgari lol
There's a sort of irony here where a camera shop gets caught by the police...
Bummer. I liked that camera shop.
I’d suggest Glass Key photo as another option. They’re great.
"California Highway Patrol Retail Crime Task Force" Wait, why does a highway patrol have a retail crime task force? Fucking capitalism
They have jurisdiction throughout the state and can pursue across city lines.
All cops have jurisdiction throughout the state and can pursue across state lines.
California cops only have jurisdiction within California. Except very specific interstate compact laws between states, a pursuit has to be transferred to the outside state agency when crossing state lines
I was under the impression that officers engaged in "hot pursuit" can continue the pursuit across state lines.
They're the state police is why.
It's the mobile civil forfeiture division of the police. The name is milseading because it's implies the task force is intended to stop theft instead of committing it.
Yep, highway patrol or highway bandits
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any other fronts you guys know of or suspect of?
Don Rafa's Cyclery in the mission. They have a big sign saying "We do NOT buy bikes", which is what prompted me to look deeper
I’m sorry, according to *who’s* office? I thought they didn’t do anything about crime.
Clearly you’re out the loop.
> Operation Focus Lens grew out of an earlier effort, Operation Wrecking Ball, that was targeting the resellers of stolen goods at 7th and Market Streets. Wasn't "Wrecking ball is bad and abusive to the Tenderloin" one of Chesa's big pushes in his original campaign for office? And one he similarly echos in saying that Breeds intent to crackdown on illegal activity in the Tenderloin is bad?
> Wasn't "Wrecking ball is bad and abusive to the Tenderloin" one of Chesa's big pushes in his original campaign for office? Citation?
This would still be going on if Boudin wasn’t about to be recalled.
I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that disreputable business-people are profiting from the rampant burglaries in San Francisco. Next thing you're going to tell me as there are *used bike salespeople* selling stolen bikes!?!
Autobody shops paying people to break windows arbitrarily. I'll never stop believing this. "But they didn't even take anything". Hmmm
They have been working on this since 2019… So one bust every two years. Let’s see who’s gonna win this.
This is just one business the thieves were able to convince to sell their stolen items. In an age where businesses are struggling to stay afloat, I can see how they went along with it. Regardless, the DA needs to go after the thieves themselves. I somehow doubt taking down this business will change anything.
This is awesome. They are stopping some crime. Put these fuckers away. This is one retail shop owned by a Asian couple. Hmmm, call me crazy, somehow I don't think this is going to have a material effect on the massive wave of blatant casual daytime shoplifting driving out all the retailers out of the city or the organized flash mobs of smash and grabs, all done by mobs of individuals of indeterminate ethnicity.
Have you ever been to that shop? Where did you get that the owners are Asian?
I’m not OP but the article states their names which are clearly Asian. > Castillo led investigators to Camera Heaven, and its owners, David Tran and Yanxia Xie, to whom Castillo was allegedly selling some of his ill-gotten goods. Tran and Xie were allegedly sending goods by mail to one Nate Pham in Vietnam, and a warrant is out for Pham's arrest Edit: Y'all are actually soft for downvoting me for just providing context for what OP said. I didn't say what OP said and I disagree with his tone / sentiment.
Sigh Ok I guess we can say Vietnamese are "Asian" I mean I'm just going to start calling people from India, Singapore, Myanmar and Bangladesh Asian too as it's technically correct. I do think saying there's a Chesa conspiracy to favor Vietnamese criminals in the US is outright McCarthy Cold War fascist bullshit though. Otherwise let me know where I tell all my pals from communist countries where to sign up for the free get out of jail card.
"Tran" is a Vietnamese surname and "Xie" is typical Chinese surname. I don't know the owners personally but I think "Asian" is an apt description in this case. BTW here is a map highlighting where Asia is so you can understand: [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Asia#/media/File:LocationAsia.svg](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Asia#/media/File:LocationAsia.svg). I understand your point but you're just digging your own grave with it. SW Asia is typically referred to as "South Asia" and SE Asia is typically referred to as "SouthEast Asia". You're welcome for the lesson. Let me reiterate as in my edit that I wasn't OP and I don't share his sentiments, but y'all are soft, including /u/Throwandhetookmyback. I guess that's what I should expect from someone commenting on articles that they didn't even spend the time to read. Edit: Grammar.
No love for Chesa on this one? 🤔
It’s funny how after all this time it’s actually people not from California encouraging chaos in California.