kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Carmine and Nunzio. Anyone tries anything, they get their knees broken, know what I’m sayin’?

gary northrop

I think Baygolf is giving excellent advice. I also keep my cameras in a bag when not shooting -- mainly to protect against the elements.

My wife and I have traveled to nearly 50 countries in the past nine years, often abroad for weeks at a time, walking crowded streets and alleys in such places as India, Colombia, and Italy. We have NEVER had a theft incident, nor have we had anyone in our groups experience a security problem. Not that it can't happen, but I wouldn't be anxious about it.

erinjay64

Yep. It works. Bad guys prefer soft targets who are not paying attention. They avoid alert hard targets. I have lived in The World Murder Capitol, and The World Bank Robbery Capitol-where one bank was robbed five times in a single day-and I have never been robbed, or mugged, or murdered.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

You lived in Chicago?

Dennis

Quinn 4

Carry your camera in something that does not look like camera bag. Don't carry anything that has a camera company name on it. Known your camera, so that you can get pictures fast. Look around you before taking a picture. You can always tell a out of town in New York City, it the person who is always looking up. Never have another person take a picture for you. Only have the camera out of the bag when you going to take a picture, rest of the time keep it inside the bag and the bag close. Trips from a ex New Yorker.

texaseve Loc: TX, NC and NH

Be vigilant. I was on a tour in Europe years ago and two men in the group were pick-pocketed. I sat down in front of a church to change out batteries on my camera and was quickly surround by young teen boys trying to get my attention in the front to take my purse or camera bag from the back. Luckily, we had been told this might happen, started kicking and yelling at them so off they went. On our last trip to Hawaii a couple weeks ago, we were told to be careful leaving things in the car as there was a lot of theft.

Joecosentino Loc: Whitesboro, New York

Thank you for saying that, between social media and the we need a crisis news. You would think the world is a horrible place.

All you have to do when traveling anywhere is be aware of your surroundings. I don't pack big gear anymore for family trips. I pack a Fuji and a couple of lenses. When doing a workshop I have all my gear. Because we are there to take photos.

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

Being aware of your surroundings is important. Don't travel in a group less than four helps. If it is just you and your wife, you might want to ask her to stay one or two steps behind you and your backpack. That prevented a thief from opening my backpack for us one time. My wife saw the thief reach for my packpack zipper, called out my name, and I turned around in time to see the thief with his hand in the air (and the thief was so pissed he gave us the finger!). Also, these days, insurance is a good idea. A cabled strap is a good idea. Don't be paranoid about it; just take caution and be aware of your surroundings.

SATS Loc: Belgium

Hi Steve, I live here and I have to tell you that that I have never had a problem in that respect. It's not like the Wild West y'know ;) Walk around with a camera round your neck and you are going to mark yourself out as a tourist but since you are one of the people their economy depends upon, they are going to be nice to you. A druggy might go in for an opportunist snatch but it a rare occurrence. In fact I have not come across it. Having just told you that, I too walk around with my camera but I put my head and one arm through the loop so it hangs by my side a bit like a ladies handbag but not so low. You have to take your elbow out when you want to take a shot but it is not that big a deal.

As for setting it down when you go for a coffee or a beer etc, if it is just the camera then place it on the table and loosely loop the strap around your wrist. If it is a camera bag or back pack, I put it down of the floor and put my foot through the loop then place the strap on my knee. You can even put the foot of the chair through the loop as well if you want to. If the strap is on your knee you won't forget it if you need to stand up for any reason. Then you can simply give it to your traveling companion until you come back.

Although it is also fairly rare, professional thieves are more likely to go for documents than possessions. Passports and identity cards which are common in Europe, can be used to legitimise an illegal comer in and so have value. Best place for these is an a money belt next to the skin although a pocket with a zipper adds an extra level of security. Don't hang your jacket up in a restaurant with your docs in the pocket - tell me you won't do this. In fact, if you are a non European, the hotel you are booked into are likely to hold your passport in their safe for the duration of your stay so be ready for this one if it happens. The don't tell you this but they register your passport number with the police for the duration of you stay. It sounds sinister but it protects you as well. Also take copies of your docs and leave these in a different place or you and your traveling companion can carry each others.

Once, when I was in a pavement cafe (bar) I dropped my wallet out of my back trouser pocket when I stood up to leave. The guy on the next table came running after me down the street with it in his hand, so people are not all bad. Common sense and general awareness are the main things. There is no need to go around clutching your stuff to your chest like the Rain Man, you are on holiday to enjoy yourself so let that be your main priority.

david vt Loc: Vermont

Much good advice above. In summary, take reasonable precautions and be aware of surroundings, but not paranoid. The tips on not displaying logos and using bags that do not look like camera bags is good. For zippers, I found these nice 1" snapping S-hook locking carabiners (Home Depot actually) that I can use to lock zippers together on my backpack, which gives me much piece of mind on someone opening one up quickly. I also use insurance. Asking your insurance company for a scheduled item (like camera equip) with a zero deductible for a specific length of time is not that unreasonable and can take much of the stress out.

I also agree with the comments on "free" bags being lifted from benches or restaurants. When standing to shoot, I put my foot through the strap. At restaurants, my foot also goes through. Makes you not the weak target and they will move onto someone "softer"

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Important travel hint: When you see the friendly sign Warning Pickpocket Area, DO NOT pat your wallet. They pay attention.

https://thesavvybackpacker.com/pickpockets-europe/

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

I hear ya, Boss. Kan I take them wit me on vacashon?

berchman Loc: South Central PA

berchman Loc: South Central PA

I'm an ex New Yorker too and when I recently spent a few days each in Palermo and Barcelona, two cities that one is always warned about, I held my Fuji X-T2 in my hand with a loose wrist strap as I walked around for hours and I never had a problem. I needed to be ready to grab a fleeting shot which I would have missed if my camera had been in a bag.

When I come back to New York I often look up. Some of the older buildings are beautifully decorated and you never know who might be sticking their head out the window. So does that make someone who spent their first thirty years in the city an "out of towner"? Only in a technical sense.

kb6kgx Loc: Simi Valley, CA

Definitely not. That’s the first thing they look for, see who’s checking their wallets.