Barn Owl

Here is a reminder for UHH members thinking about photographing in major cities…especially on the West Coast. https://petapixel.com/2022/02/19/dangerous-places-in-san-francisco-for-photographers-and-cameras/ I think a special mental note deserves attention when staying at motels and hotels and leaving equipment in the vehicle. Also, makes one wonder how secure many of the paid parking garages are for gear. Many vans don’t have trunks. I never carry my camera with a major camera ID neck strap when walking around. Of course, thieves can spot pro level gear from a distance. It ain’t Disneyland out there.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Being proactive and staying aware of your situation is just plain good advice. Best of luck to all.

bobforman Loc: Anacortes, Washington State

Can't wait for a jokester to build an exploding camera. Remote controlled.

RoswellAlien

I try to limit to what goes in a medium sized backpack that does NOT carry a photo backpack name. As out of sight as possible in vehicle and always take in at hotels. Also never use camera brand straps, either.
But, it can still happen - the unpleasant reality.
Everyone just be careful and aware of your surroundings.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Mine is relatively safe because it is locked up at home. I usually bring a pocketable camera when I travel. But travel is but a distant memory.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Walks around all day with six cameras ready to "go".....

cahale Loc: San Angelo, TX

Add one more "peace" of equipment and your gear gets much safer.

Security blanket

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

👍👍👍

TomHackett Loc: Kingston, New York

What to do when staying at a hotel is always a dilemma for me. In my entire life, I've had exactly two pieces of equipment stolen from me. The first time was at college when I left my camera on a table while I went to the restroom. That was a really stupid mistake I've not repeated.

The second happened about twenty-five years later. I went out of my hotel, leaving the camera locked up in the room safe. I checked out of the hotel without realizing it. (This was before I was serious about photography.) A few hours later I realized my mistake and called the hotel. They claimed neither the staff nor the next occupant had reported anything. Whoever tried next to use the safe would have had to guess the combination or called security to have the safe unlocked. If it was the latter, I would presume that security would have logged the incident. I also filed a police report and stopped in at the hotel a few days later when I was passing through. I never heard further.

I figure security (or other hotel staff) opened the safe for the next occupant (without logging the incident) and either assumed the occupant was the camera's owner or took the camera home for themselves. Otherwise, maybe the next occupant just guessed the combination. Fairly soon afterwords I changed all my bank pins to something more complicated and have never used a simple combination in a hotel safe again.

I figured since the camera was worth less than $1,000, the police never bothered to investigate. (Also, since I had a hefty deductible on my homeowner's insurance, I didn't bother to claim the loss.)

I now have what's known as an "inland marine" insurance policy that covers me whenever I travel, since I almost always have > $5k of equipment in my possession.

bobforman Loc: Anacortes, Washington State

Had a camera stollen by hotel housekeeping. They hid it just inside the stairwell most likely hoping to collect it later. Fortunately, security did find it and I got it back, after I returned from vacation.

johngault007 Loc: Florida Panhandle

jim quist Loc: Missouri

We are planning a trip to Germany. Buying pocket cameras for the trip. Preventing theft but I really don't feel like carrying around the cameras.

sheldon minsky Loc: iron mountain michigan

I do and it does.

traderjohn Loc: New York City

If someone is a thief they will take the camera with or without a name on the strap. It's all about a camera. They don't discriminate. Insurance will help if anything is stolen and make sure your battery is charged on your cell phone.

Barn Owl

RoswellAlien, Thanks for your suggestions.