Bill_de Loc: US

25 years ago the internet didn't tell us about everthing that happened unless it happened near us.

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JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

A new danger? Thieves never tried to steal cameras before, and all of a sudden they are? I've been doing photography for more than 50 years and I have always been aware I am carrying expensive equipment around and have been careful about it.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Fears are stories we tell ourselves.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Years ago, I went to work as regional industrial engineer for an air express company specializing in business-to-business overnight delivery. My job was all about work methods, station location, scheduling, and other things related to operating the business optimally...minimizing costs and maximizing efficiencies. It was actually a very rewarding job, with some travel and opportunity to meet folks and spend time in some really nice cities, like San Antonio, New Orleans, and Albuquerque, among others.

After I'd been there a while, my regional manager (my main client, but not my actual boss) started taking me on trips to all kinds of places to get involved in all sorts of investigations. Some of those involved working with the director of security from our corporate offices, who had previously been pretty high up in the police department of one of the country's largest cities. We looked at thefts from the station petty cash fund, kickbacks to delivery driver operators, and once I even was assigned to accompany a rather large (40 pounds or so) suspected marijuana shipment from an outlying station to San Antonio where we were met by the local police and the canine squad from the local US Air Force base. My main job was to maintain chain of custody and prevent anyone from opening or tampering with the package. (As a company, we had the right to open and inspect any package, but once opened, chain of custody is broken, and evidence value is lost.)

The final case I worked on involved a theft ring operating in the city where I was stationed. At that time (mid-1990s), we transported all PC shipments from from factories in Houston and Austin, to final customers. I spent a lot of time in the shipping departments of both companies. We did all sorts of other investigation, but while I was there, we were never able to catch the perpetrators. Dye packs that were shipped on several occasions passed right through the system to the addressee without interference.

After I moved on to another spot in the company, I happened on the security director and asked him if they had ever solved the case. He told me that they had. About the time I left, they decided it had to be an inside job. Turns out, the theft ring was run by an operations supervisor in the same building where the regional manager and I had our offices. I'd gone to lunch with him several times during the years I'd been there. We couldn't catch him because he wasn't a suspect (at least at first) and because he had knowledge of the all the details of what was being done to figure out what was going on.

The lesson here is simple. There is evil going on in the world, even where you least suspect it. Most of us who are honest refuse to even think like the crooks of the world. But it is, unfortunately, necessarily to be vigilant and to know and understand that there are people who are very comfortable doing things and behaving in ways that we would never consider. So yes, we need to go ahead and live life. But we also need to be vigilant and to make good choices. All the time.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I have thought that several times. I can't imagine what our country will be like in 50 years...

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

It just seems more and more non pros have more expensive equipment as photography seems to be a hobby on the rise. Because people now know what the big lenses cost, they have found a new way to get an expensive item. Yes, it has been happening and will continue to happen. It just seems to me more people with expensive stuff and the thieves are more bold now than they used to be. Just like in our small town. There is more and more theft than there was 10 - 15 years ago. I volunteer at the sheriff's office and they tell me that yes, there is more theft and the criminals are more cavalier about it now...

krl48 Loc: NY, PA now SC

If this is the video Photolady2014 is referring to...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dR8Sh-ysbo then the OP did not look closely at the video or was rather disingenuous by not mentioning that the two perps were more than just roughing the photographer up. THEY WERE BOTH ARMED WITH PISTOLS! That might explain why no one came to the aid of the photographer. The photographer was extremely fortunate in that they didn't get his equipment and they didn't shoot him, or any of the wedding party or bystanders.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yes, very sad the way things are going..........
(Maybe even as soon as 10 or 20.)

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

I did not mention the gun as I did not want this to turn into a gun discussion, no other reason. The guns probably did keep some from helping. But this just shows how much worse it is now days. Thankfully there are still people like the guy here recently in CO that tackled the shooter and prevented more deaths.

Photolady2014 Loc: Southwest Colorado

Every day it is worse...

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Crime is nothing new, it is just that the criminals are always out there inventing new methods of victimizing folks and of course, reverting to some of the more traditional crimes like mugging, robbing people at gunpoint, knifepoint, or under threat to violence. Even if you are a recluse who never leaves home you will get attempts to defraud you on the telephone and online.

If you never take your photography equipment out of your home or studio, it is still subject to the possibility of theft, break-ins, and arson. Smash-and-grab occurrences in cars are popular among thieves and you are not lucky they will steal the car as well- while they are at it!

Seems crime is a regular industry! So, rather than suffer fear, paranoia, and anxiety, do whatever you can PREVENT being victimized.

I can understand it being risky if you travel to an unfamiliar foreign country where criminal activity is a commonly known fact, so my best recommendation is DON'T GO THERE! The problem is, this thread is about a mugging that transpires in a supposedly civilized city at a popular wedding photography venue while the photograher was covering a wedding. Those offenders must be some badass crazy people! If you feel that things like this might occur in your community- think about security. Do not work alone, even at a wedding or event when you are concentrating on doing the work, and can be taken by surprise. Even if you are just shooting the scenery, birds, or bees, stay out of isolated areas and travel in groups. If you are a street photograher, do not carry excessive or overly conspicuous gear. My camera bags look like they went through Word War III- that's because they are army surplus signal satchels and ammunition cases. And...I look like I have been through WW III as well! I am big- ugly, and have a serious case of perma-frown!

If you can help it, never leave anything valuable in your car. The vehicle I use to go out on location and industrial jobs is an older model SUV- very unimpressive, with no advertising signage, dark tinted windows, and an alamm system that will wake the dead! When it is washed and shiny it looks le the mortuary van from the medical examiner's office.

Funny story. My industrial jobs sometimes take me to what you might call"bad neighborhoods"- ongoing urban renewal projects, old factory buildings, some abandoned houses, buildings, drugs, etc. I sometimes work late into the evening and was never bothered by bad guys, etc. The crime wave that actually targeted and victimized photographers, musicians, and DJs happened in posh hotels. It turned out an organized bunch of thieves were stealing musical instruments, sound gear, DJ equipment, and yes, PHOTOGRAHY EQUIPMENT! At one of the most prestigious hotels in the city, there was a policy that all this gear could not be brought in through the main lobby and had to be offloaded at the service entrance or loading dock. Then the vehicle had to be parked in the underground lot. By the time the folks came to get their gear and bring it onto function rooms- it was gone!

I did not find out about this on the TV news or by reading the local newspapers. There was one weekend when I had no event to cover and deced to just stay home and relax. I suddenly go an urgent telephone call from a friendly competitor photographer who told me that his gear, spares and all,l had disappeared and could I bring him a workg outfit so he could cover his wedding assignment. I thought he was gonna suffer a heart attack or a stroke! I quickly assembled a kit and brought it to the hotel. The police and the security fokls were there and mentioned that this was an ongoing problem. After that, no more loading dock for me. I brought my stuff right in through the main entrance and told the concierge that I was a guest- after all was wearing a black tux or business suit but being big, ugly, and frowning helps as well! Well at weddings, I do work with at least one assistant who can guard the gear but that is a young lady who is not big and ugly and has a lovely smile!

Also- May the universe forbid that any of this ever happens to you but remember, even at weddings, never leave your gear unattended, and make sure you have adequate insurance that includes a floater for coverage of the equipment when in transit or in use away for your home or studio and makes sure there's no disclaimer for "mysterious disappearance" whew there's no evidence of a break in but the equipment is gone.

Sneak thieves are a problem but outright assault and robbery are quite another. It depends on where you live and the laws. You may need to add to your checklist of equipment like cameras. lenses. flash hear, tripod, triggers, brackets, cords, pepper spray, taser, expandable baton, switchblade, 9mm Glock, or my preference is an old S&W .38 snub-nose detective special- very compact- hardly bigger than a good sized Speedlight! Too bad concealed or open carry is strictly prohibited here in Canada! There was a time when the cops of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary were not allowed to carry guns- just a large truncheon was permitted!

My idea! Attach a tripod head to the end of a Lousiville Slugger and pass it off as a monopod. If you are accosted by muggers just treat their heads and a high/outside pitch and knock them out of the park!

BebuLamar

There are crooks that kill you for your Nike so.. they are not against photography.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

...and there are people who actually believe them! Statistics not withstanding.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Well, if I go by what "I've actually seen" as opposed to what is reported, no crime is not up....

So, catalytic converter theft is not up?
Car jackings are not up?
Theft is not up?

If one can't trust/believe the media, where does one get the statistics?
Local police reports?
What if nothing happens "locally"...

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

If I go by what I've seen, there are no other continents.