Eric2018 Loc: Los Angeles, CA, USA

Lots of good ideas, and I haven't read all posts, but it's probably better in the United States to have the "proof" of ownership somewhere other than in the camera's internal storage, because a clever criminal will not allow law enforcement to search your equipment, and if the police officer searches the equipment anyhow, the criminal may go free.
-- Eric

AndyT Loc: Hampstead, New Hampshire

I have thought about this. I laminated a business card with the serial numbers of my lenses, camera bodies and my pocket camera. Didn't bother with any accessories.

RonM12 Loc: Washington State

I use an app called “my gear vault” it allows you to enter all of your photography gear, serial numbers, purchase price and upload pictures of each item. The app was developed by Jared Poulin the “Fro Knows Photo” guy.

romanmel7 Loc: New Hartford, NY

LensTag works for me. As long as you have access to the internet, you have a “verified” list of the gear you have listed in the app. Not sure how they “verify” your gear, but it takes a few days before it shows up as verified.

PhilEveratt Loc: Oxfordshire, UK

I'm not sure putting your name and address on the SD card is a good idea. Address book for thieves ! Maybe just a mobile number would be a better idea, then if someone honest found your camera they can still contact you.

smilex3md

That looks very interesting. Another similar service is LensTag (http://www.lenstag.com/). They have a free service, but there are also paid upgrades that may interest some.

PHRubin Loc: Nashville TN USA

Ditto! I have my name and email address in the copyright and author metadata.

ClinchfieldPaul Loc: Salisbury NC

I put those sticky mailing label on the battery. If they don't open the battery compartment and take the battery out, your name is in you camera

Peterff Loc: O'er The Hills and Far Away, in Themyscira.

Yes, but much of that can be changed. It's easy to do. Thieves are not idiots, they're too ingenious.

(Download)

cmcaroffino Loc: Sebring, FL

Take a picture and look at the metadata. I use a unique file labeling not the usual DSC that nikon prefixes their images with. Of course I am using your scenario where the thief doesn't have time to change anything. I also keep the serial numbers in a document stored on the web which I can access anywhere via my iphone

snapshot18

Yes . . . I DO have the serial numbers of all my professional equipment; however, that info is in my computer and I don't normally carry my desktop around with me (my camera bag with 2 bodies, 4 lenses, 2 flash units, plus a extended battery/grip, plus a flash bracket, plus radio trigger & receiver, plus general 'junk' is heavy enough). So, I type up a sticky label that denotes which camera it is (I have 4 identical cameras as they're not made anymore), which Extended Warranty company has the warranty for that camera (if still active), and a number which means something ONLY to me (Example: your birth date, etc.: Don't put your Name or address or ANY information that will lead some Low-Life to you or your home). Then I stick the label inside the door where the recording media card goes (you can also use the battery door). After a while, the label will dry out and will be a 'Bear' to remove. Thus, when you tell the Hotel Security, The local Fuzz, or the Prison Guard (just in case you happen to be there and your cellmate stole your ' Brownie Hawkeye', etc., ) that the object is yours, you have TWO pieces of info to prove such the thief isn't aware of: #1- The label itself and where it is located, #2- the info on the label. Should suffice.

GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

I made a spreadsheet in Excel listing EVERYTHING I ever bought for photography, including S/N and date purchased. It is saved in my Dropbox that I can access from my phone.

When I went to Ireland with my Sony, I made an index card with the serial # and these words “ This Sony a6000 camera, Serial #...., belongs to.......” I took a picture of it AND put the index card in the camera case.

Luckily, I never had a problem though

bittermelon

I'll just say, my name is engraved inside the battery cover. Now what is your name? Let's open the cover and see whose name is engraved there. It doesn't matter at that point whether I actually have my name engraved or not.

stu352 Loc: MA/RI Border

Getting back to the original scenario, stopping the thief in the act: Ask the villain to describe the most recent photos on the memory card. And make sure you take a selfie or two each time after you erase/format.

Stu

10MPlayer Loc: California

I never thought about it before. Thanks for the heads up. Great ideas here.