Camera theft prevention

My wife and I just returned from a mostly enjoyable trip to Spain,
Morocco and Portugal. Unfortunately, our camera along with all our
pictures of Spain was stolen on our first day in Portugal. I was
getting onto a crowded subway train and had the camera in my backpack.
We had thought it was safer in the backpack than carrying it loose.
Anyway there was lots of pushing to get into the subway which made it
impossible to tell that someone had their hand in my backpack. After
removing the camera I was shoved into the car. I just thought it was
the usual crowd push.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the safest way to carry a camera? I
don't want to spend all my time being paranoid. I think of myself as
reasonable careful but there will always be momentary lapses when you
are distracted, perhaps intentionally.

We have already decided to use smaller memory cars in the camera so
that at most one week of pictures can be lost. It would be nice to
have some way to simply move all the days pictures to a separate
memory card or other safe place but I'm not going to carry a laptop or
visit an internet café every day

Thanks
Steve Gerdemann

On Apr 16, 8:36 pm, steve <SJgerdem...m> wrote:
> My wife and I just returned from a mostly enjoyable trip to Spain,
> Morocco and Portugal. Unfortunately, our camera along with all our
> pictures of Spain was stolen on our first day in Portugal. I was
> getting onto a crowded subway train and had the camera in my backpack.
> We had thought it was safer in the backpack than carrying it loose.
> Anyway there was lots of pushing to get into the subway which made it
> impossible to tell that someone had their hand in my backpack. After
> removing the camera I was shoved into the car. I just thought it was
> the usual crowd push.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on the safest way to carry a camera? I
> don't want to spend all my time being paranoid. I think of myself as
> reasonable careful but there will always be momentary lapses when you
> are distracted, perhaps intentionally.


Carry your backpack in front of you, not on your back, esp. in crowded
places.

Put valuables deep inside the pack.


>
> We have already decided to use smaller memory cars in the camera so
> that at most one week of pictures can be lost. It would be nice to
> have some way to simply move all the days pictures to a separate
> memory card or other safe place but I'm not going to carry a laptop or
> visit an internet café every day
>
> Thanks
> Steve Gerdemann

> Carry your backpack in front of you, not on your back, esp.
> in crowded places.

> Put valuables deep inside the pack.


Glue some strips of velcro to the back of several mouse traps. On the
inside of a front backpack pocket glue or fasten the alternate strips
of velcro, ones which can be used to secure the mouse traps.

Leave this pocket accessible. Such as, with a flap which is easy to
bypass. The would-be thief's yelling will serve as your audible
alarm.

On Apr 16, 11:27 pm, The Reid <dont...@fellwalk.co.uk> wrote:
> On 16 Apr 2007 20:36:17 -0700, steve <SJgerdem...m> wrote:
>
> > Unfortunately, our camera along with all our
> >pictures of Spain was stolen on our first day in Portugal. I was
> >getting onto a crowded subway train and had the camera in my backpack.
>
> I don't think backpacks on your back are safe in city situations. Its
> a system designed for the wilderness adopted by city travelers, its
> vulnerable to thieves and you constantly annoy people by turning and
> bashing them with it.

I agree but this was really just a small daypack. The sad part is that
in the past I used to carry the thing on one shoulder and would
usually put it in front of me in crowded situations. But I found
carrying it that way tiring on long days so I switched to just keeping
it on my back. I guess I will go back to the old system.

Steve G

Real simple. If you really,really do not want your camera stolen then tie it
to you , perhaps around your belt or around your waist with a small sized
length of nylon cord.It cannot be stolen unless they want to go to the
trouble to cut the cord, which they probably won't since it is usually a
case of grab and go. Also if they see that the camera is tethered to your
body someway they will be discoraged from trying to steal it anyway because
it is too much trouble.
"steve" <SJgerdemannm> wrote in message
news:1176780977.227683.33630@p77g2000hsh. ...
My wife and I just returned from a mostly enjoyable trip to Spain,
Morocco and Portugal. Unfortunately, our camera along with all our
pictures of Spain was stolen on our first day in Portugal. I was
getting onto a crowded subway train and had the camera in my backpack.
We had thought it was safer in the backpack than carrying it loose.
Anyway there was lots of pushing to get into the subway which made it
impossible to tell that someone had their hand in my backpack. After
removing the camera I was shoved into the car. I just thought it was
the usual crowd push.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the safest way to carry a camera? I
don't want to spend all my time being paranoid. I think of myself as
reasonable careful but there will always be momentary lapses when you
are distracted, perhaps intentionally.

We have already decided to use smaller memory cars in the camera so
that at most one week of pictures can be lost. It would be nice to
have some way to simply move all the days pictures to a separate
memory card or other safe place but I'm not going to carry a laptop or
visit an internet café every day

Thanks
Steve Gerdemann

On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:11:58 GMT, in .europe, "singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com>
arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:

... Real simple. If you really,really do not want your camera stolen then tie it
... to you , perhaps around your belt or around your waist with a small sized
... length of nylon cord.It cannot be stolen unless they want to go to the
... trouble to cut the cord, which they probably won't since it is usually a
... case of grab and go. Also if they see that the camera is tethered to your
... body someway they will be discoraged from trying to steal it anyway because
... it is too much trouble.

I wear my camera across my chest, with a light jacket over it. Never had anyone trying to
steal it.

Remember that having your valuables behind you is very vulnerable to
thieves. I have a beat-up day pack I've lined with 1/2" closed-cell
foam ruber for more impact resistance. On vacation, I only sling it on
my back if away from crowds or walking on the street. In the latter
case my wife walks right behind me to keep an eye on it.

In crowded spaces I'll sling it over one shoulder with the top zipper
beneath my arm. I minimize the time the camera is out of the bag as
well.

My 2¢.
Tom Nelson
Tom Nelson Photography

In article <1176780977.227683.33630@p77g2000hsh.. com>,
steve <SJgerdemannm> wrote:

> My wife and I just returned from a mostly enjoyable trip to Spain,
> Morocco and Portugal. Unfortunately, our camera along with all our
> pictures of Spain was stolen on our first day in Portugal. I was
> getting onto a crowded subway train and had the camera in my backpack.
> We had thought it was safer in the backpack than carrying it loose.
> Anyway there was lots of pushing to get into the subway which made it
> impossible to tell that someone had their hand in my backpack. After
> removing the camera I was shoved into the car. I just thought it was
> the usual crowd push.
>
> Does anyone have any thoughts on the safest way to carry a camera? I
> don't want to spend all my time being paranoid. I think of myself as
> reasonable careful but there will always be momentary lapses when you
> are distracted, perhaps intentionally.
>
> We have already decided to use smaller memory cars in the camera so
> that at most one week of pictures can be lost. It would be nice to
> have some way to simply move all the days pictures to a separate
> memory card or other safe place but I'm not going to carry a laptop or
> visit an internet café every day
>
> Thanks
> Steve Gerdemann
>

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:34:53 +0200, in .europe, Deeply Filled Mortician
<deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> arranged some electrons, so they looked like
this:

... Make credence recognised that on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:13:48 +0200,
... Magda <magda@eu> has scripted:
...
... >On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:11:58 GMT, in .europe, "singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com>
... >arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
... >
... > ... Real simple. If you really,really do not want your camera stolen then tie it
... > ... to you , perhaps around your belt or around your waist with a small sized
... > ... length of nylon cord.It cannot be stolen unless they want to go to the
... > ... trouble to cut the cord, which they probably won't since it is usually a
... > ... case of grab and go. Also if they see that the camera is tethered to your
... > ... body someway they will be discoraged from trying to steal it anyway because
... > ... it is too much trouble.
... >
... >I wear my camera across my chest, with a light jacket over it. Never had anyone trying to
... >steal it.
...
... Putting it between your tits means it's hard to take without you
... noticing!

No, really...?

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:13:48 +0200, Magda <magda@eu> wrote:

>On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:11:58 GMT, in .europe, "singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com>
>arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
>
> ... Real simple. If you really,really do not want your camera stolen then tie it
> ... to you , perhaps around your belt or around your waist with a small sized
> ... length of nylon cord.It cannot be stolen unless they want to go to the
> ... trouble to cut the cord, which they probably won't since it is usually a
> ... case of grab and go. Also if they see that the camera is tethered to your
> ... body someway they will be discoraged from trying to steal it anyway because
> ... it is too much trouble.
>
>I wear my camera across my chest, with a light jacket over it. Never had anyone trying to
>steal it.

or pinch your chest?
--

Martin

On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:36:43 +0200, Magda <magda@eu> wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Apr 2007 23:34:53 +0200, in .europe, Deeply Filled Mortician
><deepfreudmoors@eITmISaACTUALLYiREAL!l.nu> arranged some electrons, so they looked like
>this:
>
> ... Make credence recognised that on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:13:48 +0200,
> ... Magda <magda@eu> has scripted:
> ...
> ... >On Tue, 17 Apr 2007 18:11:58 GMT, in .europe, "singlemalt" <jolo823@myway.com>
> ... >arranged some electrons, so they looked like this:
> ... >
> ... > ... Real simple. If you really,really do not want your camera stolen then tie it
> ... > ... to you , perhaps around your belt or around your waist with a small sized
> ... > ... length of nylon cord.It cannot be stolen unless they want to go to the
> ... > ... trouble to cut the cord, which they probably won't since it is usually a
> ... > ... case of grab and go. Also if they see that the camera is tethered to your
> ... > ... body someway they will be discoraged from trying to steal it anyway because
> ... > ... it is too much trouble.
> ... >
> ... >I wear my camera across my chest, with a light jacket over it. Never had anyone trying to
> ... >steal it.
> ...
> ... Putting it between your tits means it's hard to take without you
> ... noticing!
>
>No, really...?

Put it where the sun don't shine?
--

Martin