Stealing camera lenses off tourists

RioRico · 09-29-2011, 11:21 AM

I used to carry a backpack and leave stuff in my outer pockets. Then I was pickpocketed in Guatemala (they only got my wallet, not my P&S, whew!) and some Old Hands hipped me to the teardrop Ameribag, which I now carry religiously. When nobody's around, it hangs around my back. If anybody is near, I swing it around front, with the neckstrapped K20D resting atop it.

I visualize a map-scam encounter as going something like this: I'm in a populous city, so the Ameribag is in front. The fiends accost me. I stand there with the camera+lens atop my bag at gut-level, with my right hand atop the gear, and my left hand fending-off the fiends. I rather intensely dislike being jostled. I can be a bit adamant about protecting my personal space.

IOW: Don't be a sucker. Elbows are useful.

Jodokast96 · 09-29-2011, 06:31 PM

Originally posted by séamuis

with one of those standard lightweight 18-55mm kit lenses I can see how you might not notice a difference in weight around your neck with the sudden absence of the lens attached, but anything other than the kit lens, how would you not notice? with pancake lenses like the DA40 you probably wouldnt, but as mentioned above, it would be insanely difficult to pull that scam with such a lens. and why would anyone want to steal a kit lens. I know personally if I were out and my 43, 55 or 77mm was snatched like this I would instantly recognize a weight difference.

All true, but then there are also a lot of lenses like the FA50 whose weight would be easy to miss.

magkelly · 09-30-2011, 01:45 AM

My camera strap is already wired and so is my bag, and this kind of thing is why I don't just let my camera dangle at my back or side like some do. If I have my camera out and someone approaches me I put it away and lock it up. I don't offer to help tourists find things either, not when they're coming at me in packs. I'd just back away, lock it up if I could. I'm too suspicious to begin with, but it wouldn't help them to ask me even if they were legit. I practically need a GPS just to get to the local flea market and I'm useless on roads I don't know well. I was born with no sense of direction, period, lol.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Nature A young grizzly checks out the tourists	Heinrich Lohmann	Post Your Photos!	21	08-14-2010 10:15 PM
People London Tourists	rparmar	Post Your Photos!	17	06-20-2010 08:40 AM
Stealing Children	Rupert	General Talk	10	02-25-2010 03:18 PM
BW photo of tourists watching tourists from hotel	sealonsf	Post Your Photos!	7	01-23-2009 05:33 PM
Stealing a flash during an event	d.bradley	Photographic Technique	2	09-13-2007 01:36 PM

09-29-2011, 11:21 AM	#16
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	I used to carry a backpack and leave stuff in my outer pockets. Then I was pickpocketed in Guatemala (they only got my wallet, not my P&S, whew!) and some Old Hands hipped me to the teardrop Ameribag, which I now carry religiously. When nobody's around, it hangs around my back. If anybody is near, I swing it around front, with the neckstrapped K20D resting atop it. I visualize a map-scam encounter as going something like this: I'm in a populous city, so the Ameribag is in front. The fiends accost me. I stand there with the camera+lens atop my bag at gut-level, with my right hand atop the gear, and my left hand fending-off the fiends. I rather intensely dislike being jostled. I can be a bit adamant about protecting my personal space. IOW: Don't be a sucker. Elbows are useful.

09-29-2011, 06:31 PM	#17
Jodokast96 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Erial, NJ USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,134	Originally posted by séamuis with one of those standard lightweight 18-55mm kit lenses I can see how you might not notice a difference in weight around your neck with the sudden absence of the lens attached, but anything other than the kit lens, how would you not notice? with pancake lenses like the DA40 you probably wouldnt, but as mentioned above, it would be insanely difficult to pull that scam with such a lens. and why would anyone want to steal a kit lens. I know personally if I were out and my 43, 55 or 77mm was snatched like this I would instantly recognize a weight difference. All true, but then there are also a lot of lenses like the FA50 whose weight would be easy to miss.

09-30-2011, 01:45 AM	#18
magkelly Veteran Member Join Date: May 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,901	My camera strap is already wired and so is my bag, and this kind of thing is why I don't just let my camera dangle at my back or side like some do. If I have my camera out and someone approaches me I put it away and lock it up. I don't offer to help tourists find things either, not when they're coming at me in packs. I'd just back away, lock it up if I could. I'm too suspicious to begin with, but it wouldn't help them to ask me even if they were legit. I practically need a GPS just to get to the local flea market and I'm useless on roads I don't know well. I was born with no sense of direction, period, lol.