plewislambert Posted January 20, 2014 Share #21 Posted January 20, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) "I carry Billingham bags the wrong way around with the buckles against my body in crowded situations." I stopped using my Billingham bags as I thought they attracted too much attention, even admiration from a young lady (for the bag, sadly) . I sold them and bought Chinese canvas camera bags of varying sizes for different outfits, improved by stffening or padding where needed. I carry my M9 outfit in the biggest bag with its flap arranged against me and the zipped compartment beneath fully closed. It looks like a messenger bag. Of course, people can still see me using the camera but it's only recognised by a few people as a Leica, possibly because I covered the red ikon with black tape. It's all insured. Philip Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 20, 2014 Posted January 20, 2014 Hi plewislambert, Take a look here M9 stolen in Rome!. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
gjames9142 Posted January 20, 2014 Share #22 Posted January 20, 2014 My brother was once robbed on the bus from Roma Termini to the Vatican, and when he went to the police station (his wallet was insured!) there was a line of tourists from the same bus. The only time I was robbed in Rome was when I was photographing in the garden of the Villa Doria Pamphily, and when I stopped at the Bar Janicolo for their great freshly-squeezed Granny Smith juice, thieves stole the 5x7 lenses I had in the trunk of the car; I suspect I was followed by thieves on bikes. The only consolation was the Guggenheim foundation folks bought me a replacement Dagor in NY and mailed it. Wonderful people, and generous that they allow residents of Canada to apply for the grant. Nowadays I never walk around with my Billingham, which I use for the plane, and keep the camera over a shoulder and under a coat or vest. I tend to use only one lens, which simplifies things. Anyway, a downer for you and I sympathize. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
roydonian Posted January 24, 2014 Share #23 Posted January 24, 2014 At the end of a journey in the Rome metro rush-hour crush, I discovered that my wallet had vanished from my trouser pocket, and the top of my Billingham was undone. Luckily nothing had been removed from the bag. My various lenses were mounted back-to-back on double-sided couplers so formed very long and rigid objects that would have been hard to extract. My M9 was fitted with the TriElmar, so was a very fight fit within its compartment and also would have hard to extract. So I was lucky. The hotel I was staying in has only around a dozen rooms, but the manager told me that on average, one guest is robbed every week. That is an appalling statistic, and suggests that crime in Rome is now running out of control. In the 1960s, I considered Rome my favourite city, and my recent trip there was my eighth. Now I cannot imagine ever wanting to go back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted January 25, 2014 Share #24 Posted January 25, 2014 Sorry to hear your story Dave. I will be in Rome this Spring and will be mindful of your experience. I live in NYC but Rome sounds like a worse scenario. What's the deal with other Italian cities? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
earleygallery Posted January 25, 2014 Share #25 Posted January 25, 2014 At the end of a journey in the Rome metro rush-hour crush, I discovered that my wallet had vanished from my trouser pocket, and the top of my Billingham was undone. Luckily nothing had been removed from the bag. My various lenses were mounted back-to-back on double-sided couplers so formed very long and rigid objects that would have been hard to extract. My M9 was fitted with the TriElmar, so was a very fight fit within its compartment and also would have hard to extract. So I was lucky. The hotel I was staying in has only around a dozen rooms, but the manager told me that on average, one guest is robbed every week. That is an appalling statistic, and suggests that crime in Rome is now running out of control. In the 1960s, I considered Rome my favourite city, and my recent trip there was my eighth. Now I cannot imagine ever wanting to go back. I went to Rome a few years ago. I took my Leica. I wasn't robbed or pick-pocketed. It's a safe city in my humble opinion. But thieving bastards are everywhere in the world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted January 25, 2014 Share #26 Posted January 25, 2014 I travel to Italy a lot, most recently to Palermo and, so far, I have never had a problem. That includes using public transport, going to markets and other busy places. You just need to be aware of the potential dangers and keep your wits about you. My experience of Rome, even Naples which is quite a "gritty" city have been fine. Where I have had a problem - never lost anything but they were certainly trying it on - were the gypsies in Barcelona who would like to sell you flowers or the youngsters who crowd round you on the Paris metro. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick in CO Posted January 25, 2014 Share #27 Posted January 25, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry to hear about the theft of your stuff - especially in Rome, one of my favorite cities! Recently returned from Rome, Naples, the Amalfi coast and Salzburg and had no problems what-so-ever. I have the small dark brown leather Leica bag from several years ago, Leica logo is simply impressed into the leather so is hard to make out even close-up, my M9 red dial has been blackened out and the white "M9" lettering scraped out (with a toothpick!). I only take out my camera to shoot, don't wear it otherwise, and try to be aware of my surroundings. (Also, I'm 6'2" and fairly trim and fit looking so that might discourage attempts at theft.) My wife, on the other hand, wears her Leica C like jewelry, always out to snap a pix, so I have to be a bit vigilant. We have never had a problem (knock on wood), from the slums of India to the streets of Montmarte (my most concern) to the over-crowded Natale Festival in Naples. On this last trip the Italian people were everywhere warm, gracious and helpful - we enjoyed ourselves immensely! I would not hesitate to travel to Italy, or anywhere in Europe, but would always follow the precautions of not advertising any expensive camera either by a fancy bag that screams "Leica" or by constantly having the camera out in plain sight (has anyone tried those swivel straps that hold the camera on the hip under a jacket?). And always, for your health's sake as well as your camera and wallet, be aware of your surroundings and don't hesitate to hold your camera bag securely under your arm closed up tight. It might seem a lot of bother, but once it becomes habit you are both safer and able to enjoy the sights! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
semi-ambivalent Posted January 25, 2014 Share #28 Posted January 25, 2014 Sorry to hear your story Dave. I will be in Rome this Spring and will be mindful of your experience. I live in NYC but Rome sounds like a worse scenario. What's the deal with other Italian cities? A year and a half ago we spent a couple weeks in Florence, Venice, Siena and Volterra. Spent a lot of time in crowds and walking through dark streets to and from restaurants. Nothing happened and I never once felt like I was being cased or sized up for an attempt. Maybe I was just unaware. Maybe I projected some sort of "Try it, jerk, please." aura. I have no idea. Carried an old (Domke F5Xb) bag across my shoulders and the camera was always around my neck, never on my shoulder. Times are harder everywhere now, things might have changed and if you're traveling you, automatically, have money and insurance so the loss is no big deal to you, right? Thieves have no use for your camera; they have to unload it as fast as possible. Large population centers make this easier. There were lots of tourists with DSLRs and big zooms. Maybe they served as decoys. s-a Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
run23 Posted January 25, 2014 Share #29 Posted January 25, 2014 Another "sorry to hear about your loss post". I go to Rome about once a year - like a lot of big cities you just need to be aware of the dangers -- in Rome it's pickpockets. Last September I almost lost my wallet but the pickpocket ended up having it fall on the ground (lacked the hand skills I guess). When I lived there as a student in the early 90s it was beat into our head to watch out for pickpockets, so it has kind of become habit when I go to there to be vigilant about the stuff I am carrying. I actually feel safer in Rome than most major cities. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mr. B Posted January 26, 2014 Share #30 Posted January 26, 2014 I am very sorry about your loss. I know someone that was robbed at knife point at an ATM machine in broad daylight in Rome. Rome's repetition as being a den of thieves goes back more than 2000 years. Again I am sorry about your loss. Mr. B Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonil Posted January 27, 2014 Share #31 Posted January 27, 2014 I feel lucky to live in Australia - there is a universal agreement here that we are slightly all unsophisticated and so when I carry my Billingham around, people never notice it - but when I carry around my Lowepro bag, everyone asks what kind of camera I have. The only time I got closed to getting robbed was someone trying to unstrap my billingham in the train - so to the robbers here in Australia, they haven't discovered the Billingham bag yet - because it looks like a buckled bag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berth Posted January 27, 2014 Share #32 Posted January 27, 2014 This year I'm going to Prague in the height of the tourist season, July. I'm taking my new MP and my Canon EOS 5D Mk II. Both fine, marketable, cameras. With fine lenses. I'm traveling largely alone. From what I've read, Prague is pickpocket world headquarters. I've done a couple of things. First I've make sure the cameras are covered by my insurance. Second, I've purchased high-quality straps that have anti-cut cables buried in each. I plan to take only one camera onto the street at a time, to be covered by a lightweight travel jacket. And I'm going to try to be situationally alert What else should I do? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ecar Posted January 27, 2014 Share #33 Posted January 27, 2014 What else should I do? Hire a couple of bodyguards. Seriously, Prague is not worse than Paris, Rome or Madrid these days. You seem to be more than adequately covered. Good judgement is the best anti-theft device IMHO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted January 27, 2014 Share #34 Posted January 27, 2014 @Berth - May I repeat the content of post #10 w.r.t anti-cut straps - "My usual caveat on pacsafe, particularly in parts of Italy. If you really want to be dragged down the road behind a speeding moped until you are a bloody pulp, they are a grand idea... The best protections are keeping your wits about you, looking generally less gormless, preoccupied and easily targeted than the tourist beside you, and as a last resort, insurance. Back to the OP - sorry to hear your news. Only consolation is that it can happen anywhere, but it is only hardware which is insurable. It's the inconvenience of the loss and time wasted reporting it plus loss of the photos taken that's the real annoyance. Memory from Santiago Metro some years ago - standing on platform with my Digilux 2 slung on my shoulder. Lady approaches me and indicates that I should carry the camera slung diagonally across me body for safety. Promptly did so - for the rest of the trip, and have never forgotten the advice. There are some kind people in the world in contrast to the thieves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 27, 2014 Share #35 Posted January 27, 2014 What else should I do? Carry your money and other valuables in a money belt under the front of your trousers (or shirt). You don't want your pockets picked while your hands are busy street shooting. And I also dislike the cable idea, which is unnecessary anyway with camera under your jacket (protected by arm and hand) or in your hands. If that and common sense is not enough, that's why you have insurance. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berth Posted January 27, 2014 Share #36 Posted January 27, 2014 Carry your money and other valuables in a money belt under the front of your trousers (or shirt). You don't want your pockets picked while your hands are busy street shooting. And I also dislike the cable idea, which is unnecessary anyway with camera under your jacket (protected by arm and hand) or in your hands. If that and common sense is not enough, that's why you have insurance. Jeff I need a camera strap anyway, why not have one with a cable, worn cross-shoulder, under a light travel jacket. As for your suggestion of a money belt, that's on my shopping list for the trip. My pockets will carry no wallet, no large sums of cash to be picked. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 28, 2014 Share #37 Posted January 28, 2014 I need a camera strap anyway, why not have one with a cable... As spylaw4 already said. Otherwise, it's under a jacket and unnecessary. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berth Posted January 28, 2014 Share #38 Posted January 28, 2014 As spylaw4 already said. Otherwise, it's under a jacket and unnecessary. Jeff I'm not going to be in Italy, I'll be in Prague and a string of German cities downstream along the Elbe. Mopeds are easy to avoid and I suspect they're much much less populous in the Czech Repubic, and Germany than the Mediterranean cities. I'll eliminate the squick slash and dash by foot thieves. But mostly I'm going to hone my situational awareness. My hands on the camera, close to the body, but when raised to take a photo the strap can't be cut. A light jacket to make the rig inconspicuous. The MP with the 28mm Elmarit is a pretty compact, quiet, discrete package. It sure is compared with the Canon 5D Mk II with a 29-70 zoom I'll also be taking. I'm putting a cabled strap on that one too. Mostly it's about visibly be attentive, perhaps a touch aggressive, and avoiding isolated places where you can be trapped. I intend to bring all of my very fine camera gear safely home. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff S Posted January 28, 2014 Share #39 Posted January 28, 2014 You asked. We commented. No need to justify to those with alternate opinions. When I travel, I don't prepare like a military exercise. I'm there to have fun. If something happens, I'll use insurance and then use the back-up in the hotel safe. No sweat. Different strokes. Jeff Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CheshireCat Posted January 28, 2014 Share #40 Posted January 28, 2014 Mostly it's about visibly be attentive, perhaps a touch aggressive This is the best advice. Thieves "smell their prey", and will go for the naivest target. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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