Q3 Anti Theft Ideas?

[jaapv]

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47 minutes ago, Aram Langhans said:

Not to mention, that when your camera is stolen, so are your photographs.  To me that would be the most devastating thing.  Spend all day shooting and then loose all those photos.  When I am on a trip I take a laptop and every night I back up my photos to my laptop, but when I am wandering around all day do not have a way of backing them up. Most of my friends never even do that, and wait until they get home a few days later.   Maybe someone has some ideas on this.  The place I go, theft is probably not my most likely way of loosing my equipment.  More likely is that it falls off a cliff or into a river.

What about using FOTOS from time to time over the day? 

[Indeepthought]

5 minutes ago, jaapv said:

What about using FOTOS from time to time over the day? 

He may get his phone stolen along with his camera! 🫣

[jaapv]

But the images will be automatically backed up to the Cloud by then. 

[Indeepthought]

10 minutes ago, jaapv said:

But the images will be automatically backed up to the Cloud by then. 

🍷

[thegobi]

8 hours ago, Le Chef said:

@jaapv is a forum moderator. That should be obvious if you can read.
 

This is such a silly thread. All you need is common sense about where you go + a good insurance policy. Tracking for cameras is next to meaningless.

Yes, I saw he was a form moderator . It doesn't mean I have to like his negative tone about such a simple idea-- Hey, use an AirTag, don't use an AirTag, whatever... But don't make up a fantastical scenario just to say they are completely useless. And I genuinely wanted to see his photos--that was an olive branch lol

...maybe next to... but not meaningless.

The situation I described actually happened! Street urchins just after some quick cash -- not master thieves. Just lucky the iPhone wasn't in the bag as well 🙂

So, I personally know that it has worked at least once  -- $45 for long-shot chance at recovering a $10,000 camera? Why not?   (note: it was an expensive camera but not a Q, maybe the urchins just had good taste in cameras!  🤣 )

Anyway... we agreed on appropriate insurance as the best way forward
...and also agree about registering with home insurance!
I have a new-for-old policy that covers the camera outside of the house--anywhere--for 4 months so shop around, it can be done!   (ironically, it adds about the price of an AirTag to my premium each month 🤣)

As for actual anti-theft:  does anyone have an opinion on zippers (eg Peak Design) verses buckles (and other releases)? Won't make much difference in a violent attack, but are they better for sneaky pickpocket attacks?

Has anyone had any experience?

Edited January 8, 2024 by thegobi

[Simone_DF]

Hire a bodyguard. 
Bonus: he’ll carry your gear and hold that big uncomfortable reflector for you. 

[thegobi]

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RE bodyguard: Was reading about the camera theft crime-wave in San Francisco -- apparently a security guy got shot in one attack!

Dealing with guns is not something we generally have to worry about here! Thankfully...

Still good for carrying your gear and that reflector though!  🙂

[Indeepthought]

Hire a Sumo wrestler, fantastic for getting immediate respect from those around you, a definite ‘don’t mess with us’ deterrent. The only negative is that they eat a humongous amount at lunch.. 😉

[thegobi]

2 minutes ago, Indeepthought said:

Hire a Sumo wrestler, fantastic for getting immediate respect from those around you, a definite ‘don’t mess with us’ deterrent. The only negative is that they eat a humongous amount at lunch.. 😉

Or become a Sumo wrestler! That way you only have to pay for one meal!

[Aram Langhans]

1 hour ago, jaapv said:

What about using FOTOS from time to time over the day? 

That would be a possibility, but I do not own a cell phone and have no desire to be joined at the ear to one of those.  Yeah, I know.  I was probably the last person on earth to get a microwave oven, too.

[Simone_DF]

40 minutes ago, thegobi said:

RE bodyguard: Was reading about the camera theft crime-wave in San Francisco -- apparently a security guy got shot in one attack!

See? HE got shot, not you. 

[thegobi]

Just now, Simone_DF said:

See? HE got shot, not you. 

Touche! Good point...

I think something to learn from the San Fran crime wave is that it isn't just 'dodgy' crowded tourist spots like the Eiffel Tower or Venice where you need to be careful.

I have walked all over Venice with a camera without issues, but I have had a very close call in Paris. There were two of us and we both had that feeling of being followed. Sure enough, a group of guys was 30m behind us and gaining. The hotel was still a block away and we knew we were not going to make it. Luckily there was a store on the way so we went shopping for bread wine and cheese (as you do). They did follow us in, but the store owner figured what was going on and made the 'I am picking up the phone now' motion. They scampered. My guess is they were 'known to police' in the area and didn't want any complications.

We spent well to thank him  -- and no, the street thugs did not work for him and were herding us into his store. 🤣

[mhasman]

Another solution... Going somewhere? Leave your Leica waiting for you at home, safe. Get good photos with your iPhone Pro. 

[thegobi]

7 hours ago, mhasman said:

Another solution... Going somewhere? Leave your Leica waiting for you at home, safe. Get good photos with your iPhone Pro. 

I am more paranoid about having my phone stolen than my Leica!  😆

[wlaidlaw]

On 1/6/2024 at 12:01 PM, Anbaric said:

Portable version of this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMtqRir7dco

I used to underwrite schemes in South Africa, providing the first year's insurance on new BMW and Mercedes cars. Now this was a time when car hijacking was endemic in South Africa and we had a number of claims from hijacking. A representative of a South African car security company approached us with a view of having their system installed in all new cars. This involved having a pancake tank of propane in the boot, which sat inside the spare tyre and if you thought you were in danger of being hijacked, you pressed a large red button on the dashboard. This then sprayed and ignited the propane from burners sitting underneath the car doors and cooked the hijackers. We declined their kind offer as we could foresee the situation of an elderly granny stumbling against the car while it was stopped in a traffic jam and having a premature cremation. 

Wilson

[Anbaric]

34 minutes ago, wlaidlaw said:

I used to underwrite schemes in South Africa, providing the first year's insurance on new BMW and Mercedes cars. Now this was a time when car hijacking was endemic in South Africa and we had a number of claims from hijacking. A representative of a South African car security company approached us with a view of having their system installed in all new cars. This involved having a pancake tank of propane in the boot, which sat inside the spare tyre and if you thought you were in danger of being hijacked, you pressed a large red button on the dashboard. This then sprayed and ignited the propane from burners sitting underneath the car doors and cooked the hijackers. We declined their kind offer as we could foresee the situation of an elderly granny stumbling against the car while it was stopped in a traffic jam and having a premature cremation.

I figured there might be a demo on YouTube and, sure enough... ('Amazingly, perhaps, the system is legal in South Africa'):

[wlaidlaw]

1 minute ago, Anbaric said:

I figured there might be a demo on YouTube and, sure enough... ('Amazingly, perhaps, the system is legal in South Africa'):

That was the company's demo film that they showed us. The system is of very dubious legality in South Africa or anywhere else except maybe Chechnya on the president's car. The problem is that you would have to prove that the now crispy subject was actually trying to hijack your car and not just trying to sell you some sunglasses/baseball hat etc, as is common at Robots (the local word for traffic lights) in South Africa. Otherwise you could be had up for murder, manslaughter or holding a barbecue in an unauthorised location. 

Wilson

[Pelu2010]

I wonder if the thieves are monitoring this group 😂

[Anbaric]

1 hour ago, wlaidlaw said:

That was the company's demo film that they showed us. The system is of very dubious legality in South Africa or anywhere else except maybe Chechnya on the president's car. The problem is that you would have to prove that the now crispy subject was actually trying to hijack your car and not just trying to sell you some sunglasses/baseball hat etc, as is common at Robots (the local word for traffic lights) in South Africa. Otherwise you could be had up for murder, manslaughter or holding a barbecue in an unauthorised location. 

Wilson

That guy standing triumphantly over the scorched dummy is enjoying the whole thing just a bit too much.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica Q

[Le Chef]

2 hours ago, Anbaric said:

That guy standing triumphantly over the scorched dummy is enjoying the whole thing just a bit too much.

But you can distinctly hear someone say “Well done!” 😉