[Leica] Re: Camera Bags & thiefs

[Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com>]

I have to agree with Marc here. My friend of mine was photographing in a
somewhat rundown area. He had a Nikon in hand, a Leica M3 over his
shoulder, a small day pack on his back containing lenses, film, and other
photo gear, AND a small waist (fanny) pack around his middle.

While photographing some children at play, a large person ran up to him,
knocked him over (when he saw what was happening, he grabbed hold of the
Leica so it wouldn't hit the ground), and ripped his fanny pack from around
his middle, leaving the cameras and backpack in tact. The thief surely
thought it contained money, or other goodies, leaving the cameras and the
much larger (and easier to get to) bag.

The fanny pack contained Band-Aids, aspirin, sunscreen, and lip balm.

The thief never returned. My friend continued photographing.

Jim

At 12:45 PM 6/2/99 -0400, Marc wrote:
>
>Possibly, but, again, I represent these guys:  very, very few thieves would
>EVER know the difference between Nikon and Leica, as they've never heard of
>either, and to expect them to know the difference between a Billingham and
>a K-Mart bag simply would stretch their grey cells way too far.
>
>Crooks don't even want to steal cameras, as there is no market for hot
>cameras.  They will steal $2,500 worth of gear and net, at most, $50 for
>their risk and trouble, while a good car stereo will bring them $100 and a
>TV $150.  If they KNOW you have a camera in the bag, they'll leave you
>alone:  they're hoping it has something exotic in it, like a boom box or a
>gun.
>
>Marc
>
>msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
>Cha robh bas fir gun ghras fir!
>