[Leica] Re: Travel Security

["Hans Pahlen" <hans.pahlen@mark.komvux.se>]

Although I always carry two camera bodies on trips, I have never been
robbed, or met anyone interested in grabbing my cameras. And I always carry
a camera around my neck, easily seen by everyone.

The thing to watch out for is pick-pocket thieves. My wife has been robbed
on two occasions in this way, without even noticing it. It happened in the
London subway during the rush hours and in Barcelona by a woman pretending
to sell flowers. I guess women are easy targets with their hand bags.
As amatter of fact, I think thieves look more for women's hand bags than our
precious photo bags.

The pick-pocket thieves have many tricks, often several people cooperate
with great skill in their "profession". One of my friends met a young kid on
a street in Italy, who pretended to stumble and fall in front of her. As she
bent down to help him, her hand bag was emptied, without her noticing it
until too late.
It does not matter where you go, these people will operate in all major
cities, often at crowded places where tourists go.

I have learnt from this, as I always carry a photo vest or jacket with
zipped interior pockets. Noone will be able to take anything without me
noticing it. And a good idea is to insure photo equipment, at least the gear
you usually bring on trips.

Hans