Toronto Photography Meetup Group

I am going to Paris and London in September and was wondering what peoples experience was in terms of theft from accomodations. We are staying in rental units rather than conventional hotels. I planned on leaving a a lens or two and my iPad behind on occassion.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

I'm going to London next friday for 2 weeks, so I'll let you know what gets stolen post-riot London

Cool - enjoy your trip!

In all seriousness, I wasn't inquiring as a result of the riots over there, it was more a general ask as it relates to thefts from hotel rooms and lodgings while in Europe.

all hotels i stayed in over the past few years had a safe in the room; i regularly leave stuff behind in paris. i lodged there privately only twice, but i didn't worry then either

also based on experience, i would not generalize to all of europe, safe or no safe

ps. i should probably add--i shoot cheap, easily replaced junk, so my peace of mind is not entirely based on security

Thanks Vilk!
I started the thread because it came up on another form when I was asking about which gear to bring - one person said travel light because you don't want to leave anything behind in your room or accommodations. I am cautious but at the same time I have heard more about pick pockets and the like in Paris rather than rooms getting rolled.

whatever argument you need to be convinced to travel light--just ask, and i'll say it

i took some of my best shots when i traveled for two months across europe with one pocketable film body and a standard lens, nothing to leave behind in the room or anywhere else. these days, even when i feel like a pack animal i don't lug more than three small primes

there is simply no picture in the world, past or future, worth giving up the joy of walking around paris with your hands in your pockets, no bags, backpacks, pouches... like some smart creatures of the woods, pictures come to you when you stop hunting them

ps. that of course is a statistical sample of one, perfectly valid in my universe of one. it wasn't always so either, but i firmly believe i get wiser as i grow older

Take a reliable camera bag with ripstop straps. I had a guy try and cut my bag off my shoulder in london but that was the only thing i had to worry about. luckily my crumpler straps are nice and thick and durable and so it didnt do anything and so I elbowed the guy in the face when I noticed the tug on it and then disappeared in the crowd again. I didnt stay in any hotels in london or wales but i stayed in a hostel with a private room un dublin and left a laptop there and a few smaller camera items (cheaper lens and flashes) and I had NO problems. very good security there.

If you stay in a 3* hotel there should be a safe in the room, otherwise most most hotels will keep your valuables in the safe at the front desk. Just ask.

Just a word of caution, Paris is a big and and very touristy city and because of that is a magnet for all sorts of scam artists and thieves.
Watch out for pickpockets especially in popular/crowded places and don't engage in conversation with unknown people

double post

what he said: http://www.pacsafe.com/www/index.php?

hmmm... must be a warthog inside... or at least a juicy chicken... i wonder if the cheetahs would be as interested in a plain army surplus satchel without those shiny wires all around it...

Thanks for the suggestions.

I have a Lowepro Classified 160 and I use a fat padded ThinkTank strap with it. I also have a smaller Versa bag, similar to a 5MDH. "In both cases they are fairly discreet and low key. Frankly if someone wants my stuff that bad then I would likely lose it and finish up my trip with my trusty S90 P&S.

Would you say Paris is one of the safer European destinations? How and London, England (minus the current situation over there)?

Watching the thread with interest. I'll be in Paris next month too.

Did some Google map searches and there is there is an antique camera shop right around the corner from the hotel! Hopefully I'll be coming back with more gear then I left with

Anything said here is anecdotal. Depends on the hotel where it is and who is in it.

High end hotels will have really stiff penalties for staff who steal while flebag hotels you takes your chances.

Be choosy on what you take and lock your good stuff in your hotel safe.

I just got back from paris and had no problems whatsoever. I never left too much behind however.

We are not staying in hotels but my fianee mentioned she thinks they have security systems in the two places we rented. I don't know about safes, though...

I am going to limit my 'exposure' and only bring what I really think I'll need.

Travelled extensively through Germany, Poland, and Spain in recent years and have never had a problem. Use common sense, don't attract attention (e.g., my wife generally doesn't take her engagement ring with her when we go) and you'll be fine.

I love using a wrist strap for my camera body when I travel, it feels way more secure than a neck strap.

I've travelled to Europe twice since 2008 and have used small shoulder bags, big camera backpacks, neck straps, wrist straps, safes in hotel rooms, overhead compartments on trains, buses and rode the subways. Always came back with the same gear I left with.

You'll be fine.

as someone said in this thread (though everything else he said was wrong ) my response would have to be "anecdotal"--still, the answer is yes. if "years, culmulative" is worth anything towards offsetting the "anecdotal," don't worry about paris, london, warsaw... worry about rome

keep your eyes open, use common sense, stay alert and learn. little gypsy girls have nothing to sell, gold rings are not accidentally found on the sidewalk as you pass by, and if something, someone or a place would look fishy in hogtown, it will be fishy in paris, too

summer months and tourist areas may be worse for safety, i admit, but my travels shunned those for years, so i wouldn't really know

you're in IT, right? shrinking the attack surface sound familiar? same when you travel. one camera, one lens, passport and money somewhere close to your future offspring--what do you have to fear?

enuff! stop reading this thread! sit back, dammit, and enjoy your vacation. what's a stolen camera compared to a holiday in paris with someone you love?

all best!

Paris? don't sweat it.

Rome? Yeah, be aware. Barcelona? Now there's a place to worry about!

So a message from the UK!! don't worry about camera gear in London. Maybe since I'm here over the bank holiday, but every 3rd person has an SLR out. I've seen everything on the street and people are very aware and courteous to anyone taking a shot. Practically all of The UK is under CCTV so it's quite safe, even in the middle of the night.

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I went to Barcelona in 2007.

I only brought my Olympus E-510 with 3 lenses in a dinky unassuming shoulder bag with no labels. Yes there were a few shady folk around but it was totally fine. The only incident I heard was a couple on the same flight and package deal told us the husband had his wallet jacked as he was changing lenses with his massive lowepro backpack as he put it down on the ground. He was kinda lucky none of the group snatched an L lens....he had a few in there....

Just spent all of August in Spain and Italy and was in Spain for a bit last year as well. Traveling in Europe or anywhere really is the same, use common sense and be aware of your surroundings.

The best thing I would suggest is to take a few minutes to read up on actual pickpocket techniques, then you know what to look out for. When you're standing around a tourist attraction in Spain, in 40 degree temperatures, and you see people dressed up as Mickey and Minnie, while their parents stand around in a circle with their cameras out taking pictures of their kids, it's not hard to realize something is up.

You can be comfortable, but still be safe, it's all a matter of common sense. Sit down at a cafe in a busy square, put your bag down at your feet. All you have to do is make sure the side that opens is facing you or down toward the ground and make sure the strap is around your leg or your chair leg. Those types of little things should ensure a trouble free trip.

http://money.howstuffworks.com/pickpocket1.htm

Besides the little things, I just do my best to maintain some personal space. As soon as ANY stranger comes within a distance of me that is a bit close, I'll be extra aware of my belongings. And I'm not afraid of pushing someone away if they try to touch me. If you're not using your camera, dont let it hang around your neck like a 1K+ chain, put it away in a bag. Be aware of your surroundings, do your best not to look like a lost and confused tourist.

In places like Barcelona you are not going to be a victim of armed robbery. You are more likely to be a victim of organized pickpocket gangs that can extract gear out of a camera bag/knapsack without the victim knowing it. You won't sense the danger - nobody with a scarface and scowl is going to rob you. It won't happen while you wander in a deserted alleyway. It won't be because you were out too late in a dark neighborhood. Rather, it may be two young lovers with an accomplice that target you. It could be a sweet elderly woman distracting you by stumbling or feigning dizziness in front of you on a busy street in broad daylight while an accomplice rifles through your things while another accomplice 'helps' you come to the aid of the elderly woman innocently initiating physical contact to distract you.

It could be someone that targets you in a bar if you are drinking alone and slips something in your drink when you go to the bathroom. This is how a colleague of mine was robbed in Barcelona. I'm not trying to rachet up the paranoia. Thousands of people pass through Barcelona each day and don't get robbed. It is just more likely (though still unlikely) in Barcelona compared to Paris/Rome/London because for whatever reason the thieves are better organised and prevalent there.

Funnily enough I would agree but my only gypsy issue happened in Paris.

Just this June I went from London to Amsterdam to Brussels to Paris to Rome to Barcelona to Madrid to Porto to Fatima to Lisbon and I used my 5D2 with my 70-200 2.8 alot and my GF1 20mm to walk around and aside from some envious looks and a persistent old Gypsy lady in Paris I had no issues. It also helped that I was with a party of four other photogs.

PS. Every local I talked to in Barcelona said not to walk into any dark alleyways late at night with my gear though -_- . That and that I should wear my backpack on my chest.

Be smart and stay alert and you'll have a great time

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/metrix_feet/3130442855/" title="Pere Lachaise Cimetiere by Metrix X, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3130442855_590c8c5cfb_z.jpg?zz=1" width="640" height="631" alt="Pere Lachaise Cimetiere"></a>

3 years ago at Pere Lachaise Cimetiere in Paris while taking the above series of photos. A police officer approached me. I thought to myself that: like in a Toronto cemetery he was going to tell us to cease and desist from photographing the graves. No he was only there to watch the model and to warn us to watch our stuff as there were petty thieves, pickpockets and purse snatchers around. Other then that the only other people around were tourists on pilgrimages to find Jim Morrison's Grave.

I tape off all the vendor logos (eg Lowepro) on my traveling bags and would even suggest what my friend used to do: Put his camera into a garish diaper bag.

I haven't had a problem in any European country, but there's lots of stories of pickpocketing, so just be aware. Keep distance, don't get distracted, put a bit of randomness in your movement if you have to be in a crowded area.

Accomodations wise, I'd probably take everything with me if I was in a hostel, but for the most part if you are in a hotel it should have a safe in the room. Which you kind of wonder how secure that is, but...

lots of advise on barcelona's pickpockets who in my opinion are very sophisticated and constantly evolving. a number of years ago when i was there it was the girls who would come and hug you and drape catalan flags around you to take pics with you as soon as you got off your tour bus... welcoming you to their beautiful land and so thankful that you chose to come there...

Hats off to the pickpockets of Barcelona - masters at their craft - but for my money (literally and figuratively) the best pickpockets are the trannies that hang out along Copacabana in Rio in the evening.