Anyone had gear stolen from their bag?

[sharky]

I'm off to Italy in a couple of weeks and was planning to take a fairly limited kit, and am trying to decide which bag to put it in. I was going to go for an easy-access shoulder bag like the Lowepro Terraclime 100 but also have a Flipside 200 which it is said is more secure because the opening is actually against your back when carrying it.

I see a lot of posts here about this or that bag being more secure than others, but after many years on these forums I can't remember anyone ever saying that they had gear taken from their bags while in use. I would think that it would be difficult for a thief to get a bulky item like a lens or body out of even the most easy access bag, but would love to hear from anyone who has had an experience to the contrary so I can assess the risk for myself.

[JelleVerherstraeten]

If you say you'll take a limited amount of gear, that will mean that you don't go changing lenses all the time, so you will not using your bag all the time.
So I think you must go for the flipside, with the more secure feel.
And to answer your question, there was no gear stolen from me, oef!

[tvphotog]

Check the Pacsafe website, www.pacsafe.com, for some products and tips. Personally, I use a Stealth Reporter 300, which has access through a zip on the top and can be sealed otherwise from snatch and grab thieves. I use it with a PacSafe 200 strap which has steel cables in it, yet is very flexible.

[fireplug]

Yea, I always try to go out with bags that don't shout "Hey steal me!"

Never had anything stolen, I usually carry a knife on me...for camera repairs...and stuff...

[sharky]

I think what I'm getting at is there seems to be some fear that someone will reach into a bag and remove gear while you're distracted taking shots, but I've never actually heard of it happening. So I was wondering if we're getting into overkill with some of our bag designs.

[irispatch]

consider a bag with a strap with a steel cable runningthru it one that is not easily cut. Purses and bags can be taken when the criminal just cuts the stap grabs and runs.

[tvphotog]

consider a bag with a strap with a steel cable runningthru it one that is not easily cut. Purses and bags can be taken when the criminal just cuts the stap grabs and runs.
There are the PacSafe straps. Consider bags that have a top zipper for access such as the Thinktank Urban Disguise or a top zipper and also a top flap for loading such as the Lowepro Stealth Reporter series. Either will accept the PacSafe 200 strap.

Both of these bags avoid bright designs and logos that announce "I'm a camera bag!" (I went over the Lowepro logo with a black magic marker to disappear it.)

Photos courtesy B&H and Adorama

Stealth Reporter__________________________________________ ____________Urban Disguise

[Marloon]

wow.. this is pretty cool stuff!

i didnt know where to find slash proof gear.

[tvphotog]

wow.. this is pretty cool stuff!

i didnt know where to find slash proof gear.

Don't forget, the bags are not slashproof, the straps are. The bags prevent unwanted entry by pickpocket type theives.

[Grentz]

The only argument against slash proof straps is that if a thief tries to slash it and then fails they might be more inclined to hurt you in some way.

[Lowner]

He'd have to get in quick, because I'd be hurting him immediately.

[tvphotog]

The only argument against slash proof straps is that if a thief tries to slash it and then fails they might be more inclined to hurt you in some way.

I've heard that argument many times before. These guys are theives, not muggers. They want your goods, they get nothing from injuring you. If they can't cut the strap, they'll cut and run.

[Hogloff]

Buy insurance and enjoy your trip. Life is too short to worry about things that are so rare, they most likely will never happen to you.

[tvphotog]

Buy insurance and enjoy your trip. Life is too short to worry about things that are so rare, they most likely will never happen to you.

But if you shoot photos as a big part of your trip, having gear stolen is a real way to ruin a vacation.

[Hogloff]

But if you shoot photos as a big part of your trip, having gear stolen is a real way to ruin a vacation.

A bigger way to ruin a vacation is to be constantly paranoid that someone is going to steal your equipment rather than enjoying the vacation.