Anti Theft Bags?

I am looking for a camera bag (preferably a sling bag or a backpack) that has anti theft features similar to

pacsafe or the like. Any ideas? (It's for a Nikon D60 with two lenses)

Sadly, the only reliable anti-theft method I know of is a big, burly, well-armed guard :-))) More practical approach is attaching a locked hard-shell case (such as Pelican) to a toilet using a very big locking cable and a good padlock.Yes, it does elicit strange looks from housekeeping but...have you ever tried to unscrew the toilet..?<br><br>

If you like their anti-theft system, you can probably adapt a Pacsafe backpack to your camera gear using padded inserts (Domke, Tenba, etc.) and some velcro, BTW.

Why look for something similar? Why not just use whatever sling bag or daypack or backpack or bag you want to use and use a PacSafe with it?

A Pac-Safe bag is easy to use and is effective (theoretically) against grab-and-run or slashing. Most thefts from hotel rooms are by deception - someone follows the maid into a room and pretends to have left something behind. They roll up and store in a pouch the size of a small camera.

 

There are also straps for bags and cameras with embedded metal cables. A frequent robbery technique is to slash the strap and run with the camera or bag. At least two of my acquaintances have lost cameras in this manner.

Never... I repeat NEVER use a camera strap or bag strap with anti-slash metal in it. There are a number of cases where these straps have caused the DEATH of the holder when the bag was grabbed by someone on a motorbike and either the victim was dragged into traffic or the neck was broken.

 

If they want the damn camera that bad they can have it.

 

The best defense is a bag that does not scream CAMERA!!!! Take a look at the ThinkTank Urban Disguise line. very well made and does not scream camera.

Given that no anti-theft solution that you'd want to carry or pay for is perfect, is insurance not a cheaper solution?

A diaper or cooler bag that does not scream $$$ camera works well. Don't forget to clip a soother on the diaper bag and have a disposalble diaper sticking out of a pocket. But, the best insurance against loss is camera insurance. A home owners camera rider, zero-deductable, any type of loss, costs me about $1.20 per thousand. Use smaller CF cards that are kept on your person as they fill and then if someone grabs your bag or camera, you only lose the images in your camera and not your entire day's shooting.

 

I use a small bright yellow 6-pack cooler bag and toss it in the back seat of my vehicle when not out for a planned photoshoot. It holds a camera with lens and a second lens, spare batteries, cleaning pack and a flash. BTW, the insulated cooler pack also keeps the camera safe from extreme temperature for a couple hours.

How, pray tell, does a camera on a strap not scream "CAMERA"? Secondly, any old strap is strong enough to pull you off your feet and into traffic if someone on a bike snatches it. However, it's out of reach if the camera is in front and and slips off if over one shoulder. Situational awareness is preferable to a wired strap (or M1911).

The Lowepro Flipside line may just fit your needs. Although it is only anti-theft while you have it on your back. Simply because it opens on the side that faces your back. As for someone stealing the whole bag, you could buy some sort of tracking device which you could hide in your bag. Somewhere, where the device would go unnoticed. ThinkTank makes a security tag, and sells locks. Check it out. Hope it helps. :-)

Heck why fool around with rigid strap. One wants an springy strap to maximize the energy stored; with a fuzeable link that has a defined proof test. Thus let the chap nick/grab the bag; let the strap elongate many meters. The design needs to be so the bag recoils and finds its target and knocks him on his bum stone cold; with maybe a cherry shiner or two.

You could always get one of those stickers that says something like "Human Organ Tissue" for your bag. That would certainly rarify the set of thieves who would show interest.

this is what you need, lightweight and cheap

 

http://eightsolid.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/19.jpg

If I can't fit my gear into a six-pack size cloth cooler. I'm carrying too much.

Pac-Safe makes a variety of bags with steel mesh embedded in the bag and straps (to prevent slashing). The zipper tabs can be locked down, making them difficult to undo without alerting you. The same can be done with conventional bags using twist-type steel cable key rings on the zipper tabs.

 

Shop Anti-Theft Bags | Pacsafe

 

Pac-Safe also makes steel mesh bags that can be placed around conventional bags to discourage theft of opportunity, but would not be suitable for use in the field.

 

There is no substitute for situational awareness and preparedness.

The best anti-theft measure that the OP could take now, is to announce that the bag contains a D60! :cool: Edited July 16, 2018 by William Michael

The best anti-theft measure that the OP could take now, is to announce that the bag contains a D60! :cool:

Great point! - I should really try to buy a D "hopelessly outdated by now" strap for my camera, to feel better, although my makeshift criminologist side tells: A lot of cameras are stolen by clueless junkies, gypsies and similar folks and traded in to maybe provide amenities for one evening.

 

I agree with many above: The best anti theft features at hand are disguise and disgust.

Yay for diaper, cooler & similar bags. Also dress as poor as you can.

 

IDK if backpacks with non accessible zippers give a huge advantage in the field. - So far I did occasionally turn around, when I sensed my conventional one touched or bumped, while standing in line at the supermarket checkout. - Sometimes I yell at those folks unable to wait to shovel their purchases on the conveyor.

 

When a flock of begging kids approached me demanding "cento lira" in front of the Colloseum in Rome, I ran. (yes, it was in pre-Euro days. But I'll do it again!)

 

When I am obviously a tourist + worried about my "good" camera, I sometimes even shoot an "official" one, I am not worried about. - Paranoid? - IDK. - It solves the internal conflict between urge to happy-snap at the not perfect time of day and keeping wealth covered.

 

My bottom line: Evaluate the risks you are taking.

I don't want to get dragged across concrete, to protect a month's wage of camera gear.

I don't see much value in anything on the Kensington lock safety level. - If I was criminal enough to steal laptops, how hard would it be to deploy my Leatherman? If an insurance insists on such toys, go for them! - Otherwise think twice.

 

If cutting into others' backpacks is popular, where you are using crowded mass transport, a reinforced bag might make sense. But I'd try to get hold of police reports before I'd buy (or make?) one and also think twice if I'd dare reinforced straps, which would require an environment where thieves won't ride by or if they could would be too unlikely to handle my weight.

 

Keep in mind that most theft obstacles are usage obstacles too, which might translate to missed shots.

 

If you ponder buying insurance: Read the small print! (And maybe even related weird court rulings.) Once you are done, imagine borderline scenarios, verbalize any question you might have and ask it in writing. <-That's what a decent lawyer & law teacher suggested to me 2 decades ago. If you get a "don't worry; all fine & covered" back, you'll be able to pull it out later. Insurances are likely to be too cheap to bother their "we don't wanna pay"-lawyers with your correspondence but if you have something in writing from them, you should be allowed to rely on it.

FTR: Insurance business is about making money; i.e. collecting fees & dodging claims. Be sure(!) to buy something that covers the risks you are taking. Think twice how likely it is to pay at all, if it comes with a lot of exceptions.

I won't buy anything that doesn't cover theft out of tents or motorbike side cases; YMMV.

Ask yourself what is worse; insuring the good kit or wagering to loose some old backup? - It might do the same financial damage. Example: I'd have to pay about 300 € to insure 12k € of equipment for one year with a deductible of 250€ per claim. - 550€ should replace a pair of old Fujis or Pentaxes that I'd call "known to take sufficient vacation pics" too.

Sorry, there is no ultimate wisdom to share. - Buy & carry what feels right; maybe that's the essence of:

There is no substitute for situational awareness and preparedness.

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Identification of potential threats, and a plan to deal with them. Avoidance or flight are the best options, but not the only options.

Hmmm. The removal of the obvious spam post, and the following responses to it, now make the revival of this entire 2008 thread sonewhat pointless.

If I'm leaving gear in the car, I like a small cardboard carton on the floor, with a cutoff piece of the spongy mat for sleeping outdoors in a sleeping bag on the bottom and between gear pieces as padding and vibration protection. For carrying, an over the shoulder bag that isn't a camera bag.

A diaper or cooler bag

 

There are relatively few thieves who will steal a used-looking diaper bag, especially if some umber paint is smeared on it. :rolleyes: