pickpockets and camera

Howell, I usually carry my small P&S Camera in a chest pocket, where it's out-of-sight but easily accessible. The Lanyard is usually attached with a steel "D" ring to my Vest, so "lifting" it wouldn't be easy. It remains attached when I take photos. So far I haven't had any problems, and hopefully that will be the same on future trips. If you're really concerned about theft, you could have a look at This product. They also make a strap for larger DSLR Cameras. Happy travels!

Also, be sure when you are taking a photo to keep the wrist band around your wrist. It's too easy to forget to do that when taking a quick photo. In Paris (Montmartre), I was taking a photo with the wrist band around my wrist. A guy ran past me and grabbed the camera out of my hand as I was taking a photo, and kept running. He finally had to let go b/c it was around my wrist and I struggled to keep it from him. I didn't care about the camera itself, only the memory card with 100's of photos on it.

Hi Howell. I worry about my camera being pickpocketed too. Just because it isn't the target doesn't mean they won't take it by "accident." I keep it in a zipped pocket in my daybag next to my body - easily accessible for pictures but a little more protected than the stuff in the out-facing pocket.

Don't stress out about it. Not many thieves are interested in small cameras, they want your cash and credit cards.

While it might not be at as much risk as a wallet, people will steal cameras if you give them a chance. For the most part, attaching it to your belt should be more than enough. But you might try buying a neck lanyard and hooking it to that so it hangs around your neck. The main thing you want to do is keep it in your eyesight and make it easy to access when you want to take a picture.

A pickpocket will be reaching for money or credit cards, but whatever he/she lifts will be gone for good. I cannot imagine someone lifting a camera, deciding it is not worth keeping, then returning it to your pocket. Take normal precautions for your comfort level. Secure the camera with a strap if you are worried about it, but don't obsess over pickpockets. There are some out there, of course, but they are not running wild in the streets. PS: I asked a similar question about cell phones three or four years ago and the consensus was not to worry about it. I still do, a little, but it would be hard for someone to lift the cellphone from my jeans pocket.

Last August two farmers and their wives, whom we are friends with, took an alumni cruise on the Rhine. At one point they were standing on the sidewalk outside Amsterdam's Central Station, wearing their farmer caps and farmer tans, and one of them had his cheap camera pickpocketed out of his shirt pocket. It can happen. Two or three years ago my sister-in-law and her husband were touristing in Egypt. Brother-in-law had his camera pickpocketed out of his front pants pocket. It can happen.

Monte's first example reminds me of the best advice I have heard about avoiding pickpockets: Walk 10 or 20 feet behind an obvious target. While that guy is getting his pocket picked, walk on by and look for the next lost-in-the-big-city target to clear the way. The advice also works in your car for avoiding speeding tickets as long as you don't follow too closely.

I really like replacing the wrist strap, that comes with small cameras, with a thumb drive neck lanyard (they have the right connection, instead of a metal hook that doesn't fit). I wear it around my neck and tuck it into a shirt, or jacket, pocket (or inside my shirt) when I'm not taking pictures. I like that it doesn't take up a hand and is always available. Thumb/Flash drives used to come with the straps and I used those. Now you have to order them online - I think I either googled it or went to Amazon to find some.