Theft Question

gronkmeister

I will be carrying quite a nice camera with me during a stay in Hyderabad, although it will never be out of my sight, how worried do I have to be of an attempted theft?

I have a feeling that the idea of a camera being stolen right off my back is a Westerner misconception, but nonetheless, I have to be prepared.

PeakXV

Never think there will be a 'zero percent' chance of theft and use your street smarts and common sense as you would in guarding possessions at home ...... but having said that there is very, very little to worry about in that department in India.

__________________
We shall not cease from exploration and at the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started ...and know the place for the first time.
T.S. Eliot

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

zoltan

Attempted theft is a possibility but generally it's been my experience that such things don't happen (easily).

People who are drunk (there was a post on LP site, of a person who got drunk & lost everything - twice, on the same journey), or maybe in night trains have a possibility of having things stolen.

Take common precautions - don't give your camera to someone to take photos of you (unless you know them), don't leave the camera unattended, etc.

Cheers
Zoltan

__________________
India (and other) photos click here

edwardseco

Don't leave it behind in your former hotel room as one person did. A suggestion I picked up is to carry a compact point and shoot for friendly portraits while keeping the good stuff under wraps. In several years I had no problems other than mold in the machine and one part broke (which they machined for me at 30 Rs.)..

capt_mahajan

Agree.

And carry it in front of you, not hanging behind.

The chances of theft are not higher in Hyderabad, and may be lower than many other places, in India, or otherwise.

spicetrekker

Do carry a camera, these days most local tourists also carry a camera - need to just take normal precautions which you would take in any other place.

machadinha

Now that I call a feat

__________________
Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

shashank.aggarwal

I am surprised by "these days" thing, I guess locals have been carrying for as long as I remember..

__________________
Travelogue - Around India
Random Reviews

PeakXV

Don't be surprised if you draw a small crowd when attempting to frame a picture - due to the Indian's attempt to try and determine the significance of the photo op. The size of this 'crowd of fans' might increase proportionally with the length/size of your lens. Whoever said size doesn't matter never whipped out a big lens in an Indian bazaar.

This all might feel to the newbie like a conspiracy & major camera heist is about to take place .... but relax! - they are only just interested in satisfying their famous curiosity.

Nick-H

Street thieves are more interested in the quickly and easily convertable like gold chains.

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

gronkmeister

Actually, the camera isn't too large, but its not a "point and shoot" camera at all, as I am using it for a student film project.

Here is an image of the camera:
https://pantherfile.uwm.edu/matthia4...g?uniq=-d0fp3c

zoltan

Very nice camera - we have one of the same at work - the res. is amazing.

The only problem you may encounter is if going to reserves where "professional" cameras are charged hefty rates to be used - even though you may only be an amateur filmaker.

Cheers
Zoltan

spicetrekker

Ok... now this looks a bit fancy and similar to the ones used by TV News channels in India. With this you may gather a crowd in few places. Also as pointed by Zoltan, you may have to pay signficantly higher fees in various reserves and monuments.

machadinha

I'm not sure about theft as such (it looks attractive), but I think it will add to the attention factor yes. Something you'll have enough of already not carrying anything special.

So I'm not sure if I'd feel all that comfortable carrying something like that around, just from a hassle/attention/being a ridiculous and obvious tourist (which you are anyway no matter what you do) point of view. I'd rather go with something more inconspicuous, or use the one you have only for special and precise assignments.

It's your line of work though I gather, and I don't think it will lead you to immediate grief. Just don't wander off into any dark alleys and so, but I'm sure you had that figured out already. I'd be careful with gear like that anywhere in the world, downtown Amsterdam or Sevilla is probably far more risky for it. Open and violent robbery directed at tourists is extremely uncommon in India. That doesn't mean it can't happen, just that many other places in the world are far more notorious for it.

I'd look at it more from an ethical standpoint though: I often cringed at seeing people carelessly flaunting their multiple hi-tech cameras (preferably over shorts and a Hawaiian shirt, of course -- yes, it's a stereotype, but it does exist) about in the face of poverty, then getting upset about rickshaw prices and all the "scams" and what have you.