I%26#39;m quite upset about pickpockets in Prague and thinking the possible ways to avoid to be a victim. My question is: do they target digital cameras as well? Taking photos is the main purpose of my trips and to have the camera stolen would be one of the worst things that could happen to me. Very often, depending on the spot, I have to change lenses and I%26#39;m affraid this would be a good opportunity for them...
Thanks!
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most pickpockets go for cash and credit cards (as they need to go somewhere to realise a digicam for cash and 2nd hand digicams do not sell for too much) or bags.
that is not to say that if you leave your digicam or accessories in an inviting place, you will not find someone has walked off with them. the most likely thing (and I have seen this happen a couple of times outside the castle) is tourist sees something to photograph or video, puts bag down on ground or between their legs so that they can photograph / video something and then whilst they are doing this, someone comes up and whips the bag away from them, especially if this is in a crowded place.
don%26#39;t get the wrong impression - if you take sensible precautions, people are not going to come and mug you, so if you hand your bag to someone else whilst changing lenses, you should be ok. But unfortunately in prague, if you leave your belongings unattended invitingly for others, there are people who will use that opportunity to become their new owners
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Thanks a lot, Peb7! Hope they don%26#39;t bother me in my visit to Prague :)
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take sensible precautions like you would in any large city and you should be fine. thankfully, muggings and violent crime are extremely rare in prague. most of the pickpocketing is opportunist and if you don%26#39;t give them an easy chance, the people that do this kind of thing will simply go to another victim
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Hi asf,
You sound exactly like me!
Taking photos is also the main purpose of my trips and like yourself last year I was a bit apprenhensive going to Prague having heard about the pickpockets. Nothing bad happenned. Prague and the Czech Republic are absolutely photographically stunning. You will have a blast!
Here is what I do to make it more difficult for those pickpocket to rip me off not just in Prague but anywhere else.
1. Carry your camera bag securely, not just hanging loosely from your shoulder where it can easily be grabbed but with the strap across your body.
2. Be aware of your surroundings every time you change lenses. And close your camera bag securely after! Something I tend to forget.
3. My camera bag is attached by a small chain to the belt of my pants. Most of the chain goes into my pocket. This provide further protection from thieves but more importantly it protects *you* from forgetting the bag and leaving it behind if you ever put it down somewhere. It%26#39;s constantly attached to you. Many cameras are not so most stolen as left behind by distracted tourists.
4. Don%26#39;t carry your wallet in your back pocket. I use a neck wallet that I tuck inside my pants and only carry a few dollars and change in my front pocket.
Prague is a safe city. I never felt threatened when I was there but it doesn%26#39;t hurt to be cautious. I carried my camera everywhere and took thousands of photos. And guess what? I%26#39;m going back in a few days. Enjoy!
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My stepfather had a digital camera on his belt, and a pickpocket team did try to take it as he boarded the 22 tram. One stopped in front of him as he was boarding and held a ticket up in his face as if to offer it to him. The one behind tried to get the camera off his belt. Luclkly, my significant other was there, spotted the situation, and barked at him to watch out and ended the situation. He did not lose his camera.
Just a personal anecdote. That said, everything Peb7 is correct.
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I can%26#39;t add to the good advice that%26#39;s already been posted, but can offer my reassurance: During my visit to Prague only a few years ago, I was snapping photos (the best souvenir I could think of) and encountered no problems or hassles from people sneaking up on me or picking my pocket while I was distracted with taking pictures.
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