Securing your M

[skimmel]

Thanks Roger.

Just read an interesting piece in the Sept Shutterbug about the editor having a camera bag (no camera, but $150 worth of accessories) lifted from inside his suitcase, apparently by a baggage handler.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Nah -- obviously the baggage handler was a highly trained professional who thought George was a terrorist, and the accessories were bombs... How could it be otherwise?

In fact George asked Frances (Schultz, my wife) to address this very point -- airline baggage secirity -- in the bags section of the Buyers' Guide (next month?)

Our favoured 'secure storage' is a padlocked NATO ammo box chained to an immovable or at least very bulky piece of real estate,

Cheers,

Roger

 

[skimmel]

Interesting Roger. I look forward to reading Frances' piece. Thanks.

 

[Ben Z]

Also consider a Zero Halliburton or similar lockable case and bicycle lock or similar (I actually use a chain and combination lock). Most thieves are opportunist and cutting through a chain and carrying away a case 'on spec' is more trouble than it's worth.

No doubt, but I'd think if a thief were to make an exception for any case, it'd be a nice, shiny expensive-looking metal Halliburton that just about screams "there's something in here worth risking jail for!". Heck, a Halliburton is worth $200 empty.,

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Ben,

Eminently true except that if it is chained to the scenery you need bolt-cutters to cut the chain and (as I say) the vast majority of thievery is opportunism. Even the non-opportunists rarely carry anything that can cut chain. It tends to look a bit obvious as thet walk into the hotel...

Besides, who said anything about a nice, shiny, expensive-looking Halliburton? After 24 years' constant use mine are dented, scraped, covered in stickers and look like hell. I don't use 'em for cameras: I stripped out the foam and use 'em as regular suitcases because they are ultra-light, very strong and yes, lockable.

Or there's the NATO ammo box, as I said.

We travel a LOT and can rarely afford the sort of hotel that has a safe. So far this year:

Jan 31 to Mar 3. Drive to UK; fly to California; drive across the US to Florida; attend PMA; fly to the UK for Focus (the UK trade show); drive home (we live in France)

Mid-June to mid-July. 7200km in a 1973 Land Rover 88: Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany, home.

And we're hoping to go to China and India later in the year.

Cheers,

Roger