Why Cameras Are Easier to Steal and What You Can Do About it

My business insurance has rocketed in price this year with a 33% increase. Yet, I would not do without it. Like anything with monetary value, cameras can be targeted by thieves. That risk is growing.

Google the Serial Killer

Stolen digital cameras were once more easily recovered because of their serial numbers embedded in the metadata. It could be searched for as soon as a photo taken by it was uploaded to the internet. The website Stolen Camera Finder helped track cameras down in this way. However, things have changed. I entered the serial number of the older of my cameras into its database, and it found no reference to the camera online, despite being used to post hundreds of photos on various websites. So, next, I entered the number into Google and several other search engines. My camera no longer appears in the search results as it once did.

I reached out to the owner of Stolen Camera Finder, but sadly, got no reply when I wrote this.

The disappearance of serial numbers from search results may be because of privacy and security concerns; serial numbers can be used for tracking people. Or it is because most search engines are skewed toward making sales and not providing helpful information. Whatever the reason, this change makes it far easier to sell stolen cameras. That, in turn, makes them a greater target for theft.

Of course, most people now upload their photos to social media. Typically, those services strip the serial numbers and other metadata from images, thus making photo ownership harder to prove and increasing the chances of the pictures being stolen. It also makes it harder to identify the camera that took them.

Once was a time when one could be assured that the cameras sold by large and reputable secondhand retailers were not stolen because they could check ownership. They would search for the serial number, find images shot by that camera, and if the photographer were not the same person as was selling it, alarm bells would ring.

I tried to discuss this issue of the serial numbers no longer being searchable with two of the big companies specializing in used photography equipment, but neither came back with a reply. Read into that what you will.

Lenstag to the Rescue

There is good news, however. It’s possible to register your camera with an excellent free database operated by Lenstag. The database includes the serial numbers of some stolen equipment. It is not definitive, but if you are buying a used camera, it is worth checking there to see if the lens is marked as stolen. I highly recommend registering your camera and lenses as it will help fight against criminals, support the legitimate businesses who refer to the database, plus help protect other photographers.

I spoke by email with Trevor Sehrer at Lenstag:

Lenstag's overall goal is to end the ability of criminals to sell stolen gear by making it undesirable to buy and therefore steal... I think of it like copyright for gear. If photographers see a used item they're interested in is stolen, they're less likely to buy it since it'll be harder to resell in the future due to it being flagged as stolen. And as has happened in some cases, photographers who unknowingly bought stolen gear without checking Lenstag first had it taken away by police and returned to its rightful owner – even across state lines. Given this, I don't see how anyone would risk buying stolen items, ever.

A big part of how Lenstag works is visually verifying every single serial number like the DMV does with VIN numbers for car titles. I do the verifications myself and around 20% of all serial numbers sent in to Lenstag are mistyped or some other number that's not the actual serial number on the item. I correct it if I can or reject the verification request and send it back to the user with some notes on what to fix. This means that all other registries – Nikon, Canon, Sony, Leica, etc — that don't do this have bad data and are unreliable at best. At worst, a photographer could report a stolen lens with a mistyped serial number into, say, Canon Professional Services, and later on a photographer sends the lens that actually has the mistyped serial number into Canon for repair and they lose their lens.

Some innocent victims are still losing second-hand cameras they have bought because they are confiscated by the police, who identified them as stolen. If they could check the serial number first, they could have avoided that loss.

Some photographers attach security ID labels to their cameras. These hard-to-remove tags act as a deterrent and make the return of stolen property more likely. However, they may affect the resale value of the camera if that is important to the photographer.

How Cameras Mostly Get Stolen

Most cameras get stolen as opportunistic crimes. So, simple measures like not leaving it in full sight in a car, keeping it on your person in public places, and using a reinforced strap that cannot be cut are simple measures that reduce your chances of a camera being snatched. The Sun-Sniper Strap Pro can help prevent this kind of robbery. In some parts of the world, it’s not unusual for thieves to approach you, often from behind, slash the strap with a knife, and then run off with your camera.

Avoiding Robbery When Travelling

Being robbed or having possessions stolen can be a harrowing experience. Many years ago, I was in the Maasai Market in Nairobi, Kenya. Back then, my friends who lived locally called it Nairobbery. I heard a commotion. There was a large crowd of people gathered around a young boy. They were beating and kicking him while the police looked on. The locals turned on the boy after he had snatched a handbag from a tourist, who had shouted, “Thief!” Eventually, the police officers dragged his body and threw him into the rear of a caged truck. The woman victim was crying. Her bag contained the equivalent of $30, and her shouting about the theft had caused the probable death of a hungry child. The bright white bag would have been an obvious target.

Smaller camera bodies are less noticeable to thieves. So, consider something smaller for your travels instead of that full frame monster. Sensor and lens technology is so good these days that Micro Four Thirds cameras produce outstanding image quality. Their footprint is far smaller too. Besides being more discreet, they are more convenient.

Using a side sling instead of a neck strap makes cameras more inconspicuous. I remove the brand labels from the straps. Camera bags are easily identifiable to robbers too. Besides wanting to carry minimal equipment, it’s one of the reasons I won’t use one. A simple discrete backpack with built-in security features such as a slash-proof lining will protect your camera and other valuables.

Precautions to Prevent Robbery

Prevention is always best. Where I live, I happily head out at night with my camera. But there are places not far from me where I would not risk that alone. So, I take a friend with me.

Plan where you are going, choosing roads and paths with plenty of people and CCTV coverage. Valuables such as mobile phones, wallets, and cameras attract thieves, so try to keep them out of sight. If you are out with your camera, walk confidently and with purpose, as you are less likely to be targeted. Stay aware of your surroundings.

Never place your camera or other valuables on a table in a café. Use licensed taxis that have been booked by phone or through an app.

What to Do if You Are Being Robbed

Fstoppers regularly has stories about photographers being robbed. It’s important to visualize what you would do in any emergency, as it prevents panic; it is why workplaces have fire drills. Knowing what to do if you are robbed reduces the risk of you being hurt.

If someone tries to rob you, don’t try to defend your property. It’s just a camera and, hopefully, insured. Your safety is paramount. The robber’s adrenaline levels will be through the roof, and they will be as nervous as you. Stay calm. Move slowly and steadily and follow their directions. Give them only what they want and explain why you are making the movements, e.g., “I am going to release the clip on this strap so I can hand it over.”

It is in your interest, and the robbers, for the experience to be over as quickly as possible. So, follow their instructions to the letter, and don’t offer anything extra or help. If they demand twenty dollars, give them that, not fifty. If they want your camera, don’t hand them your wallet too. All police forces recommend not introducing a weapon into the confrontation; your camera is not worth endangering someone’s life. If they have a gun, assume it is loaded.

Tell the robber if there are any surprises. If you are meeting someone, let the robber know.

Be observant. Take notes in your head of their appearance. Whom do they look like? What’s their height and build? How old are they? What color eyes and hair do they have? Are there any distinguishing features? If there is more than one robber, do they use names? Do they appear drunk or high? If they use a weapon, what does that look like?  

Once they have what they want, offer to walk away. Go immediately to somewhere safe, where there are many people, and report the crime. Ask someone to stay with you while you report it.

For professional photographers, at events and photoshoots, it is always worth considering regularly swapping memory cards from cameras and keeping them in a separate secure place. You can replace the camera if it’s stolen, but reshooting the event might not be possible.

Your local police department will offer advice on what to do if you are robbed, and I recommend familiarizing yourself with that.

Protecting Your Camera From Burglary

Cameras are also targeted in burglaries. So, besides the standard building security precautions and keeping them locked in secure safes is a measure worth considering. However, if a burglar has entered a building, standard doors to rooms and offices are easily broken, and one kick can break them. So, consider leaving those internal doors unlocked.

Opportunistic burglaries happen in the daytime when external doors and windows are open. So, when possible, lock those.

Most police forces give similar advice about preventing burglary. If you arrive at your property and think an intruder is there, stay calm. Verify, if you can, whether there is anyone there. In a previous role, I attended a workplace several times at night because the alarm had been activated. Once, I could smell them as soon as I opened the door; it was the stench of alcohol and stale cigarettes. I stopped, listened, and then quietly retreated to call the police.

If possible, don’t confront the burglar. Verify their presence and, if possible, quietly escape the scene. If you cannot escape, shutting yourself in a room and barricading the door with furniture may be the next best option. Then, call the police.

If you are face to face with the intruder, your actions will be like those I mentioned above when confronted with a robbery. Follow their instructions. Act calmly and talk quietly, keeping conversation to a minimum. Inform them of any surprises like expected visitors. Immediately afterward, call the police, don’t touch anything, and take notes. Again, your local police will likely give specific advice, so check their website.

Have you ever had the harrowing experience of being robbed or burgled? Are there extra precautions you take? Other photographers will find it very helpful to hear about your experience in the comments.