Anti Theft Bags?

Sadly, the only reliable anti-theft method I know of is a big, burly, well-armed guard :-))) More practical approach is attaching a locked hard-shell case (such as Pelican) to a toilet using a very big locking cable and a good padlock.Yes, it does elicit strange looks from housekeeping but...have you ever tried to unscrew the toilet..?

If you like their anti-theft system, you can probably adapt a Pacsafe backpack to your camera gear using padded inserts (Domke, Tenba, etc.) and some velcro, BTW.

Why look for something similar? Why not just use whatever sling bag or daypack or backpack or bag you want to use and use a PacSafe with it?

M1911

A Pac-Safe bag is easy to use and is effective (theoretically) against grab-and-run or slashing. Most thefts from hotel rooms are by deception - someone follows the maid into a room and pretends to have left something behind. They roll up and store in a pouch the size of a small camera.

There are also straps for bags and cameras with embedded metal cables. A frequent robbery technique is to slash the strap and run with the camera or bag. At least two of my acquaintances have lost cameras in this manner.

Never... I repeat NEVER use a camera strap or bag strap with anti-slash metal in it. There are a number of cases where these straps have caused the DEATH of the holder when the bag was grabbed by someone on a motorbike and either the victim was dragged into traffic or the neck was broken.

If they want the damn camera that bad they can have it.

The best defense is a bag that does not scream CAMERA!!!! Take a look at the ThinkTank Urban Disguise line. very well made and does not scream camera.

Given that no anti-theft solution that you'd want to carry or pay for is perfect, is insurance not a cheaper solution?

A diaper or cooler bag that does not scream $$$ camera works well. Don't forget to clip a soother on the diaper bag and have a disposalble diaper sticking out of a pocket. But, the best insurance against loss is camera insurance. A home owners camera rider, zero-deductable, any type of loss, costs me about $1.20 per thousand. Use smaller CF cards that are kept on your person as they fill and then if someone grabs your bag or camera, you only lose the images in your camera and not your entire day's shooting.

I use a small bright yellow 6-pack cooler bag and toss it in the back seat of my vehicle when not out for a planned photoshoot. It holds a camera with lens and a second lens, spare batteries, cleaning pack and a flash. BTW, the insulated cooler pack also keeps the camera safe from extreme temperature for a couple hours.

How, pray tell, does a camera on a strap not scream "CAMERA"? Secondly, any old strap is strong enough to pull you off your feet and into traffic if someone on a bike snatches it. However, it's out of reach if the camera is in front and and slips off if over one shoulder. Situational awareness is preferable to a wired strap (or M1911).

The Lowepro Flipside line may just fit your needs. Although it is only anti-theft while you have it on your back. Simply because it opens on the side that faces your back. As for someone stealing the whole bag, you could buy some sort of tracking device which you could hide in your bag. Somewhere, where the device would go unnoticed. ThinkTank makes a security tag, and sells locks. Check it out. Hope it helps. :-)

Heck why fool around with rigid strap. One wants an springy strap to maximize the energy stored; with a fuzeable link that has a defined proof test. Thus let the chap nick/grab the bag; let the strap elongate many meters. The design needs to be so the bag recoils and finds its target and knocks him on his bum stone cold; with maybe a cherry shiner or two.

You could always get one of those stickers that says something like "Human Organ Tissue" for your bag. That would certainly rarify the set of thieves who would show interest.

I agree with Alan Davenport - an M1911 with a 40 shot magazine.

this is what you need, lightweight and cheap

http://eightsolid.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/19.jpg

If I can't fit my gear into a six-pack size cloth cooler. I'm carrying too much.