Has anyone ever been robbed or mugged while out shooting?

[flowness]

Never attacked, but have been hassled aggressively by homeless. Personal space way invaded, path blocked, etc. I think they figure if they make you uncomfortable you'll just hand over some cash so they'll go away. I just say "Sorry, don't have any cash on me". And it helps to not stop walking no matter what, that seems to be perceived as an invitation for more interaction. There are times when I'll give some, but won't do anything for someone already going out of their way to make me feel threatened.
But this has happened whether I'm carrying any camera or not, so I don't think that's the draw. I think you look like a target/soft touch/mark, or you don't.
Awareness & buddy system are my preferred method. I have skipped stuff I wanted to do because would have had to go alone.

 

[nicosiy]

This is why we workout.

 

[gsgary]

Must be great fun going out with a gun and a camera, so glad i live over here

 

[Overread17 5]

Must be great fun going out with a gun and a camera, so glad i live over here

Hey range shooting is fun

with a gun

 

[480sparky41 41]

Must be great fun going out with a gun and a camera, so glad i live over here

Yep. Kinda fun knowing I'm able to defend myself. When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.

 

[mfdrookie516]

Must be great fun going out with a gun and a camera, so glad i live over here

Yep. Kinda fun knowing I'm able to defend myself. When seconds count, the police are just minutes away.

I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6...

 

[gsgary]

Must be great fun going out with a gun and a camera, so glad i live over here

Hey range shooting is fun

with a gun

Not as good as watching paint dry

 

[zcar21]

Never been mugged or harassed, but if you think NO gives you some shady looking characters. Try visiting Columbia or Nicaragua where you gear is worth more than several years of pay to folks there... If you keep your eyes open and stay aware of your surroundings you should do ok, and trust any gut feelings or little hairs raising that you get.

Years? what a misleading statement, either you're never been to any of those countries or you're talking about a canon 1dx with a bunch of L lenses to make such comparison. It varies a lot, but in average I don't think most people carry more than $2000 on gear when out shooting, or even $1000.
The south american country is Colombia.

 

[ewick]

I have never been robbed, but I have been harrased.... by other photogs claiming; "this is my spot" yeah like they invented it. When I got there nobody was there so I set up to shoot (motorcycle) on a mountain. I'm not a regular on that mountain nor was I shooting for profit so I didn't feel I had to move, needless to say an argument ensued and ended in a fight (wich I won) I guess boxing as a kid well into my mid twenties did pay off. Moral of the story is: think before you start a fight, argument or try to rob somebody cause you never know what kind of background the other person has. Tip of the day: shoot with some one else wether they are assisting or shooting along with you cause power runs in numbers.

 

[Netskimmer]

Never been robbed or seriously harrased. I do carry a concealed gun and an "assisted open" knife. The knife is not a switch blade but it can be easily opened with on hand and it is of legal carrying length (you can do a suprising amount of damage with a small blade if you have the proper instruction) but these are weapons of last resort. Best advise is to avoid conflict altogether with the tips mentioned in this thread. Travel in groups, project confidence, stay alert.

 

[Alex_B]

Never been robbed or seriously harrased. I do carry a concealed gun and an "assisted open" knife. The knife is not a switch blade but it can be easily opened with on hand and it is of legal carrying length (you can do a suprising amount of damage with a small blade if you have the proper instruction) but these are weapons of last resort. Best advise is to avoid conflict altogether with the tips mentioned in this thread. Travel in groups, project confidence, stay alert.

Travel in groups is something I hate and avoid at all costs (unless it is my support team ), but to show confidence and to stay alert are certainly good advice ... plus sometimes stay on low profile

Another advice: If you carry any kind of weapon, you MUST be willing, ready and trained to use it - else it will be used against you.

 

[Trever1t]

It varies a lot, but in average I don't think most people carry more than $2000 on gear when out shooting, or even $1000.

This is a ridiculous statement. I walk out my door with a single lens and I hold almost $5,000 retail in my hands....and I never go out with a single lens. I've been to more than 3 countries where the average citizen makes less than $2400/yr. and 2 of those well less than that.

That said I felt safer with my gear there than I do in the park just down the street.

 

[zcar21]

Your taking what I said out of context. I said AVERAGE. MOST PEOPLE do not have a lens or camera that cost more than $2000.

 

[Alex_B]

Years? what a misleading statement, either you're never been to any of those countries or you're talking about a canon 1dx with a bunch of L lenses to make such comparison. It varies a lot, but in average I don't think most people carry more than $2000 on gear when out shooting, or even $1000.

It really depends what kind of people you talk about ... if you talk about what I consider photographers, and that does not mean exclusively professionals, but excludes the Jon Doe vacation shooters with non-dSLRs, then I would guess on average they do carry more than USD 1000. At least all non-pros I know who travel such countries carry gear between USD 600 and 10 000. In that group the average easily settles around 3000. But statistically my friends are just a too small group to be valid of course, I know.

 

[zcar21]

I'm not talking a someone in particular or a particular group. I have traveled to 9 different countries and MOST people carry p&s or superzooms, SOME (an increasing number of people) carry entry level dslr, and very few people carry profesional equipment.