Vi Travel Tips

Incredible thieves in India

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by

Vi

Most of you probably saw “Incredible India” ad campaign about amazing country.

But I want to paraphrase it as not only good things happens there.

Somebody probably checked my photos in 7 super shot post and can be surprised why in posts about trip to Sri Lanka I was using pictures from flickr. Explanation is in this picture:

Empty camera case, lens cap and hood

That is that I found in the bag after night ride on the train in India.  The photo camera bag was empty. Only lens cap and hood left and my beloved Canon 20D and Tamron 18-50 lens were gone. I even don’t know when it did happen. My large backpack was  chained to the bedpost and another small day pack with camera bag inside I was keeping beside my head in the bed.
The train arrived to the destination very early. I checked my bed for any my stuff I could leave and got out of the train. The hour later I opened my day pack and saw empty camera case. What?!?!
During night I did left a bag for a couple minutes, other time the bag was always with me. I can say only one word – incredible. How did somebody managed to steal it?
Nobody could believe it can happen in India, but it did…This camera probably three or  maybe even four times traveled around the world with me. It is quit old Canon camera and  had a lot of wear signs, so it didn’t have much value. Not the camera and lens were biggest lost. I lost flash card with all pictures from my journey to Sri Lanka.
The rest of day I spent in police office. Everybody was very nice, but of course nobody could promise anything and I didn’t have much hope. Actually I didn’t have any hope to recover my camera with my photos.
Are there any travel insurance which covers stolen items? Of course if won’t restore images, but at least it would be possible to buy another camera. Let me know if you know such insurance coverage.

Comments

12 responses to “Incredible thieves in India”

  1. Jesse Avatar
    Jesse

    It’s actually one of the big dilemma that the tourism agency of India suffers knowing how the tourist evade the country because of these incredible thieves.

    Reply
  2. Elena Anne Avatar
    Elena Anne

    You have to be so careful. If there is some item that means something to you, like a camera, keep it on your possession at all costs. It’s a downside to visiting the country alright but i think it’s still worth it: incredible spirit in many of the people.

    Reply
  3. Sumit Avatar
    Sumit

    Its really sad that you lost your camera, but top being Judgmental, and stop defaming India. Thief are everywhere not in India only, Stop making propaganda out of it, I request you politely to do a little R & D about India, You will Learn about rich heritage and beautiful insights about India.

    Reply
    1. Vi Avatar
      Vi

      Sumit, what propaganda you are talking about? I am just sharing my experience and it is not always the best. Btw in each country I visit I want to see real life but not just tourism highlights and I saw India as very poor country, so I am not surprised it did happen to me in India.

      Reply
  4. Wftristan Avatar
    Wftristan

    Not quite sure what sumit is talking about.

    With regard to Travel Insurance – items are normally covered up to a certain amount, the most cost effective way to insure them is to extend your household policy to “all risks” this is what i have done with all my camera equipment

    Tristan

    Reply
    1. Vi Avatar
      Vi

      thanks Wftristan, I will check it.

      Reply
  5. Ayngelina Avatar
    Ayngelina

    So sorry to hear this, if you are going to make a claim on insurance make sure you get a police report. As someone who has been robbed many times, I have always had to show one.

    Reply
    1. Vi Avatar
      Vi

      Ayngelina, what insurance are you using? Because the travel insurance I had didn’t cover any stolen items.

      Reply
  6. parul Avatar
    parul

    Sorry to hear that. Even though I am from India it really surprises me. I had my smart phone stolen on a train too. i think i fell asleep for 15 minutes and it was gone. There was no way of knowing who took it.
    Since then I cling to my bag like a monkey.

    Reply
    1. Vi Avatar
      Vi

      I did the same with my bag too 😀 It was time to change my camera anyway. The biggest lost was my pictures taken during trip to Sri Lanka

      Reply
  7. Balram Rathod Avatar
    Balram Rathod

    Hi, sorry to note that your camera was stolen. All that I can say is that theft is something that happens everywhere, not only in India. And of course, India must be poor but it did have a rich heritage and past which attracted England here & you know what they did, I need not elaborate.

    Reply
    1. Vi Avatar
      Vi

      I am not telling it happens only in India. Of course it can happen almost in any country. But I was surprised how it happened that night on the train.

      Reply

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