Big city anons, how do you deal with carrying your gear around at night?

>be me
>be small town boy
>start going to university
>move to big city yesterday
>wake up to find my cars window smashed in
>spare change and usb cable stolen

I don't live in the safest neighborhood in town, but I didn't expect it to be that bad and I can't afford to move.
I don't really feel save anymore though. One of my favorite things back home was to walk around at night, taking pictures of the sleeping city, I won't do this anymore here because I'm sure I'll get robbed on my first night out.
I have to take my camera with me after dark though, as I'm a photography student and will be on my way home with gear on the subway after nightfall.

Do you guys have any experience with this? Did I just have bad luck? Can you recommend any bags that won't scream camera to everyone around me?