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Topics: Travel
Niamh Shackleton
A security expert has explained why using a black or any other dark-colored piece of luggage isn't advised, despite them being one of the most commonly used types of baggage.
There are a handful of pros to having dark-colored luggage, one being that they're more durable they're better at hiding any scuffs and scratches compared to other colors.
It also conceals dirt better and looks professional if you're traveling for business purposes.
Another pro of having a dark bag, according to UK Luggage, is the psychological impact.
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"Dark luggage gives off a sense of reliability, stability, and sophistication. It’s often associated with practicality and no-nonsense travel," it claims.
A lot of people might like to use designer luggage when heading on vacation, but former US Army military policeman and security expert for UPS, Ed Burnett, has advised against this.
He told The Independent: "High-end brands — such as Tumi, Rimowa, Louis Vuitton — are magnets. They signal that the contents are likely as expensive as the bag."
Ed also urged people to buy brightly colored luggage instead of the usual black or navy blue.
"Bright colors are a deterrent. Thieves prefer anonymous black or navy bags because they can walk away with them without standing out," he said.
"A neon green bag, for example, is a liability for a thief. If you yell, 'Stop that man with the green bag,' everyone sees him."
Something else than can make your luggage more of a target for thieves are soft shell cases.
Ed shared: "Soft shell bags can be ‘shived’ — where a thief uses a box cutter to slice the fabric and reach in."
With this in mind, he said that hard shell cases are 'significantly safer' as it's harder for thieves to cut them open. It would also be a nosier job to cut through, which would draw attention.
Something else that people are advised not to do when traveling is wrap luggage in plastic, even though some people believe that it enhances security. Travelers have been known to pay as much as 20 bucks to get their suitcases professionally wrapped.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has previously addressed the popular trend and explained that wrapping up your bags doesn't mean your luggage won't get screened or flagged up.
If security agents need to inspect the contents inside your bag, they'll simply cut through the plastic to gain access meaning the money (or time) you spent wrapping it will have been for nothing.