William Morgan
Keeping your valuables safe while you are traveling abroad is key to ensuring that your break from the stresses of life does not turn into a holiday from hell.
There are lots of tricks that savvy travelers have employed over the years to keep would-be thieves out of their luggage, from purchasing suitcases that claim extra layers of security to the increasing use of mini GPS trackers so that you always know where your prized possessions are.
One of these anti-theft tricks that you will often see at international travel terminals is the practice of covering your suitcase in reams of plastic wrap, with some airports offering the service on site for nervous passengers.
But Ed Burnett, an expert who worked as a US Army military police officer and later as a UPS security adviser, is warning holidaymakers that wrapping up before jetting off could actually be making you a prime target for thieves.
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Burnett actually advises entirely against wrapping your luggage as, it might give you peace of mind, but it will make it impossible to check if your suitcases have been tampered with until it's too late.
Speaking to the Independent, the security expert said: “While it protects against scratches and prevents planting drugs, it screams ‘I have something expensive in here.’
“It also makes it impossible for you to quickly check your belongings if you suspect tampering.”
In fact, the best thing you can do to keep your luggage safe is to make sure that all of your 'essentials', like your phone, jewelry, travel documents, and the main chunk of your travel money, are secured in your carry-on luggage - and never let it out of your sight.
The veteran security consultant added: “Keep all ‘must-haves’ such as jewelry, electronics and meds in your personal carry-on that never leaves your sight.
“If you must put valuables in checked luggage, use a ‘diversion safe’ — an empty sunscreen bottle or a laundry bag.
“And take care with electric toothbrushes and high-end chargers. They have high resale value and are often overlooked by travelers until they are gone.”
But while the plastic wrap machine can signpost that you have something worth stealing, your choice of luggage can also be a dead giveaway to potential criminals that you are a high-value target.
He added: “High-end brands — such as Tumi, Rimowa, Louis Vuitton — are magnets. They signal that the contents are likely as expensive as the bag.”
Soft suitcases and other fabric-covered luggage are the easiest for thieves to gain access to, with a simple slash to the canvas letting them into your bag.
As such, picking out a secure-looking hard shell suitcase without any obvious branding is the best way to keep your belongings safe - even if that means giving up the Gucci.
That does not mean that you won't need traditional safety measures like locks, zip ties, and GPS tags, to make sure that your holiday does not start with a calamity.
Security expert Burnett explained: “Locks deter opportunistic theft — someone trying to unzip your bag quickly. But many soft-shell suitcases use coil zippers, which can be opened with a ballpoint pen in seconds [bypassing the lock entirely].
“Cable tiles and zip clips don’t stop a thief either, but they do act as a seal. A thief knows they can't relock a snapped cable tie, meaning you will notice the theft immediately. Most thieves want to steal without you knowing until you get to your hotel.”
He told the Independent: “AirTags and other trackers do nothing to deter theft — unless the thief sees the ‘item found’ alert on their own iPhone — but they are essential for recovery.”
But if you do use them, be discreet. He added: “Keep them hidden. Sew them into the lining or hide them inside a sock. If a thief finds a tracker, they will toss it immediately.
“And most ‘GPS-tracked’ stickers are ignored, or seen as a challenge. In addition, labels like ‘fragile’ or ‘camera equipment’ are active invitations for theft. Never label what’s inside.”