Travel Security Tips for Protecting Your Luggage

Say you’re planning a trip to New York. You determine your travel itinerary, book a flight, make hotel arrangements, and plan for how to keep your home safe while you’re away. As the departure day gets closer, it’s time to pack. You might start by making a list of everything you need to bring with you. Or perhaps you pack more with a general idea of what you need and add other things as you think of them. Whatever your method, equally as important as getting everything you need to your destination is getting it home again. Among the best ways to ensure this happens is by protecting your luggage. Here are some travel security tips to help you protect your luggage.

Protecting Your Luggage

When you’re traveling between destinations, never leave your luggage unattended. You probably won’t be able to hold onto it the entire time, but always at least keep an eye on it. Even then, there are certain features you will want your luggage to have to protect you from baggage thieves and criminals.

Suitcases

When you’re choosing what suitcase to buy, the anti-theft suitcases with heavy-duty zippers and locks may look like a good option. In reality, a locked-up suitcase isn’t going to do you much good. TSA-approved locks can easily be opened with a master key. In theory, only TSA personnel are supposed to have access to master keys. But enough people have made copies or even 3D prints of these keys that it’s not going to stop a baggage thief. Even if they don’t have a master key set, they can easily cut the lock off. How can you protect your suitcase, then?

• Pack Light.

Whenever possible, only use suitcases that are small enough that you won’t need to check them. Should circumstances make it so you must check a bag, put all your valuables like laptops and tablets in your carry-on. Locks on carry-on items don’t have to be TSA approved since you would be right there to unlock it if they need to inspect it, so a sturdy zipper protected against being penetrated and a good lock can help you here. Then, if you manage to get some in-flight sleep, no one will be able to go into the overhead bin and get into your suitcase, pretending it’s theirs while you’re asleep.

• Be Frugal

Don’t purchase suitcases that look expensive. These will be more appealing targets.

• Add Flair

When you get to the baggage conveyor at the end of your flight, you’ll see a fair number of dark-colored or gray suitcases. If yours is also among these, add some flair to help it stand out. Then, you’ll be able to spot it faster and retrieve it before anyone gets a chance to steal it. You could tie a ribbon to the handle or add some strips of bright duct tape. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could go a step further and get that bright yellow suitcase.

Backpacks and Purses

Backpacks and purses should be made of a slash-proof fabric with reinforced straps, hidden compartments, and RFID blocking. If the worst-case scenario happens and your luggage gets stolen, you can take measures so that you aren’t completely out of luck. If you’ve put luggage trackers in your bags, you can more easily recover them.

Hotels

You arrived in New York safely, and thanks to the measures you took to protect your luggage, it made it safely, too. When you get to the hotel, you find out your room is on the main floor. To optimize hotel security, you’ll want to request a different room. Main floor rooms are easier for thieves to target. You’ll also want to be away from elevators, ice machines, and meeting spaces. Rooms in areas with more foot traffic are more likely to attract thieves since it looks less suspicious for them to be wandering in those areas.

Storing Valuables

Some hotel security measures are obvious. Never leave the door propped open. Lock the door and any windows and balcony doors when you leave. If the door is supposed to lock behind you automatically, make sure it does. Since a determined thief can find their way through a locked door, you may want to take additional measures to protect your valuables.

Many recommend storing your electronics, important documents, cash, and other valuables in the safe in your room. However, just as many videos have proven how easy it is to access a hotel safe. You will still want to make sure your valuables are protected when you’re not in your room, and you can still use the safe. Just add a secondary lock to ensure security.

When You’re Away

The point of a vacation is to get out there, see the sights, and do things, which means you’ll likely spend a lot of time not in your hotel room. To deter thieves, you can make it look like you are in your room. Leave the TV and a light on and hang the do not disturb sign. They won’t want to disturb a room if they think it’s occupied. Then, with your luggage protected, you can enjoy your day without any worries.

Safe travels!