Safe Travel MADE EASY With These Checked Luggage Secrets

When we travel, checking in our luggage should be an easy process where we hand our bags over to the relevant airline staff with the intent that it will arrive safely to our final destination, right? Well, what if I told you that your checked bag is more vulnerable to theft than you think? So many travelers, including myself, have fallen victim to luggage theft and sometimes, without even realizing the theft until they grab their luggage and start unpacking once they get to their hotel or home.

The Statistics

According to the International Air Transport Association, 25 million checked bags are mishandled each year. And, many of them are not just lost, but stolen or tampered with. Almost ten percent of all checked bags were tampered with or stolen as reported in a study done in 2022. If I were to calculate that, it would be one in ten bags. That seems like a lot to me. What do you think?

The Tactics Used

Believe it or not, thieves use one of the simplest tactics to steal your belongings. A simple ballpoint pen is all they use to get into your checked bag. And they get so good at it, there is no trace left behind. In this video, I am going to be sharing several proven hacks that you can use to protect luggage theft. These hacks can be used to effectively prevent luggage theft and they are not the usual basic hacks you have seen or heard before. While it is important to select the right type of luggage and use the appropriate gadgets for protection, there are some more clever ways to be a step ahead of these thieves. Today, I am going to delve into ways you can keep your possessions safer. So let’s delve right in.

Choose the Right Luggage

Remember now that your luggage is what you will use to protect your valuables and hide them from being seen by the general public. So, yes, the type of luggage choice is very important. So, we are going to get that out of the way first. But, you don’t just need any type of luggage that makes it easier for thieves to get in. For example, a soft-sided piece of luggage has more vulnerability than a hard-sided or shell case one. Thieves can cut the fabric of your soft-sided luggage and gain access. It is more difficult to get into the hard shell case because of the hard material it is made of. Once a thief sees the hard shell, it is an immediate deterrent due to the difficulty it might pose. However, not all hard shell cases are created equal. It is best to buy one that comes with a double zipper. The thieves will have a hard time prying this open. Shop for one that comes with anti-theft interlock zippers, which provides an extra layer of protection. Try not to buy one that has too many pockets on the exterior. Yes, they may be convenient, but they provide thieves with easy access to what is inside your luggage.

The Pen Hack Explained

OK, let’s get to the dreaded pen trick now. It is quite alarming, but it is happening right now as we speak. The thieves get into your luggage by wedging the top of the ballpoint pen between the zipper. The pen splits the zipper apart, whether you have a lock on your bag or not. After they go inside the bag and take out your valuables, it is easy to reseal the zipper, pulling it back into place. You will never know that someone went inside your bag because there are no tell tale signs. It is that easy. Therefore, it is important to protect yourself from all of this by avoiding luggage with the basic and less secured zipper. The Level8 Road Runner Pro Luggage is highly recommended, TSA approved and the perfect anti-theft bag. It is made with anti-puncture zippers, which will dissuade thieves from even attempting to tamper with your bag. With this bag, you will feel more confident about traveling with checked luggage. Another option is to use luggage with a combination lock or latch rather than zippers. The Road Runner Pro got you covered with that. I will put the link in the description.

TSA Approved Lock

One more thing to consider is a TSA approved lock. TSA has a master key to open your bag, if they have to inspect the contents. But, thieves don’t like to touch luggage with these locks because if they attempt to go inside, it will damage the lock and you will know right away that someone tampered with it. The thieves know that it will take some time to open luggage with TSA approved locks and they don’t want to contend with that. However, not all TSA approved locks are the same. I would highly recommend the iron-clad Master Lock 4696T. It comes with combination locks, in a pack of two. It is harder for thieves to get into this one and is tamper resistant.

The Security Tape Option

You can use security tape to protect your bag. This is an effective way to prevent tampering or if that occurs, security tapes provide evidence that someone tried to go inside your luggage. And you can easily apply the security tape over the zipper and seams of your bag. Anyone who tries to go inside your bag with the security tape over the zipper will be deterred since they have to break the tape. They will be less likely to do so. I highly recommend the one in the link description. It comes with two rolls, which means it will last you for a long time.

GPS Trackers

Every traveler should have a GPS tracker – hands down. And, this is not only because of theft, but also lost luggage. With the advent of digital technology, a GPS luggage tracker is a must have. You could also consider smart luggage that is equipped with everything to keep thieves aways. Traveler’s Choice Maxporter II Hardside is the ideal smart luggage that comes with a built-in GPS tracker. And the Air Tracker Tags 4 Pack Luggage Tracker works with iOS. Both are ideal to keep your luggage safe. With both of these, you will be able to locate a missing bag. You also get to check on the whereabouts of your luggage as you will get alerts sent to your phone, if your bag moves outside of a specific area. This can be a plus, especially in busy airports where luggage can get mixed up or easily moved while you are not paying attention.

Pro tip: Never put anything in your checked bag that you cannot afford to lose. This includes jewelry, money and electronics. This is a simple rule that you should follow. All essential items such as medication should be kept in a personal bag or carry on bag.Disguising Your Luggage

I use a black hard shell luggage and I decided to spray paint it with the initial of my first name and all of my last name in big letters. I wanted it to stand out and never be mistaken for someone else’s luggage. So, when I get to baggage claim, I can see my luggage from a distance. I also carry wide duct tape on the zipper around it. While someone may think it looks like junk, I know why I have it done like that and it is to disguise it from thieves. They won’t touch it with a long stick. A friend of mine bought custom made luggage covers. Yes, it was colorful, but hard to hide in a crowd too because the artwork was original. And they had zipped closure with room for TSA locks. When I saw it, I thought that it would be too much work for thieves to deal with. The tags came in handy when one of her bags was left during a layover. And she was able to tell the airline exactly where it was. Luggage covers are a fun way to disguise your bag. Thieves will stay far away from it, especially if you buy the ones that can be customized with your photo, name or a special design.

Stickers and Wrappers

You can also opt for stickers, decals or plastic wrappers on your luggage. Try to choose something that does not look appealing. You could use one of those “Fragile” stickers. This could throw off the thief into thinking about touching a bag that appears to have delicate things inside. Anything that has a distinctive mark can be a turnoff for the thief. A thief prefers to target luggage that looks basic, uninteresting and blends in with other similar bags. So, to stand out, wrap your bag with plastic wrap or film wrap. You can use the services at the airport to do so or you can do it yourself at home. A thief is not going to take the extra step to unwrap your bag to get in.

Take A Picture

I recommend that you take a picture of everything inside your luggage. By doing so, you will have documentation of the inventory in your luggage. That means, if it gets lost or anything is stolen from it, you will have the proof beforehand. This is one of the most effective ways to protect your belongings. You can easily file a claim with the airline because you have evidence of what was in your bag. And, you will have a list of the items and valuables you had.

Get Travel Insurance

There was a time when I thought travel insurance was a scam until my luggage was lost. Now, I am an advocate for travel insurance and I would highly recommend it to any traveler. Don’t overlook this. However, not all travel insurance policies are the same. Make sure you shop for the best one that will give you the most coverage and replacement cost for lost, damaged or stolen luggage. Be sure to read the fine print before you sign up for any travel insurance policy.

Make the Right Choice

As you can see, there are several steps, preparation and options for preventing luggage theft. Make the smartest choice that works for you. From the strategies we gave you, you could feel more comfortable and secure in making multiple choices to reduce the risk of luggage theft. I just want you to have the peace of mind that I do when I am traveling. If you got any value from this, please share this article with others. If you have had an experience you would like to share, please send an email. And of course, we would love to have you as a subscriber to our channel. Here is the link. Once there, please hit that subscribe button and notification bell so you don’t miss out on future videos. Please visit the links below for the products mentioned in the video. Anything you purchase will support us. Thanks in advance and thanks for stopping by. Until next time, please keep your luggage safe and happy travels.

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