Foil Theft on the Road

A theft while traveling is guaranteed to change sunshine to clouds but there are some no-nonsense ways to gain extra protection for your personal property. Expensive luggage marks you as a tourist with financial means. The Louis Vuitton matched set may be important to your sense of self but it also tells the world of your monetary value. If your travels are airport to airport with land portions in cabs and limos, the Vuitton bags may blend in, but even going through the airlines’ baggage systems, they glitter like gold to potential thieves.

They lock, you say? There hasn’t been a lock made that an enterprising thief can’t break. Remember, there’s no real reason to hide the break in. By the time you retrieve your luggage in Bangkok and see the damage, the thieves are hocking your personal effects in Los Angeles. You might as well leave the suitcase unlocked; you’re more likely to arrive with undamaged luggage.

The solution? Pack anything of value or items that could be hard to replace (such as extra eyeglasses, prescription medicine, well seasoned hiking boots) in your carry-on, and keep the carry-on with you at all times.

If you aren’t a professional photographer, try to enjoy your trip without a lot of high-priced camera equipment. If it’s a necessity, downplay its value by carrying it in an inexpensive backpack or canvas duffel—leave the leather case with its many specialized pockets and fittings at home.

Ditto the laptop. Pack it in something other than an obvious computer case. Or for writing only, consider a keyboard in place of the laptop. They’re lighter, less expensive and easy to disguise.

Leave the family jewels in your safe deposit box at home. Those who steal have a practiced eye and they can spot 22-karat gold versus the department store look-alike from across a terminal. If you’re traveling to attend a function that requires you wear precious gems, consider a special insurance rider, and put them in the hotel’s safe when not being worn.

When you travel by car, whether at home or abroad, it’s best to keep anything of value in your trunk or boot. If the car doesn’t have one, place items on the back seat or floor and toss some extra jackets casually on top. Don’t tuck a blanket around valuables—it’s a sure give-away. Always lock the automobile. A lock won’t stop a thief but it may slow him down. Also, choose parking areas that are well lit and frequented by pedestrians.

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