Tag Archives: protect valuables

Are Your Valuables Safe In Your Carry-On Bag?

With all the other worries associated with air travel, the last thing you want to think about is theft on board airplanes. The people who steal from travelers’ carry-on bags are both airline employees (usually flight attendants) and fellow travelers.

Unfortunately, theft from sleeping and unknowing passengers has been going on for years – while not extremely common, it only gets brought to the public’s attention when an arrest is made, so who really knows how often these events occur?

If you take a look at where these thefts seem to be reported most, the majority seem to occur internationally – with many within Asia. Here are just a few to read about.

CNN reported one of the largest in-flight thefts ever reported. A Turkish businessman reported he had $260,000 (cash and jewelry) stolen from his bag which was above him in the luggage compartment.
South China Morning Post reported several incidents of in-flight thefts.
BBC News reported that members of a crime ring were targeting business passengers of South African Airways (SAA).
NBC TV Los Angeles also reported the increase of in-flights and interviewed a woman who had her purse stolen from a flight attendant on her flight from LAX to Paris. Even the son of actress Sybil Shepard was arrested for stealing a camera and other valuables from fellow passengers.
Many of these thefts have been occurring for years. Back in July 2010, an Air France flight attendant was arrested for stealing cash and other valuables from sleeping business class passengers on long-haul flights between France and Asia. The police were alerted to the possibility of an airline flight attendant stealing from business and first-class passengers in January after five passengers on a flight to Tokyo lost the equivalent of $US 5,150 in foreign currency. Upon her arrest, police say she confessed to 26 separate thefts but believe she committed dozens more. They also found she had a bank safe-deposit box full of stolen jewelry, credit cards, cash, blank checks, and travelers’ checks at her home. The theft of property from travelers while inside the cabin is not a huge problem, however, it does happen.

Minimize your chance of having items stolen in-flight; follow these tips:

1. Hang it up carefully If you are in the habit of hanging your jacket or coat in the closet, take all your valuables — especially your wallet — out of the pockets. That’s the first place a thief will look. Both flight attendants and passengers can access the closet.

2. Mark your bags Carry-on bags often look similar. To help distinguish your luggage from other bags mark your bag with a sticker or ribbon – anything that makes a mix-up less likely. This will prevent the intentional — and unintentional — handling and the opening of your property.

3. Place carry-on bags upside down When you place your carry-on bag in the overhead compartment, turn it upside down, so the bag rests on the outer pocket (which often contains valuables), this makes it nearly impossible to un-zip that pocket. If you use a hard-sided bag this is not a concern.

Tamperproof-Seal- deter thieves and keep zipper pulls “locked” together with a wire ring and tamper evident tape

4. Lock your carry-on bag While it’s an inconvenience, lock your carry-on bag so it cannot be accessed while you are sleeping, or go back to the airplane lavatory. Most carry-on bags can be locked. A hard-sided carry-on is more secure than a soft-sided bag with pockets and zippers that can be reached into. This hard-sided bag is a best seller and is available in many colors.

5. Walk it through If there is a long security line, your anti-theft carry-on bags may clear the X-ray scanner before you make it through the metal detector. Wait until you are ready to walk through the machine before releasing your purse, wallet, or laptop to the conveyor belt. Fact: More items go missing in the security line than from any other place at the airport.

6. Stow it nearby Once you’re on the airplane, keep your carry-on bag nearby. Some back-of-the-plane passengers think it’s smart to stow their bag in an overhead bin up front for an easy grab during de-planing. Additionally, when you get to your seat, place your carry-on in the overhead compartment across from your seat – not over your seat. That way, you can see anyone who might try to get your valuables.

7. Bury your wallet and cash in your carry-on If you put your billfold or any other valuables in your bag, don’t put them in the outermost compartments. That’s pretty much telling a thief, “Help yourself.” Once you board the plane, unless you plan on buying food, drinks, or other in-flight items, you will have no need for your wallet and cash, a few airlines still accept cash payment for food or drink. most airlines are moving a system where you load your credit card to the airline’s app. Other than one credit card to buy items on the plane, bury your wallet and cash deeply in your carry-on bag. You can even put your valuables in a smaller bag inside your carry-on that you can remove and keep with you if needed. If you wanted an even higher level of security for your valuables inside your carry-on luggage, you could place them in a portable travel safe that features a built-in anti-slashing material and locking steel cable. Some travelers have used items like these and then used the built-in anti-theft cable – by routing it through the frame of the bag, which can usually be accessed by unzipping the carry-on bags inside the liner.

A portable travel safe is a great travel accessory. You can use it to secure valuables at your destination and even at home or your office. The Travelsafe 5L Portable Safe is a favorite packable travel safe (lays flat in a bag) of savvy travelers who use it in their hotel rooms when no room safe is available, or it is too small to secure a laptop. Additionally, you can use a travel safe in a rental car by securing it to part of the vehicle frame to secure valuables. This following is also packable and lightweight.

Security Slice Proof Sack, also known as a portable safe secures valuables inside and anchors to a fixed object

8. Watch your seat Be careful when storing your bag under the seat in front of you; don’t face any pockets forward, or the passenger in front of you may walk off with your goods. Also, never leave anything of value on your seat when you leave it to go to the lavatory or to take a stroll.

9. Exercise common sense Carry your purse in front of you and keep your wallet out of your back pocket. I know this sounds obvious, but when people are in an airport they think they are in a safe and enclosed environment. Often common sense gets checked with baggage. Fellow travelers can be opportunistic thieves, don’t tempt them.

10. Speak up Don’t overreact if you catch someone handling your bag (innocent mistakes do happen), but be firm nonetheless. Similarly, if you witness a theft, tell someone immediately — a flight attendant, gate agent, security guard — anyone. I‘m sure you would want their help if you were the victim. If you board late, chances are your surrounding overhead compartments will be full, but the flight attendant will probably find space someplace else, or worst case, they take it from you and place it in the belly of the aircraft at the last minute. Make sure you take what you need out of your bag before you let them take your bag.

The Bag Bungee secures a smaller bag to a larger one so they move as one – and help’s secure your carry-on bag from casual theft.

Four Things to Keep on Your Person on the Plane

There are only four things (maybe three) you need to have on your person on the plane, they are your ID (passport if traveling internationally) a credit card, a cell phone, and essential prescription medications. If someone steals every single thing you brought with you, these are really the only things you cannot replace quickly and easily, and that you will absolutely need to get you out of pretty much any jam upon landing.

Almost everything else you can replace. Without your ID, credit card, and cell phone, you can’t rent a car, check into the airport hotel, buy food, or get on a plane to take you back home. Even calling your family or friends in an emergency becomes difficult. A simple solution to keeping your valuables on your person is to wear a neck wallet. Use the neck wallet to hold valuables and tuck the neck wallet under your shirt or blouse. Even if it is visible, it is a great security accessory.

Anything You Really Care About, Wear It! We advocate that you don’t travel with sentimental or valuable jewelry. If you must travel with valuables, don’t pack them, wear them!

Security Neck Pouch, hold passport, and more. Tuck it under your shirt for additional security

Theft on board airplanes does happen, but not frequently. Follow these tips, be smart, and take precautions for a worry-free flight.

Every “how to” article about keeping your valuables secure in a hotel recommends placing them in the in-room safe. So how safe are hotel room safes? Your hotel safe is a very good place to keep valuables out of view and it is a much better solution than trying to hide them in your room. So how safe are hotel room safes? The answer is no hotel room safe is 100% secure, here’s why.

Hotel Room Safes Have a “Backdoor” to Gain Entry

All hotel room safes have a backdoor or “special way” to access room safes so the staff can get into the safe in case a guest forgets the code, or loses the key to the safe, or electronics fail. Some safes may use a master key or card while others may have a special override code to open the door. Either way, when a safe has a way for someone other than you to get in it, your valuables are never 100% safe.

If a dishonest hotel employee does take something from your hotel safe, it is always going to be hard to prove who exactly stole from the safe during your stay, and hotel management may not always be willing to cooperate, especially in foreign countries. Worst of all, without any evidence, your travel insurance usually won’t cover your loss.

Here is a video of a dishonest hotel employee who gains access to a hotel room safe and removes only a portion of the money inside so as not to raise suspicion. It takes place at a hotel in Spain/Canary Islands.

What You Can Do To Help Stop Theft From Your Hotel Safe

Employees know that many people set very simple access code—like 1234 or 0000. A dishonest hotel employee may be likely to try out these codes making a passkey or override code unnecessary to facilitate the break-in, so the first piece of advice, make your code a random series of numbers like a birthday or house number that only you would know. The next thing you can do is use a theft deterrent device designed just for hotel safes.

Hotel Safe Theft Deterrent Device

One unique way to secure your valuables inside your hotel room safe is with a device called the Milockie Hotel Safe Lock. The Milockie is a special lock and strap device. It allows you to secure the safe with your own padlock, preventing anyone else from gaining access to your safe. The Milockie Lock fits most hotel safes. It is a deterrent and a layer of additional security that only you have the key or combination for removing it. Tip: the lock that is included with the Milockie is not robust, we highly recommend that you use a stronger padlock

The Milockie Hotel Safe Lock helps protect your valuables and provides peace of mind as it is a visual deterrent to hotel personnel or anyone else who enters your room. The bottom line is not to become completely paranoid about your hotel room, but to use your common sense. Don’t leave large amounts of cash or irreplaceable jewelry in your room. Always lock valuables away out of sight in the hotel room safe and use a secondary lock like the Milockie on the hotel safe to stop the safe door from opening.

Milockie Hotel Safe Lock

A Portable Travel Safe is something you take with you to lock up your valuables. Designed to fit flat into your travel bag it is made with a cut-proof material and locks closed with a steel cable. The cable has an important second function as you can wrap the cable around a stationary item like a bed frame, exposed plumbing, or a clothing rod so no one can just carry off the safe with your valuables inside. This is a useful item for the office, a vehicle, or a dorm too.

Pacsafe Travel safe 12L, How safe are hotel room safes

Portable Travel Safe Fits Laptop and tethers to anchor it in place

how safe ar hotel room safe, portable pool safe

Slice proof portable safe attaches to chair

Should You Be a Victim of Theft From Your Hotel Room Safe

Hotel liability is a confusing issue made even more so by the fact that it varies from country to country, from state to state, and from hotel to hotel. Unless you can prove that a property was negligent, you virtually have no recourse, even if the hotel cooperates and entertains the claim, following up on it—especially if the hotel is in another country—can entail an insufferable wait. That said if you feel that you have a legitimate claim and that the property was negligent, be persistent. And always file a police report as evidence of the crime.

Since hotels routinely refuse claims, explore an alternative source of relief: homeowner’s insurance. It usually covers thefts that occur while policyholders are on vacation, although you may have to pay a deductible leaving you out of pocket in the end. The solution is to do whatever you can to mitigate loss by using a secondary hotel safe lock, or by packing a portable safe.

Additional Articles You May Like

e best bet here is to never assume that your hotel door lock is secure. All sorts of people have access to your room, starting with cleaning staff. There are also lots of other ways to defeat hotel door locks including traditional lock-picking and key card magstripe locks. This is why they give you a hotel safe in your closet. Oh wait, people can trick hotel staff into opening the safes or just use a paper clip.

The bottom line is not to become completely paranoid about your hotel room, but to use your common sense. Don’t leave large amounts of cash or irreplaceable jewelry in your room and make sure that you carry copies of your passports with you.

Keep em’ Out!

Most criminals who burglarize homes are looking for an easy hit; a house that they can break into quickly, take something of value, and leave without being detected. There’s no fail-proof way to keep out a burglar, however, you can help prevent home burglaries while on vacation by taking some deterrence measures.

Prevent Home Burglaries When on Vacation

Even if you can’t afford a security system, you can take a few minutes to make your home a little more secure. Some relatively simple steps will greatly decrease the odds of a break-in and help prevent home burglaries while on vacation, which means you can enjoy a bit more peace of mind. And isn’t that what “home” is all about?

A Few Facts About Home Burglaries

Prevent Home Burglaries When on Vacation

Avoiding home burglary while on vacation

Once a burglar targets a home to burglarize, most will spend no more than a minute trying to break in and less than five minutes inside.
Most residential burglaries occur on the first or ground floor.
The point of entry is usually made at the rear or by a side door, the second most common access is via the garage door.
Most burglaries occur during daytime hours when homes are empty, and belong to two-person households.

Target Your Home As a Burglar

How would you get into your home? Evaluate your home from the inside and out, night and day. You might even try a “mock” break-in, trying window jambs and loose locks on your house’s perimeter. Just let the neighbors know what you’re up to before you go lurking in the bushes.
If you failed your test, here are a few thoughts to harden your residence against burglars.

Lights

Even though most burglaries occur during the day, some occur during hours of darkness. Criminals are in search of houses with no one home. To reduce your home’s risk of burglary at night, install a motion sensor light in the front and in the rear of your house wherever possible. To be extra cautious, try to position the lights at the corners of your residence so the motion detectors can catch someone approaching from the side. Make sure the lights are positioned at a height that someone cannot disable them by easily reaching up and unscrewing the bulb. These are solar and require no electrical wiring to install, DIY friendly.

Motion sensor flood lights go on when motion is detected, solar powered

Landscape

Make sure all shrubs and trees are trimmed back so they do not allow a burglar to conceal himself while attempting to open a window or door. If possible, plant bushes with prickly thorns around these locations. They are a cheap deterrent. Also, gravel is a good ground cover under windows because it is noisy underfoot should someone walk on it.

Scope Out Your Yard

Don’t stop your security awareness at the outside walls of your house. Your yard areas also deserve attention. In general, don’t leave anything around the yard that might help a burglar get into your house. Ladders, stackable boxes, or any garden tools should be put away, preferably in a locked cabinet or in the garage. Many burglars have used the property owner’s own tools to break into a home. Don’t place outdoor furniture tables nearby the house. These could become an easy stepladder to the roof. To discourage potential climbers, spread grease on any metal drain pipes if they are close to windows. Use Vaseline or clear automotive grease, depending on the color of the pipe (or replace them with plastic pipe). Yes, criminals do climb up drainpipes. Think about it, most second-story windows are left unsecured and make a house easy to gain entry to.

Hide Your Identity

Do not place your name on your mailbox or front door, especially if you are a woman. If you really have to do this, use your last name only.

Secure the Windows

Though windows are relatively easy to break, the loud noise of shattering glass will deter a thief if you’re near other houses.

Another Create a lock for wooden-frame windows. At the top edge of the bottom frame, drill two holes perpendicular to the sash or at a slight, downward angle. Drill completely through the inside sash and halfway into the outside sash. Insert nails or bolts (don’t hammer or screw these) into the holes. To test this setup to make certain the bolts won’t pop out when wiggled.

Don’t leave windows and doors open during the night whether you’re home or away. That’s a common-sense precaution, but a surprising number of people forget to do just that, especially second-story windows. It’s a good idea to make a “pane patrol” part of your ritual of leaving the house. Use a pick-proof locking device for your windows. Make sure the frames are solid. If you’re beyond the earshot of your neighbors, they won’t hear the glass breaking.

Consider installing a Plexiglas sheet for the more accessible windows. This will make entry through them more difficult. Basement windows are an easy target, since they’re low and usually well hidden. Firmly wedge a steel bar across the window, or install a metal grate over the opening or window.

Secure the Doors

All exterior doors should be a solid core to withstand being kicked in. All should have high-quality deadbolts with at least 1 1/2 inch throws on the bolts themselves. The bolts in the locks should always be solid, not hollow metal.
Ensure the door frame has a metal strike plate, which is secured by a minimum of six, three-inch screws, which are screwed into the solid door frame.
Install a wrap-a-round steel place on the front of the door which covers the deadbolt. This will provide extra protection from a burglar kicking in the door, and reduce his ability to pry the door lock.
If you don’t have a peephole, install one in the front door. If you have one, make sure that you and your family are in the habit of using it. Don’t open the door to anyone you don’t know, especially at night. If the peephole is out of reach of your children, keep a step ladder or stepping box by the door for them to use, or direct them not to open the door.

Front door peep hole, easy to install. Select one with a cover on it.

Signs of the Time

The recording of a barking dog, as sometimes suggested, may only be effective for particularly gullible burglars. Some people have a playback system that’s triggered by the doorbell, but the cause-and-effect (push, bark, push, bark) is a little too easy to discern. A Beware of Dog sign is better than nothing; for an added touch of verisimilitude, get a sign that refers to a specific breed rather than the generic Dog. A “Beware of Rottweiler” sign (or a bumper sticker that says “I Love My Pit Bull”) might do the trick. Also, think about putting up a home alarm sign in the yard even you don’t have an alarm. It may deter a burglar from choosing your home.
Posting a Beware of the Dog Sign can Help Prevent a Home Burglary when on Vacation
Dogs, even the small yip-yip variety, have sharp teeth and a way of noisily announcing stealthy intruders. But a dog is more than an organic alarm–it’s a living creature, and it’ll need a lifetime of love, care, attention, and exercise. If you can genuinely welcome a dog into your life, it will welcome the task of protecting you. But if you’re a cat person heart, then look into electronic security systems.
Get a doorbell with a built-in camera to record activity in front of your door and home. Motion activated cameras mounted on your eaves are good too. Many burglars look for these and pass on homes that have them in place.

Ring Spotlight Cam Wired: Plugged-in HD security camera with built-in spotlights, two-way talk and a siren alarm, to help prevent home burglaries

Motion Detection Security Camera with built-in spotlight

Protect Your Valuables

Don’t leave your valuables (tablet, computer, jewelry, etc.) where they can be seen from a window. If you don’t want to hide everything from sight, consider draperies and blinds. Use a safe. One of our favorites is a Wall Safe that you can install anywhere between the studs.

Wall Safe open, can help prevent home burglaries

Wall Safe for Jewelry

Make a valuables inventory. Keep a record of your expensive and personally significant items-not just a listing, but a photographic or videotape record if possible. Store this inventory at another location. This is helpful for both the police and the insurance agency (if you have a homeowner’s policy), to identify the stolen goods.

Use an engraving pen to mark these items with some kind of personal identifying information, such as your initials, in an inconspicuous place. This also helps record your possessions in case of any other mishap, such as fire or flood. Note: Some experts recommend that owners of property use their driver’s license number, followed by the state of issuance.

Bonus Information – The types of burglars defined

Opportunity Burglars

This type of thief searches for opportunities that are easy, quick, and petty. If you leave your door unlocked or your window open, they will take advantage of your trust or forgetfulness. In law, this would be considered a second-degree crime, or not premeditated. An opportunity burglar will not do very much to decide who they will burglarize; they look for an easy target. They don’t tend to steal very much of value because they don’t know what they’ll find until they are in the act.

Smash Burglars

A smash and grab burglar is more desperate than an Opportunity Burglar. They are often into drugs and are only looking for cash or items that can quickly be exchanged for cash. A Smasher will usually enter a home or business by breaking through a door or window and this goes for cars too.

Prowler Burglars

A Prowler is more of a professional than a Smasher or Opportunity Thief. They will have connections through which they can channel stolen goods, and they will put more scrutiny and planning into a burglary. A Prowler probably began as an Opportunity Thief and chose to become more organized in order to gain more from their robbery. Their technique includes targeting and studying their victim’s habits and schedules, and they are very thorough during a burglary.

Targeted Burglars

A Targeted Burglar has nearly mastered their craft and knows specifically what they are after. After a few years of Prowling, a Burglar will often decide to target specific high-value items. They know what they want, they do rigorous research, and even know how long it will take the Police to respond to an alarm. Targeted Burglars are often part of a Ring. These rings are nationwide, so items stolen in one state are shipped to others to be sold. Targeted Thieves will sometimes have an Insider, sometimes someone connected with an insurance company. This means they know the value of their targeted item and most of the details about the security around that item. A targeted burglar will likely change states frequently, so they can strike in New Jersey, then move to California to find another target.

Complete Burglars

Similar to a Prowler in methods, but professional like a Targeted Burglar, the Complete Burglar will clean a house out entirely. When a house is completely bare after a robbery, a Complete Burglar was involved. Like Targeted Burglars, a Complete Burglar will have Insiders and a Ring. An Insider will tell them that you are going on vacation, and a moving truck will arrive to take every item in your house. Similar to a Targeted Burglar, a complete burglar will likely move around often.

Prevent home burglaries by following a few common-sense tasks around your home’s garden. Then follow up with installing motion detection lights or better yet a motion-activated surveillance camera-like ring to discourage those casing and targeting properties.

Video of Beach Thefts in Rio de Janeiro

The no-cost solution for protecting your gear water-side is to head to the beach with at least another person so someone can always keep watch of valuables while the other is in the water, but this is not always the most fun or practical way to enjoy the water.

100% Waterproof Invisible Travel Waist Pouch

Waterproof Waist Pack Keeps Valuables Dry

Water-Proof Body Pouches
Do you think the best way to protect your valuables while swimming, snorkeling, or jogging along the shoreline is to have them on you? The newest styles of waterproof gear are extremely reliable and rated for water-fastness. No soggy passports or ruined phones! And with so many styles to choose from you’re bound to find one just the right style of waterproof pouch to make your next water adventure worry-free.