Travel Luggage Anti-Theft Countermeasures
- Thread starter marshallkarp
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Marking your bag in a way you can recognize from the outside is definitely an essential step... Some times things happen and other times people are a little less honest; being able to spot your bag as it "walks off" is ideal.
There's also been a lot of discussion about trying to use bags that don't scream "dive gear", especially when traveling to dive destinations where people may look for it. However, one has to weigh the balances with the risk... if you have a good roller bag you'll be using all week, trying to put everything into a big clothing bag with less protection that will end up salt drenched and ruined isn't a great solution either. Locks on bags are like putting up the roof on your convertible, they only delay people from getting in -- nothing stops them if they want it bad enough.
All of that said, nothing can stop your gear from being taken with short of having it on you (and even then cary on has been lost or stolen before) so having insurance on your gear if you plan to travel is really not optional. Many of us have this through our homeowners or other plans and don't even know it so check your existing policies and if they don't cover it, or you don't like their limits/ restrictions, look at insurance options. A few dollars to save thousands in replacement costs... It's an easy sell to me.
There's also been a lot of discussion about trying to use bags that don't scream "dive gear", especially when traveling to dive destinations where people may look for it. However, one has to weigh the balances with the risk... if you have a good roller bag you'll be using all week, trying to put everything into a big clothing bag with less protection that will end up salt drenched and ruined isn't a great solution either. Locks on bags are like putting up the roof on your convertible, they only delay people from getting in -- nothing stops them if they want it bad enough.
All of that said, nothing can stop your gear from being taken with short of having it on you (and even then cary on has been lost or stolen before) so having insurance on your gear if you plan to travel is really not optional. Many of us have this through our homeowners or other plans and don't even know it so check your existing policies and if they don't cover it, or you don't like their limits/ restrictions, look at insurance options. A few dollars to save thousands in replacement costs... It's an easy sell to me.
What if you put a dead hermit crab in there. N
hermitagehill
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No flame here, I just like to play with words, soooo.. wouldn't "anti-theft countermeasures be redundant? Sort of like I was mistakenly wrong? I like it. H
An "anti-theft countermeasure" might be to write on your suitcase, "Do not steal - Extremely expensive, valuable diving equipment inside!"
I also carry on the expensive stuff - regs, HID light, camera, computer... We mark our bags, but not with ribbon anymore. I read that the number one cause of luggage not arriving with you at your destination is stuff hanging off the suitcase that gets caught in the workings, so (just like my dive gear) I have removed the strokish dangles from my luggage.
Charlie99
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I use the Marshall's (or Ross) strategy also. For my bags that aren't sufficiently hideously garish, I put a 2x2" square of orange duct tape on each of the 6 sides.
An additional benefit is that since I can spot my bags at a distance, I can stand outside of the scrum that forms around the luggage carousel.
Codie
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Well, a common preventitive measure here is to cling-wrap the whole case/bag. It helps to protect the suitcase, and thiefs will usually go for the easier target. It's obviously not fool-proof, but it helps.
Also carry regs, computer, etc as carry-on.
Also carry regs, computer, etc as carry-on.
All lugage in the USA must be accesable for inspection which would preclude wrapping it in cling wrap or duct tape.
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scubaaaronh
Contributor
We did something similar to the O P. We have black suitcases and used a white paint pen (it really stands out) put our last name all over in as large of letters as we could so that it could be seen from any angle. Very easy to find. I dont think someone would try and take it as it stands out so much.
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