to lock or not to lock?

[kahliasmom]

Here's the video for that: http://goo.gl/4r2rt

 

 

Wow, I didn't know that a video existed about that but I shouldn't be surprised. I went to youtube and located another video of the same technique with some scary commentary at the end.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI&NR=1

[morganboys]

we lock before we leave the hotel on cruise day. If rccl wants it open they will call me to the naughty room.

[Tim,n,Sue]

I use colored plastic ties. The Dollar Tree has a assortment package. I also keep a tiny pair of nail clippers in the front zippered pouch to open the suitcase later.

 

This exactly what we do except I use 2 zip ties of different colours on each zipper. We buy the 4lb strength zip ties.

 

And we use the nail clippers to cut the ties.

[daisy-mae]

we lock before we leave the hotel on cruise day. If rccl wants it open they will call me to the naughty room.

 

Just wondering if the bags are scanned at the pier, before they are loaded onto the ship. If that is the case, and if there is a security issue, they would likely not want to take it onboard (which is why I was wondering if they would break a lock in order to check).

 

Theft is not the only concern when bags are left unattended. There is also the issue of someone sneaking contraband into unlocked luggage. Unless you were to open your suitcase in the presence of a witness, how could you prove that the drugs weren't there when you packed it? The first question we are asked when checking in for a flight is whether or not we packed our own suitcases, so it must be relevant.

[buckanear]

I don't lock them. It's pointless. Zipties, locks etc don't do a thing. The thief can unzip the bag with only a slight effort and then rezip the bag without touching the lock/zip tie and you have no idea it's been done because the bag looks normal. It's a waste of time and could act as a flag to a thief that there is something of value.

[Cruiser 4 Life 66]

After having many locks (and the zipper ends they were attached to) broken off by (who knows?) I no longer lock my suitcase. Well I do have a red strap thing I put around it with a combination lock on it (it's TSA approved) but its pretty easy to get into the suitcase still if a thief wanted to. I just wanted the red strap thing so I can easily find my suitcase on the luggage carousel. Just don't put anything valuable in your suitcase. If a thief wants to steal my underwear they are welcome to it. They won't find anything more valuable than that in there.

 

To those who say "Well at least I'll know someone was in there!" how can you prove who it was and where it happened? There are no cameras in the behind the scenes baggage handling area. Their union fought against it saying it was an "invasion of privacy". It's not an invasion of privacy for them to go thru our suitcases stealing our stuff????

[MIcruiser99]

Got it! No variables in your checked bags, but I assume constants are OK. I like to bring pi.

 

:D

 

 

That is funny!!:D

[Gonzo70]

 

Theft is not the only concern when bags are left unattended. There is also the issue of someone sneaking contraband into unlocked luggage.

 

Someone can easily put contraband in your locked suitcase.

[jonbgd]

Here's the video for that: http://goo.gl/4r2rt

.

Wow Thanks for posting that i never knew how easy it was.

 

To the OP

I dont lock my luggage but Im not worried about someone stealing skivvies and I keep most of my valuables in my carryon

Now my GF locks everything up..... I guess she is worried someone wants to raid her panty pocket:rolleyes:

[buckanear]

I prefer to use brightly colored zip ties. They're cheap and I can easily tell if someone has been in my luggage.

 

How can you tell they've been in your luggage? They don't have to cut the ties to get into your luggage nor damage the bag in any way.

[dickydonkin]

I don't lock them. It's pointless. Zipties, locks etc don't do a thing. The thief can unzip the bag with only a slight effort and then rezip the bag without touching the lock/zip tie and you have no idea it's been done because the bag looks normal. It's a waste of time and could act as a flag to a thief that there is something of value.

 

 

I use Samsonite hard shells with a combo lock + locking straps to tie around them and I 'seal' the connections with a strong cable tie.

 

(Are these what you mean by Zip Ties in the US??)

 

I will concede that all are easily defeated by a determined thief - but where time is the essence, hopefully there will be enough distractions to make the thief go elsewhere.

 

The downside of my luggage is that yes - it is heavy - and in the days where airlines are mindful of every ounce that is placed on an aircraft, it is a distinct disadvantage.

 

The plusses are however, that they are sturdy and despite having many battle scars due to over zealous baggage handlers and the like, I have never had any items damaged or stolen.

 

Personally, I would avoid checked luggage with zips, however I appreciate that many will not like the type of luggage I use, but from a security point of view, I would imagine they are the better option.

 

How can you tell they've been in your luggage? They don't have to cut the ties to get into your luggage nor damage the bag in any way.

 

As I have described above, the only way that entry could be gained into my suitcase would be to remove the locking strap and defeat the code on the case lock. These straps do not have very good locks, but as I have described above, I secure a cable tie between the two locked ends and a thief would need to cut off the strap completely, or if he did defeat the lock, he would have to cut the cable tie to remove the strap - both actions would obviously alert the owner that the case had been tampered with.

[Paul65]

The downside of my luggage is that yes - it is heavy - and in the days where airlines are mindful of every ounce that is placed on an aircraft, it is a distinct disadvantage.

 

The plusses are however, that they are sturdy and despite having many battle scars due to over zealous baggage handlers and the like, I have never had any items damaged or stolen.

 

My usual luggage is a standard, upright pullman with zippers and no locks. The downside is that it's pretty easy for someone to break into it, if they really want to.

 

The plusses are that they are lightweight and sturdy, and despite having many battle scars, I have never had any items damaged or stolen.

[carkosh]

The only time ( which was years ago on a cruise) I've ever had anything stolen out of a bag was the one time I locked it. The item stolen was an expensive sweater that a friend had bought for his wife & wanted me to take it home for him. The bag itself was ruined as whoever got in sliced it up along with cutting the lock. Fortunately, the bag & contents were insured. Since then I (Hubby also) have never locked a bag & so far nothing has gone missing. My jewelry & other valuables always go into a carry-on. I think you just have to do what makes you feel more comfortable.

 

Carol

[SewCruise]

One of the few times I ever locked my suitcase I used one that required a key, and wouldn't you know I lost the key and had to break into my own luggage. :o

 

I fly domestically pretty frequently and I normally do not lock my suitcase and have always been completely comfortable. Never had anything stolen or lost.

 

I've never cruised before, though, and I'm not sure how I feel about the lock-don't lock debate when traveling internationally and on a ship. Are the risks any different?

[GHarkness]

Got it! No variables in your checked bags, but I assume constants are OK. I like to bring pi.

 

:D

 

I do too, but only if I'm traveling on March 14. :D :D

[cravingthis]

We use zip ties, I bought some neon colored ones and use those. If they have been removed we will know. A lock won't stop a thief, It is a waste of money. Our bags have been opened by TSA a couple of times. They re ziptied them with clear zipties and left a note that bags were inspected. We NEVER put any valuables in our checked luggage. I have insurance on my bags, so if they want the clothes go for it.. just my 2 cents

 

We use those as well as the TSA locks, and agree, we'll know if they've been opened or opened for inspection or not. I didn't know they come in neon colors? We only have the clearish colored ones. Did you get them at a specific store (I'm in Canada)?

 

Thanks!

[land lover]

Have not locked or zip tied in a long time, even on recent air/land vacations to South America............just not worth it any more.

[lovemylab]

How can you tell they've been in your luggage? They don't have to cut the ties to get into your luggage nor damage the bag in any way.

 

The ties I use would need to be cut off.

 

I realize that there will always be people who can get into the bag regardless of what you use. Same thing is true about your car and house. However, when I leave my house I lock the doors. Likewise, when I park my car, I lock the doors. When I travel, I lock my bags.

 

To each their own.

[Gonzo70]

The ties I use would need to be cut off.

 

I realize that there will always be people who can get into the bag regardless of what you use. Same thing is true about your car and house. However, when I leave my house I lock the doors. Likewise, when I park my car, I lock the doors. When I travel, I lock my bags.

 

To each their own.

 

Locking a car door or house door makes it significantly harder to enter your house or car and therefore serves as a deterrent. Locking a suitcase is like locking an envelope you send in the mail - it does not make it significantly harder to open and therefore serves as no deterrent (and may entice a thief as they might view the lock as a red flag that valuables are inside).

[mjldvlks]

I do too, but only if I'm traveling on March 14. :D :D

The meet and mingle would obviously start at 1:59 that day.

[senrab]

The meet and mingle would obviously start at 1:59 that day.

 

And so few people would get the joke...

[mjldvlks]

And so few people would get the joke...

And this will have to be the end of the joke -- at least for me. I cannot remember it past 5 places without looking.

[Paul65]

And this will have to be the end of the joke -- at least for me. I cannot remember it past 5 places without looking.

 

I know the next two digits (26), but not beyond. :)

[Mike24601]

3.1415926535897932384626433832795028841971693993751058209749445923 0781640628620899862803482534211706798214808651328230664709384460 9550582231725359408128481117450284102701938521105559644622948954 9303819644288109756659334461284756482337867831652712019091456485 6692346034861045432664821339360726024914127372458700660631558817 4881520920962829254091715364367892590360011330530548820466521384 1469519415116094330572703657595919530921861173819326117931051185 4807446237996274956735188575272489122793818301194912983367336244 0656643086021394946395224737190702179860943702770539217176293176 7523846748184676694051320005681271452635608277857713427577896091 7363717872146844090122495343014654958537105079227968925892354201 9956112129021960864034418159813629774771309960518707211349999998 3729780499510597317328160963185950244594553469083026425223082533 4468503526193118817101000313783875288658753320838142061717766914 7303598253490428755468731159562863882353787593751957781857780532 171226806613001927876611195909216420198

That's all I can recall.. (yeah right. Used to know the first 20, but obviously cut and pasted this from the net.) :D

[buckanear]

The ties I use would need to be cut off.

 

I realize that there will always be people who can get into the bag regardless of what you use. Same thing is true about your car and house. However, when I leave my house I lock the doors. Likewise, when I park my car, I lock the doors. When I travel, I lock my bags.

 

To each their own.

 

If you are only using a zip tie (or any lock) to hold the two zipper pulls together so it can't be unzipped, then the zip tie does not have to be cut to open the bag. It only takes a simple ball point pen to pry apart a couple zipper teeth and the thief can unzip your bag. When they're done they just run the two zipper pulls up and down the zipper to rezip the bag (zip tie still in place) and that's it. It's adding a second or two of time compared to just opening an unlocked suitcase.