Luggage lock broken at airport

coolio_2

DKLS wrote: »

I heard its common practice now to break into any suitcases that are locked, especially when travelling to the states. I have seen approved locks for sale, that Customs can open easily to avoid this, you may be lucky with your Ins Co, but I doubt it

I take about 10 flights a year to and from N America, and never had this happen. Which airports is this now common practice at?

Tojo_Ralph

psychopathbabble wrote: »

I got back from Tanzania a couple of months ago, and when I collected my suitcase it had a tiny sticker with security checked written on it. I certainly wasn't present when they did that.

A "Security Checked" sticker means just that, it has been checked by security, which in most cases will equate to no more than having been scanned by X-Ray machines.

psychopathbabble wrote: »

When I went to USA last, there were signs up stating that you shouldn't lock your bags as it may be broken if they decide to search it.

I don't know who was responsible for the sign, but as far as I am aware the TSA make no recommendation with regard to locked luggage, what they do do however is issue clear guidance to passengers with regard to their needs and the likely fallout should luggage locked with non TSA locks need to be opened!!!

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/locks.shtm

Tojo_Ralph

....
On the subject of having ones luggage lock broken off without anything being stolen or even touched (in particular the dangly zipped case variety), a very large percentage of missing locks are not the work of would be thieves, rather they are simply ripped off by the myriad of conveyor belts that luggage has to traverse.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/customer/claims/damagedlocks.shtm

Tojo_Ralph

sturll wrote: »

If you cant find the distinction then please say and ill not waste my time trying to convince you that when about 90% dont lock their cases those that do draw a natural suspicion (potentially)

You'll have to go some to convince me ..... ..... So I'm going to ask Phatbear.

Oi ..... Phatbear.

Based on your experiences, the issue of luggage destined to the USA aside, when dealing with luggage in general from and to the likes of Europe, South America, Asia, etc, what percentage would you say is secured, be it with padlocks, integral locks, integral combination locks, etc?

nico26

In india all luggage is scanned and strapped before you check in. For USA it was advisable not to lock luggage or use special TSA lock which can be easily purchased and they have a key which to open. In spain I dont lock cases at all they will just break the locks open and just put a tag on it to say it has been opened and checked.
If travelling to USA with normal padlock.leave a spare in a plastic bag on top of your luggage and they can repadlock it with the new lock if they have opened it

consultant31

I'm fairly new to travelling abroad and I always lock my case, but it's more to avoid anything being slipped IN to them rather than anything being taken out.

Each time I've been to the US, I've been asked if I have packed the bag myself and if it's been out of my sight at any time. I can always answer, honestly, yes to the first question and no to the second.

BUT, if it's not locked, once it's checked in it's out of my sight, who's to say that someone won't slip something into it with the aim of retreiving it at the other end?

Maybe I read too many thrillers eh??

sturll

consultant31 wrote: »

Each time I've been to the US, I've been asked if I have packed the bag myself and if it's been out of my sight at any time. I can always answer, honestly, yes to the first question and no to the second.

And when you answer no?

(since presumably keeping an eye on your luggage is just too difficult - please dont say boot of car)

Do you become one of those annoying pax who think the baggage drop was created solely for them?

misgrace

I used to lock my cases, and a couple of times they have been broken, nothing has ever been taken.
I then left my cases unlocked, but like 'consultant 31' I started worrying that someone might slip something in,:eek: so I bought the security locks, which the customs can open any time, so far so good.

consultant31

sturll wrote: »

And when you answer no?

(since presumably keeping an eye on your luggage is just too difficult - please dont say boot of car)

Do you become one of those annoying pax who think the baggage drop was created solely for them?

What???

Read my post more carefully and you will notice that I said, my case is never out of my sight. I always lock them and have never had a problem yet.

Each time I've been to the US, I've been asked if I have packed the bag myself and if it's been out of my sight at any time. I can always answer, honestly, yes to the first question and no to the second.

phatbear

Tojo_Ralph wrote: »

You'll have to go some to convince me ..... ..... So I'm going to ask Phatbear.

Oi ..... Phatbear.

Based on your experiences, the issue of luggage destined to the USA aside, when dealing with luggage in general from and to the likes of Europe, South America, Asia, etc, what percentage would you say is secured, be it with padlocks, integral locks, integral combination locks, etc?

So much for trying to hibernate over the festive season, heres my thoughts on the subject:

On average I would say 80% to 90% of bags are locked, of course the term locked is subjective there is my version of locked and your average punters idea of secure.

In my "experiences" I have found naughty stuff in both locked and unlocked bags so to say all the locked bags have more potential to contain something of interest is kinda true but only due to the quantity of locked bags, if ya see what I mean.

To say you're less likely to get ur bag looked at cos its unlocked is nonsense, after all you wouldnt leave your car/house unlocked hoping someone would think there was nowt worth nicking, your average thief is an opportunist and they will see an unlocked bag/car/house as an easy target.

I can pretty much get in and out of a bag in seconds regardless of lock etc therefore the rule of thumb is if you dont wana lose it dont put it in your checked in baggage, however a side note to this should be that the highest level of thefts at the moments is people walking off with your carry on baggage as it goes thru the xray at security.

all the best

the bear