Cheap and Effective Security Solutions for Bags You Already Own
Here are a couple of easy, clever, and inexpensive solutions to lock your zippers to theft-proof the bags you love. If you love your purse, bag, luggage or backpack, and it doesn’t have built-in theft proof zippers you can use these items to add a layer of security to them. Use these solutions for keeping your zippers closed every day or temporarily. They will help keep your valuables secure and increase your peace of mind. You should be enjoying the sights, dining, shopping or relaxing and not worrying about thieves and pickpockets in a crowd. Lock your zippers to act as a visual deterrent to a thief scoping out a victim. If your bag looks more difficult to breach because of a lock, even a makeshift zipper lock, a thief just might pass you by and target another victim with an easier to open zipper.
Why Unlocked Zippers are a Problem
This video shows a woman who just got off the London tube and stopped by a store to do a little bit of shopping. While doing so, you will see how a brazen thief steals the victim’s wallet from her suitcase while she is standing just inches away. The CCTV video footage shows the owner of the bag looking at items while the thief unzips the front pocket at the top of her large black suitcase, puts her hand inside and steals the victim’s wallet.
Solutions for Locking Zippers Down
The Triple Lock is a versatile lock for luggage. It prevents zippers from traveling to re-seal punctures. Because of its unique design, it can be used for other functions too like locking bags together to make the carrying of them more difficult and thereby more difficult to steal. The triple lock can also lock a bag to an object or to a stationary or fixed item. Simply attach one loop to your bag handle and the other loop to a fixed item such as a chair, bed frame, or drawer handle or even another suitcase. An example of when this feature is useful is while you’re sleeping on a train, or in a hotel or hostel and you want to lock your bag and have it stay put while you are unable to watch it. Learn more about the triple lock.
Protect your luggage with zipper locks
Zipper Locks are an effective solution to keep prying hands out of your purse, backpack, or travel bag. To work as intended you need a bag with a double zipper, that is with two zipper pulls. This is because this clever little gadget holds the two zip pullers together so they can’t be separated to access the bag. To use you simply depress the silver portion of the clip to attach and detach the locks to the zipper pulls. While it is easy for you to unhook the zipper locks if you want to get into your bag, there’s a good chance you’d notice a stranger trying to remove the locks. These are reusable and an affordable security solution. Learn more about zipper locks.
Zip Ties for Luggage or Bags Known as Secure a Bag Cable Ties these are disposable, one time use zip ties. They come with nail clippers which you use to cut the ties (you can now travel with nail clippers in your carry on bag. The advantage of this security device is you can instantly see if the zip tie has been cut off. Use zip ties only if you’re not planning on accessing your bag frequently because each tie is a one time use item. Also, consider if you do fly with one these on your bag the TSA has a right to cut it off and once it is cut the TSA can’t reapply it. If you’re locking a bag in a hotel, car, or even at home, the convenience of not remembering a combination or keeping track of a small lock key has its advantages. Learn more about zip ties.
These are regular luggage locks. However, they work well with backpacks or any bag that has two zipper pulls you lock together. The benefit of this lock is that you don’t need a key and it’s a strong visual deterrent for a would-be thief. Make sure your zipper pulls have a hole or eye that you thread the flexible cable through. Learn more about cable locks
Lock Your Zippers
You may not always want to lock down your zipper pulls but in some situations doing so will give you peace of mind. We suggest using a couple of these zipper security solutions to help you keep your gear secure and out of the hands of thieves.
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You’ve paid the extra fee to check your bag, losing it would add injury to insult. Do what frequent flyers do to prevent lost luggage and help ensure your checked luggage arrives at your destination with you.
10 Tips to Prevent Lost Luggage
Every year two million bags are lost, damaged, delayed, or pilfered, according to “mishandled baggage” reports made by the largest U.S. airlines to the Department of Transportation. The good news is that airlines are doing better in getting your bags to arrive with you by using new technology like RFID readers. Here’s what you can you to help prevent lost luggage.
1. Arrive Early If you check a bag within 30 minutes of your departure time, it may not actually make it onto your plane. Follow the guidelines of the airline regarding the timing for checking luggage. Typically that means one hour ahead of time for domestic flights. International flights may require more time.
2. Keep the Receipt the Ticketing Agent gives You for Your Luggage. This is your Luggage ID number. Do not lose it or throw it out until you have your bag and checked the contents, only then should you discard it.
3. Use More Than One Luggage Tag Per Bag The key is to ID your bag in multiple places—outside as well as inside. Luggage tags get torn off during the handling process so having more than one on each bag you check will help prevent a lost bag. Use the paper tags provided by the airline carrier in addition to your own. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number you can be reached while traveling. One frequent flyer puts his destination address and dates he’ll be there in case the bag needs to be delivered to him. Bag tags with wire attachment loops can withstand a great amount of stress.
4. Let Your Personality Shine Whether you buy a colorful handle wrap or just add a few stripes of bright duct tape, make sure your bag is different from the other bags. It signals you’re a savvy traveler who cares about your bag. Another option is to purchase a bag that’s not black (like the overwhelming majority), making it easier to spot in a roomful of luggage.
5. Remove all Old Stickers Remove all old barcodes, tags, or destination stickers from previous trips. Leaving them on doesn’t mean your luggage won’t go where you’re going, but why make it more difficult for baggage handlers,
6. Place Your Itinerary Inside Your Luggage Pack a copy of your itinerary inside your bag so that airline workers will know where to route your bag in case they find it and cannot get in touch with you. Tape it to the inside of your bag or place it in an envelope marked itinerary.
7. Take Photos of Your Bags and Gear Photograph or video the contents of your bag as you pack. Just lay everything out on the bed and take a few photos with your camera or phone. Not only will that help to identify your bag if it goes missing, but it will also help with claims forms if your suitcase is never found. Take photos of the bag exterior too.
8. Remove Extras Before checking your bag, take off any removable straps; this will decrease the likelihood of it getting snagged along the way of the baggage conveyor system. Make sure retractable handles are also depressed all the way. Make sure zipper pulls are locked down with luggage lock.
9. Watch Your Bag Get Placed on the Conveyor Belt Finally, don’t check your bag with the curbside baggage checker; go inside to the main counter to decrease the chances of a mix-up, plus you can see it go onto the conveyor belt. Now, most airlines have check-in kiosks inside where you tag and drop off your luggage with an airline employee.
10. Go to Baggage Claim Quickly There’s always the possibility that your bag could be stolen off the baggage carousel. One baggage thief stole smaller bags and quickly placed them inside a larger empty one to walk out with. Another took multiple bags and placed them on a bag cart to help hide while he pushed them out. This is another reason you want your bag to look different from all the other black bags on the carousel and be there to claim it the moment it comes off the belt.
11. Travel Non-stop or With Longer Layovers If you can manage it financially flying nonstop to your destination is the best option. If you choose a flight with a layover, consider one that has an adequate layover time for both you and your luggage to make the next flight. For US domestic consider 60 to 90 minutes and at least two hours for an international one.
12. Use a GPS Tracker Consider placing an apple air tag or android tile in your luggage as a secondary tracking system to the barcode system the airline uses. Be sure to do some research and understands how the trackers work using phone networks and bluetooth. It’s newer technology and it’s improving all the time.
If your luggage is lost, delayed, damaged, or stolen while in an airline’s possession
Immediately File a Claim If your bag is lost, stolen,, or damaged, be sure to file a complaint immediately with the airline’s baggage department. This must be done before you leave the airport. If you still can’t get satisfaction, or feel the need to report the airline, contact the Department of Transportation’s Aviation Consumer Protection Division.
Ask for Any Bag Fees Back According to DOT rules, airlines must refund any bag fees paid if your bags are permanently lost. Even if they are recovered and delivered to you late it can’t hurt to ask for reimbursement as compensation for the inconvenience of not having your bag.
Check Your Travel Insurance If you’re traveling internationally travel insurance can be very affordable if you compare it to the total cost of the trip. Understanding the differences between trip insurance and travel insurance is important. Seasoned travelers typically buy travel insurance and use a travel rewards credit card which can offer coverage of lost luggage as one of their perks.
Final Thoughts on Preventing Lost Luggage
Always pack medication and essential toiletries or electronics in your carry-on. If you’re traveling with a companion, place half of your clothes in their bag and visa-versa. That way if one bag is lost or delayed, you will still have some clothes to wear from the other bag. On a personal note, we recently did this and both of us had clothing while it took the airline 3 days to get us the missing bag.
Finally, if you’re wondering where lost bags go after they die, here’s your answer: UnclaimedBaggage.com!
Don’t pack valuables or breakables in checked luggage
The airlines really do an efficient job handling luggage and have handling protocols and training in place. However, sometimes, employees may handle luggage badly despite the airline’s best efforts. Newer styles of hard sided luggage can be more protective and resistant to mishandling and the baggage transport system than the soft-sided styles. If you’re still using soft-sided luggage with exposed zippers and pockets, which can get caught in the baggage system, look at upgrading to a bag with a non-fabric exterior that has no exposed pockets or zippers as a first-line defense against rough baggage handling, pilfering, and the baggage transport system and of course protecting your contents. Most importantly, no matter the style of luggage you use, pack it as if you’ll never see it. Avoid putting valuables or breakables in your checked bag rather than opting to place them in your carry-on bag instead.
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Many travelers think they know how to spot a pickpocket, but good pickpockets aren’t easy to spot. Do you think pickpockets look like the stereotype of “shady characters” who look like a crook? While that is true for a small portion of the time, most often professional pickpockets go to great strides to blend into the crowd and area so their victims are not aware of them.
Chopstick pickpocket goes unnoticed. He places what he steals into his bag, out of view
How to spot a pickpocket
To prove this point, the police in Sterling Heights, Michigan have alerted the public that they should not assume that the sweet old lady in a hat they see standing next to them in the mall is so sweet after all. She just may be part of an organized crime gang!
Police in an upscale Detroit suburb say an all-female criminal ring, made up of middle-aged and elderly women, is running a sophisticated con in which they allegedly pick the pockets of unsuspecting shoppers and use the stolen credit cards elsewhere. The group which police nicknamed the “Mad Hatters,” is a pickpocket ring is made up of at least six women who frequently wear hats to disguise their identities and have allegedly swiped more than $500,000 in the past year and a half, authorities say. One bank alone estimated it had lost at least $200,000 at the hands of the hatters. Travelers should be very aware that pickpockets come in all shapes, ages, colors, and ages.
Here are a few tips to help spot a pickpocket before they strike
Watch out for people that make a scene
People who make a scene within a crowd are often regular people. They may be a bit disturbed, frustrated, or clumsy like dropping their groceries but they typically have no agenda. However, some of them are just aiming to create confusion among a group of unsuspecting onlookers particularly if they are trying to engage others in their drama, and their accomplices are just there waiting on the sidelines for you to be distracted by the commotion so that they can then pick your pocket. Some pickpocket teams have children cause a scene or approach tourists asking for money.
Be aware of those that try to get close to you
Getting close to people is unavoidable, especially in crowded areas. This can be even natural in a culture with less personal space or in locations popular with tourists. However, if you find someone crowding your personal space incessantly and you feel uncomfortable, then he or she may be a pickpocket, and it would be wise to go to an area less crowded and with more open space if possible move towards someone who is a person of authority like a police officer or security guard.
Keep an eye out for people trying to make a conversation
In this setup, someone may stop you while walking on a crowded street, in the subway, or in other tourist locations with people around to ask you something. They may ask about road directions, show you a map, or ask if you have seen a certain person. There is a strong chance that they are part of a pickpocket team trying to divert your attention so that their partners can take advantage of your momentary diverted focus. The advice in this scenario is not to stop and look at a map and just keep going. Being rude beats losing your wallet.
Be cautious of anyone trying to blend in
The main weapon of a pickpocket is his or her ability to blend in with a crowd. Still, you can probably observe people who are trying too hard to join the crowd for the purpose of stealing from them. Be wary of everyone when in a crowded area, and don’t trust anyone simply because they are a child, old, infirm, or even pregnant. Hold your backpack or purse in front of you or crossbody style.
For peace of mind carry your valuables in a neck wallet you tuck under your shirt or a money belt you wear around your waist under your shirt. Today’s options of money belts and body pouches are slim, smooth, and soft. See some of the latest styles here.
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Tourists love to visit the Eiffel tower at night and hence there are pickpockets at the Eiffel Tower at night too.
Many tourists visit the surrounding area of the Eiffel Tower at night to see it lit up with strobe lights and enjoy the tower’s nighttime ambiance. The benefit of visiting the tower late in the evening is that there are smaller crowds and shorter lines which make the ascent more pleasant. What attracts tourists is that the entire Eiffel tower is cloaked in the warm glow of 336 light projectors and 20,000 sparkling strobe lights – see the below video. From the tower’s observation decks, you can enjoy cool evening breezes as you view floodlit bridges, churches, and other landmarks in the glittering Parisian lightscape. Visiting the Eiffel Tower at night is a beautiful way to appreciate Paris which is known as the city of lights.
Planning Your Nighttime Visit at the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower is open until 11:45 p.m or 12:45 a.m., depending on the time of year. Entrance fees vary, depending on whether you’re climbing the steps or taking the elevator. However, make sure to check with their website, as this time and availability changes due to special events, holidays, as well as recent issues with political and terrorism concerns.
Pickpocket activity on the way to the Eiffel Tower
For years, pickpockets, both professional and opportunists, have known that a great spot to target the pockets and handbags of tourists is the subway metro lines 1 and 4, but more importantly, the main stretch of pavement from the Champ-de-Mars-BirHakeim metro and RER station to the Eiffel Tower. This area is where most of the tourists will get on and off the metro to walk to the tower. These specific locations were brought to the public’s attention when an undercover police story broke about the arrest of numerous young girls who were all pickpockets working in these locations. In December, Paris police arrested 19 people believed to be the ringleaders in a major pickpocketing operation on the Paris public transport network. These thieves targeted the metros and stops favored by tourists – as well as the walkway to the Eiffel Tower.
Authorities say the gang is responsible for about two-thirds of thefts on the metro and has netted at least €1.3m. The Paris police judiciaire has been working with Spanish and Italian authorities for the past three years to track down the leaders, who recruited 100 young girls from eastern Europe. Investigators believe the girls were threatened with violence if they failed to reach their daily targets, typically between €300 and €1,000 ($300-$1,060). This is a sad story, but one that all travelers need to be aware of. Many people make a living as pickpockets – both young and old, and in order for them to do so, someone – especially unknowing tourists will end up falling victim to these individuals. Let’s hope that reading these pages on how to identify pickpockets will give you enough insight so your trip to Paris will only be great memories of famous locations, great food, and interesting sights – not the lobby of a Paris police station making a report for having your wallet stolen.
Pickpocket Activity at the Eiffel Tower
Pickpocket Sign at the Eiffel Tower
Many tourists who visit the Eiffel Tower at nightfall victim to pickpockets. The strobes come on for about 10 minutes every hour to illuminate the Tower and that attracts the tourists, and the tourists attract the thieves. The pickpockets use a variety of distractions to target tourists such as asking for directions, asking the time, where the subway is in the area, as well as other common pickpocket distractions.
Visitors should also be aware that the Eiffel Tower operating company knows about the pickpocket problem too – and even documents that they are not responsible for theft due to pickpocket activity when visiting the tower. “The company may not be held liable for theft (from pickpockets), loss or damage of any kind, during a visit” is a quote from their website. While this is normal for any business which is open to the public, having a quote that specifically makes reference to “pickpockets” is not. This in itself should alert you to take additional precautions.
Pickpockets operate at a variety of locations at the Eiffel Tower. One of the most obvious indicators will be one of the numerous “beware of pickpocket” signs you will see at the base of the tower, right before you enter the Eiffel Tower elevators, within some of the elevators, as well as around the various observation decks.
Another area pickpockets find their marks is the line for the women’s rooms at the base of the Eiffel Tower. Sometimes the line is very long, and once you get farther down into the bathroom area, the size of the corridors becomes narrow. Many tourists have reported thefts at this location, as well as while using the restroom at this location. This photo shows the pickpocket warning on the way down to the toilets.
Eiffel Tower Stairs and Pickpockets
If you elect not to wait for the Eiffel Tower elevator to take you back down due to the long, crowded lines, many tourists elect to walk down the stairs. Generally, walking down the Eiffel Tower’s stairs is not a great idea. While it may seem like a good idea initially, many pickpockets like to work the stairwell knowing that it is an easy location to target unsuspecting tourists. The stairwell is packed with tourists, going both ways. It is not very wide, so you are forced to bump into people during your journey. Many tourists have reported that they fell victim to pickpockets walking down the Eiffel Tower when they were targeted by pickpockets using the following pickpocket scam.
As you make your descent down the Eiffel Tower stairwell, about a 1/4 of the way down, the pedestrian crowd starts to back-up. You are forced to walk slower and begin to enter a packed crowd walking close together. A small group of people in front of you begin to walk very slow. It can be men or women, but many times it seems that the group is young women. The women stop short, causing you to bump into them. One of the girls begins to yell at you, while other women pickpockets are behind you and naturally bump into you. Everyone is trying to pass you, but you are held up by this unruly group of girls.
As many people try to pass you, items are removed from your pockets, purse of daypack. The same type of thieves do the same going up the Eiffel Tower. Think about this for a second, other than someone who wants one heck of a good workout, who walks up the Eiffel Tower, except someone up to no good.
Gold Ring Scam
Always be on the lookout for the Gold Ring Scam at the Eiffel Tower, or anywhere in Europe for that matter – but it does seem to hit the most in Paris.
Honesty and Lost Rings in Paris
The scam works like this. You are walking in Paris when a man, woman, or child crosses your path and suddenly stops and bends over, picking up a shiny object on the sidewalk. Many tourists think that the person is picking up a bottle cap or some other junk. That’s when the scam begins. Here is a sample conversation that has been repeated to thousands of tourists every year:
“Excusez-moi, Monsieur. Vousavezlaissévotrebagueici.” He showed me a large gold wedding band.
“What? No, it is not my ring, Monsieur.”
“Mais oui, c’est à vous.”
“Mais non. I have no ring.”
“Mais oui, it is your ring. Well, if it is not then give it to your woman. It will make her happy. It is a woman’s ring.”
He hands me the ring. Indeed it is heavy. Apparently gold. “Um, no. It is not mine.”
“I cannot wear it. I am a man,” he said. “Give it to your woman.” He turned and walked away.
“Well, OK. Merci, Monsieur.” I turned and walked away.
He turns again. “Ah, Monsieur. S’ilvousplait. I am hungry. I don’t have enough money for a baguette.”
“Um. OK. Take some change.” Hmm. He is honest but only needs money for a baguette. I gave him a few coins from the change still in my hand.
“No, that is not enough. Just a little more. I gave you the ring.”
“Well, OK, here is two euros but nothing more.” And I walk away.
You just fell victim to the “gold ring scam.”
Video of the Gold Ring Scam in Paris
The below video was shot by a family visiting Paris. Wait for a few seconds and you will see a young man stop in front of the boy, bend over, and pick up the “gold ring” and try the scam. This family was smart and moved on. But at least you have an idea of how innocent this scam looks when it happens.
Other Paris Tourist Scam
Dancing doll scam. You will find this scam on the streets of Paris. It looks like these dolls magically dance, but don’t be fooled and keep a hand on your wallet or bag.
“I am from Bosnia – Do you speak English scam”
This is a classic setup scam used around the world. Gangs of women roam around beneath the tower. They usually wear bright clothing, long skirts, maybe even a flower in their hair. Their approach is usually to ask if you speak English. If you acknowledge them, they hand you a white card. On it is written how they have escaped from Bosnia (or another country) with their brother, they are homeless and need help, and can you spare any change? So what do you do? Appear hard-hearted and tell them you don’t have anything? Or give them something? Meanwhile, while you are distracted by reading their card, any unprotected belongings are rifled by an accomplice. Given there are large numbers of these women, all carrying white cards, there must be a lot of homeless Bosnian siblings in Paris. Best to wave them away as soon as they approach you and they quickly go off seeking another victim. We were approached at least twice on each visit to the tower.
“Crippled old lady” scam
You may come across an old woman, painfully bent over and using a child’s crutch with a begging bowl out. Watch for long enough, and you will see her make a miraculous recovery, put the crutch under her arm, and stroll casually away with her “earnings”. Best to ignore her and keep walking.
“Praying to my cup” scam
This one was actually more common on the Champs Elysee but if frequently found at the tower base. A woman with a headscarf will be kneeling in silent prayer before a cup on the ground. Watch long enough, and you will see her get up, walk with her cup to a nearby accomplice, casually tip her “earnings” into his bag, then go to another spot to take up her position of prayer once again. Best to ignore her and keep walking.
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The amount of travelers is up and so are the wait times to get through the TSA security lines at the airport. If you don’t leave enough time to get through security checkpoints you stand a good chance of missing flights and in some cases sleeping overnight in the airport.
Get through TSA security faster
Recent news headlines are full of record numbers of passengers in the U.S., coupled with a reduction of TSA screening personnel has led to passengers standing in hours-long lines at a growing number of U.S. airports. The TSA says it’s taking measures to solve the problem, but has nonetheless warned a difficult summer may lie ahead before a significant improvement in wait times is seen.
Speed through TSA with these 10 tips:
1. Sign up for TSA Precheck or Global Entry. These services allow you to go through security much faster by using a line exclusively for TSA prechecked travelers. The cost is $85 for five years. Many credit cards with travel benefits cover the cost. Using TSA precheck means you hardly wait to go through security and you do not have to remove shoes, belts, or take laptops out of your bag. Joining TSA PreCheck is the single most effective action you can take to reduce the time you spend going through security. If you travel internationally sign up for Global Entry it includes TSA PreCheck and is also good for five-years.
2. Wear the right shoes: Skip shoes with buckles and laces, slip-ons are the fastest.
2. Don’t forget your socks to avoid having your feet touch the dirty airport floor. If you wish to avoid removing your shoes, join TSA’s Pre Check Program.
4. Pick the right line: Pick the TSA checkpoint farthest to the left. Research shows that the majority of people are right-handed and, therefore, head right. Do the opposite and go left. You’ll be breezing through security faster than most of your fellow travelers.
5. Don’t forget the 3-1-1 rule. You are allowed to bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, aerosols, gels, creams, and pastes through the checkpoint. These are limited to 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item. This is also known as the 3-1-1 liquids rule.
6. Remove jewelry and belt that might set off a metal detector and put it in your carry-on bag before you get to the bag conveyor belt. You can put them on again after going through screening.
7. Travel light. Don’t be that person who needs 17 bins for their belongings. Laptop in 1 bin. Keys, boarding pass, and wallet can be stuffed into your carry-on Shoes go into one bin so that they don’t get stuck on the rollers of the conveyor belt.
8. Empty pockets. Keep your pockets empty so they don’t set off the metal detector.
9. Gifts Gifts must be unwrapped, the TSA has the right to ask you to unwrap anything in your carry-on.
10. Keep your ID and boarding pass ( either paper or digital on your phone) and your hands free by using an antitheft neck pouch to hold your documents and/or phone.
Wear the pouch over your clothing in the airport and under your clothing when sightseeing at your destination.
Getting through the TSA faster helps you stay calm and not hurried in the airport. Lastly, the security bins are dirty. Don’t forget to wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after going through the TSA security checkpoint.
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You Won’t Find Me!
Where do you hide valuables at home? Have you ever given it thought about where is the best, and worst, places to hide small valuables at home? Not everything fits in a safe, and what if you don’t have one. All things considered, a safety deposit box in a bank vault is still the best place to keep jewelry and other valuables, but there are some places around your home that make terrific hiding places for important smaller items and cash.
Worst Locations at Home to Hide Small Valuables
There are some places where experienced thieves are sure to look, such as inside top drawers, underneath any drawer, and behind wall art in the den or bedroom. We suggest you take care to avoid these obvious, or rather popular, caches.
It’s a good idea to wrap items in plastic before stashing them. Most of our suggestions are for small objects that can be held in your hand or cash. Take time to look around your place for spaces where you can hide things unobtrusively. You want places that are easily overlooked and will not be disturbed accidentally by a house guest, cleaning person or anyone else who may enter your home like a pet sitter.
The following suggestions are less obvious places than the ones mentioned above, but remember that a determined thief with enough time will probably find what you have in your home. What you’re doing here is buying time, hoping that any burglar will be disturbed before getting to your good stuff.
Hide it Easily – Quick Hacks to Hide Valuables at Home
Look for easily accessible places, which are also easily overlooked by the casual observer. Some good examples of these places are:
Bulk dry goods such as jars of rice and flour can hide small valuables and be kept out of the way on the back shelf.
Aspirin or brown pill bottles inside the medicine cabinet can be a good bet.
Packages of frozen vegetables can be thawed, and refrozen with items inside them.
Tennis balls with a small slit in them will return to their original shape. Squeeze the ball to open and stuff, then place back in the container.
Vacuum cleaner bags (clean ones) can hide an envelope of cash inside them.
Stuffed animals can be cut open (gently, and not around young children) and used as unlikely containers. Cut along a seam, stuff and re-sew Teddy before returning him to his friends.
Ceiling light fixtures can be unscrewed, and small valuables may be placed within the electrical box underneath.
Composite “rocks” that are hollow are common for hiding keys and can be placed outside in the garden or a planter with other rocks.
Fake rock designed hide small valuables
A portable safe that you tether down with a steel cable and lock is ideal for slightly larger items. It’s virtually cut-proof and you can tether it to a bed frame, plumbing under the sink or a similar difficult item to breach.
Linen closets – inside folded towels
Place an envelope with cash between your bakeware
Inside your shower curtain rod
Inside a flashlight
Inside your Christmas decorations box
Inside plastic Easter eggs
Inside a DVD case
Inside a decorative pillow
Inside a pocket of a hiking backpack at the back of the closet
Inside your high school yearbook
Inside a board game
Inside a travel mug
Consider a low-cost diversion safe. Get a couple and one for a friend; they’re clever and make great gifts too.
These places require a bit more preparation to become effectively hidden containers.
Book safe: glue most of the pages of an old, uninteresting hardcover book together. Use a coping saw to cut a hollow area out of the middle. Drill starter holes for the saw. Then glue the box made with the pages to the back cover and let dry thoroughly. Stash on your bookshelf among other books or buy a “book safe” and place it among other books.
Steps and flooring have natural hollow spaces underneath. Carpentry skills are required to effectively create a seamless surface that escapes detection.
Hollow-core doors can have sections cut out of the hinge edge to give access to space within the door. Use the cutout piece as a plug.
The tops of poster beds unscrew. Hollow spaces can be drilled out in the posts themselves. Commercial wall and floor safes should be installed by a professional, and are effective at drastically slowing down the unprepared casual thief from accessing your valuables.
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Proven Advice from Experienced Travelers
How to hide money on your body. Today’s money belts are not your father’s money belt. A money belt can be your most important accessory when you’re traveling, especially when visiting busy and popular tourist attractions. It is in these locations where pickpockets and thieves are most likely to target their marks. A money belt depending on its size and design is used to hide money, cash, passports, and other valuables that you don’t want to lose. A money belt is a personal item and is not a “one size fits all” by any means. The new models of hidden money belts have anti-theft technology plus various designs and sizes, so you’re sure to find one just right for you. Hide money on your body, or other valuables such as your passport to and enjoy the sites knowing you’re foiling thieves and scam artists.
Today you have a choice of traditional belts with a zipper to hold just bills, wallets you wear on your leg and hide under pants, and even more styles which you wear around your neck or waist and tucked under clothing. These styles are made of breathable material, are lightweight, and have built-in anti-theft features. Don’t want to wear a hidden money pouch or belt? There are a number of other ways you can hide money on your person, read on.
Most common places to hide money on your person
In socks and shoes – Slide a few folded bills into your socks if they go beyond your ankle. If your socks are low profile you should place your money in the foot bed of the sock so that you are actually stepping on it. The most secure and convenient method for hiding small valuables like cash or a credit card is in a sock that has a zipper for you to close to secure your valuables.
Around your ankle or lower leg – If you’re wearing long pants, a leg wallet is a great solution. Some leg wallets slide on like a sock, while others have elastic or bands with velcro to secure the wallet to your leg. Almost all are designed to fit on your lower calve or just above your ankle. So to keep the leg wallet hidden from view you should be wearing long pants. Even if it is visible a pickpocket or thief couldn’t reach it and steal the contents without you noticing it. The law of least resistance says the thief will move on to another target.
In your underwear –An alternative solution is to put a bit of cash into a small plastic bag and slide it down the front of your underwear –as long as your underwear fits snug. One thing to consider is that the plastic of the baggy against your skin will most likely generate perspiration and become uncomfortable. Some travel underwearnow includes a sewn-in hidden pocket.
In a hidden pocket in pants – You will have to be a little creative with where you put the pocket and handy with a needle and thread. A small pocket can easily be sewn into the bottom of the inside of a pants leg and can go completely unnoticed. This would be ideal for cash or a credit card. Two other good locations for attaching a hidden pocket are next to the zipper or near the waistband. Both are highly likely to go unnoticed. This kind of pocket can be secured at the top with a little Velcro (one strip on the inside of the pants leg and one on the piece of pocket material) a safety pin, or snaps. If you’re looking to safeguard your passport, then a hidden moneybelt may be your go-to travel accessory.
Even without hidden pockets and anti-theft wallets, the following are tips to help to limit the loss of valuables in case of robbery
Carry only what you need – If it’s safer to stash things at your hostel or hotel than on you then do that. Use your judgment, sometimes it will be safer other times it won’t. If not a portable travel safe that you can lock down in your lodging accommodation may be just what you need to guard valuables.
Divided up your valuables – If you do have to carry valuables on you while traveling then divide them up and store them in at least two places. It hedges your bet that if someone finds or gets some cash from one location on your body they may think they’ve got it all and move on.
Diversion wallet – Keep some of your more valuable possessions in an obscure pocket or hidden wallet like one of those mentioned above and have a ‘fake wallet’ with a few dollars in it to give to the crooks should you be approached. You could even go as far as throwing it onto the floor in one direction and running in the opposite one.
Use pockets that you can secure the opening closed – You’re more likely to lose valuables to stealthy opportunists such as pickpockets than you are to a robber, or hold up, – so don’t make it easy for the pickpockets. If you have pockets with zippers, buttons or Velcro, get into the habit of using those instead of open pockets – and get into the habit of re-securing them afterward. The more difficult the pockets are to open the more secure they will be! Better yet, use wallets designed to thwart thieves that attach to your clothing with a chain or travel money belts specifically designed to hold a phone and passport.
Final thought on hiding money on your person
The objective is to enjoy your trip with peace of mind and not overly focus on your valuables. Before you depart on your next adventure, do some research and see all the new styles of anti-theft wallets and bags. Don’t forget protective gear for your devices to help you get that peace of mind and the most out of y our trip.
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How to Pickpocket Proof Your Purse or Shoulder Bag
Try to pickpocket proof your purse or shoulder bag if you don’t want to purchase a pickpocket-proof purse or shoulder bag. You may want to modify your own purse or handbag to make it pickpocket-proof if you absolutely love the style and/or don’t want to spend money on a new travel bag. While it may not look as sleek as those anti-theft purses and shoulder bagsthat were designed specifically to stop pickpockets, this simple modification should do the trick.
The two items shown here may be found at your local hardware store. It’s a DIY hack that may take some thinking on how to best lock your entire bag zipper or just a pocket inside your bag as not all bags have the same design or features to work with.
Locking Your Zipper Pull to Your Bag Helps Keep Thieves Out
Ideally, your purse should always be in your hand, over your arm, over your shoulder, or across your body at all times. Across your body with your bag resting in front of you and not on your rear hip is the safest way to carry it. But even carried in this manner your bag could be targeted by a pickpocket who can slip a hand into your purse and remove your wallet without you noticing it. Try this hack using a swivel clip and split ring you can buy at a home improvement store to keep their hands out. This hack works for purses with zipper pulls and in particular, zipper pulls that have a hole in them.
Follow these steps.
Buy Split Ring and Swivel Clip – You may need one or two split rings depending on the design of your bag and zipper pull. Split rings are like those in key rings, and one swivel snap bolt or swivel clip is all you need.
Feed swivel end of a snap bolt into a split ring. Inside your purse, choose a compartment that closes with a zipper where you will keep your wallet and other valuables. Feed the slip ring through the hole in the zipper tab. Note the zipper pull must have a hole in it for this hack to work.
Strap Attachment Ring When the zipper is closed, snap the bolt onto the ring that attaches the strap to your purse. If too short to reach, feed the second split ring onto the ring that attaches the strap, and snap the bolt onto that. If the strap does not attach with a ring but is sewn to the purse, buy a large size split ring and feed the entire strap into the ring. Either snap the bolt onto this large ring or feed another small split ring onto the larger ring and snap the bolt onto that.
Travel Bags with Built-in Anti Theft Features
We think the best anti-theft travel bags are shoulder bags you wear crossbody style in front of you. Features to look for in this type of bag are an adjustable strap for comfort and a way to lock the main compartment to keep out thieving hands.
Secondary features are RFID blocking pockets, slash-proof material, and a strap that you can detach from the bag one end so that you can loop the strap to a stationary item like a chair back and then back onto the bag so it becomes snatch proof.
ther functions too like locking bags together to make the carrying of them more difficult and thereby more difficult to steal. The triple lock can also lock a bag to an object or to a stationary or fixed item. Simply attach one loop to your bag handle and the other loop to a fixed item such as a chair, bed frame, or drawer handle or even another suitcase. An example of when this feature is useful is while you’re sleeping on a train, or in a hotel or hostel and you want to lock your bag and have it stay put while you are unable to watch it. Learn more about the triple lock.
