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5 Essential Tips Every Traveller Must Know To Keep Their Luggage Safe

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Faruq Senin •  Mar 05, 2018

If you've been following the news last week, you might have heard that a Singapore Airlines passenger who travelled from Bali to Singapore had his luggage tampered with.

Credit: giphy

After arriving at Singapore Changi Airport on 26 February, 34-year-old violinist Katei Chang found out that the lock on his bag had been "ripped off" and "broken into".

Credit: Katei Chang on Facebook

Thankfully for him, nothing was stolen from his luggage but some of his items had been rummaged through. But 3 other passengers from the same flight were not that lucky - they had items stolen from their luggage.

While getting your things stolen might be a tad painful, (especially if it's souvenirs or limited edition gifts!) what's more worrying is that the person who broke into your luggage could have planted drugs or dangerous items in it, and that could land you into trouble!

Credit: @airwheel__official on Instagram

So, while many of you are busy planning your trip for the upcoming holidays, take some time to read these 5 essential tips to prevent your luggage from being tampered with. They might just be your life-saver ?

1. Don't scrimp on good quality locks

When you're finding a lock for your luggage, get one which will protect your bag against multiple types of attacks. Do your research to find out whether a certain lock is suitable for the type of bag you have. As a general rule, get a lock which has a higher pick resistance. The key is to make sure your luggage is too much of a hassle for a thief to even bother! And if need be, secure your bag with more than one lock ?

2. Get a hard-sided luggage

A hard-sided luggage might cost you more but it is definitely better than a fabric luggage. This will prevent your bag from a pen puncture attack. In case you didn't know, that's a common method thieves use to steal items from your bag without you even knowing! A hard case luggage also has at least 2 fasteners for you to place your locks on. So, that means more protection ☺️

#HHWT Tip: Make sure your luggage material is solid and will not be easily broken. Also, do check to see if the lid is tightly sealed when closed even when it's not yet zipped.

3. Wrap your luggage in plastic wrap

This might sound like an unnecessary extra step but trust us, it's totally worth it! Wrapping your entire luggage in plastic wrap makes it EXTREMELY difficult for thieves to gain access to it. Having to go through all the trouble ripping through the plastic and the noise will make any thief think twice before targeting your bag.

Credit: @maehopebabas on Instagram

#HHWT Tip: Do ensure that the plastic wrap complies with your airline's luggage standards and safety inspection. You won't want to waste all your money and effort!

4. Secure your luggage with a strap

You've probably seen luggages at the airport with colourful straps on and wondering what they are for. Well, those colourful luggage belts you see actually act as an extra form of protection for your luggage. It keeps the luggage zips and fasteners from popping open. Even if thieves tamper with the zippers, these straps makes it difficult for them to reach into your bag. A luggage strap doesn't just protect your bag from thieves, they also make your luggage stand out ?

Credit: @yangunikdisini on Instagram

#HHWT Tip: There are many types of luggage straps out there but we recommend getting those with a combination lock!

5. Keep electronics & valuables with you

Last but not least, don't put any electronics or valuables in your check-in luggage. Or even meaningful souvenirs for that matter! Yes, we feel you, sometimes towards the end of your trip you just want to leave everything in your luggage but like they always say, prevention is better than cure. And YOU have the responsibility of keeping your valuables safe. Even if it might be a hassle lugging them around sometimes, the effort will definitely pay off ?

While you're busy preparing your itinerary and your packing list for your upcoming trip, do bear in mind these tips. Remember, it's always best to take these precautions even if it costs you a bit more time or money. A slight negligence could cause your items to be stolen or damaged.

So, all the best for your trip and travel smart! And don't forget to SHARE this with your friends and family or anyone else you know will benefit from these tips ?