Luggage theft from cars - Siena or Tuscany Drive

How about just don't leave anything of value in your car? That's the absolute best way to avoid theft.

I wouldn't worry excessively as it's daylight and I know from experience that in Pienza and Montpulciano you'll find parking in visible areas with lots of people around. Follow the usual precautions - nothing attractive visible in car; no English language materials visible; no putting things away after you park; no cameras, computers or passports in the baggage. We also open our bags in the car's covered area and spread things around to display our lack of luxury.

Can you rent a car with a trunk so your luggage will be hidden? That said, we spent a day in Siena this October and left our luggage in our SUV with no issue.

Forgot to say:
We're there in April and May.
We've lined up rental of a Ford Focus Wagon or equivalent - 4 adults and carry-ons
...... for 4 adults, it looks like it's either the wagon or a Ford Grand C-Max.

We only have the one day with luggage - out of the first Airbnb in the AM and into the other between 3-8 PM.

Thanks

Last two times I rented a Ford Focus in Italy they had a retractable ver in the rear compartment that woul cover anything stored there.

Auto burglaries in small towns are extremely rare, even unheard of at daylight time in areas that are not secluded. Nevertheless you should not leave inside the car valuable items and documents such as:
- electronic devices
- Passports
- Jewelry, credit cards, cash and cash equivalents.
Carry the above items with you in a backpack or purse.

Everything else that you can lose without near catastrophic consequences can be left in the trunk, preferably hidden by a cargo cover.

I had a client who left everything, bags, camera, passport in his car at an AutoStrada stop and yep - they swear they were only gone a few minutes and everything was stolen. Had to spend an extra 3 days just to get to the embassy in Milan to get their passports reissued.

Another suggestion is to buy an Italian paper and leave it prominently on the seat so that maybe it looks like an Italian's car.

I smiled reading you are going to La Foce Gardens. I am rereading Iris Origo's "War in Val D'Orcia" so that I can lead the discussion on it at my book group this Saturday. Rick Steves' Best of Tuscany tour visits La Foce.

Even a better suggestion is to buy a copy of “Il Mattino” (the Morning) newspaper, the Naples’ daily, and a scarf of the Napoli soccer team, both should be left in prominent view inside the car. A red curniciello hanging from the inside rear view mirror would help too.
All these gadgets will instantly mark your car as a car owned by a Neapolitan. Somehow people (including thieves) are reluctant to mess with Neapolitans.

I live in Italy and would say motorway service stations are generally risky places where even Italians are very cautious and can have problems. Parking in a residential area with nothing on show in daylight with people around should not be a problem but keep passports and medication and other items which would be highly difficult to replace with you (securely!)