Silly (maybe anal?) question about luggage security

I've seen lots not people with little locks on their backpacks. To me it makes sense since it is usually behind you where the pickpocket would also be. You're A and a little B but not C. Barcelona? Mine was Napoli and I still give anyone walking towards me a second look. . . it did stop two would-be possible last week.

Mostly I think you will be frustrated. Every time you want to get something out of your pack - and after all you are carrying it around so that those things are accessible - you will have to undo the whole thing and then do it up again.

So let's think about this. Are you really worried that someone will take your sweater? No. Your snacks? No. Your whatever? Probably not. I usually have my backpack with me and I'm usually traveling solo. If my iPod is in the pack, it's at the bottom, under a lot of other stuff and I don't worry about it. Sometimes I take a small cheap lock and secure the main part of the bag with it when I'm going to put my camera in it. That's rare. I almost always have the camera around my neck, so I can get those quick photos. I'm more concerned about someone picking the pack up and walking away with it, so when I'm sitting down in public I put one leg through a strap. And I never hook the pack over the back of a chair (in a restaurant, say).

Not at all. I use a small over the shoulder bag when I'm in Europe from PacSafe. I like all the little zippers and lockable items hidden on the bag. I keep my money in there. I don't like those money belts. Nothing wrong with making your own security inside your bag. Remember to test it out with someone. Have them try to get in to the area without you feeling it. Don't rely on your hearing incase you are in a noisey crowded area

To answer the original question.... do whatever it takes for you to feel safe. Maybe consider a lock a) makes it difficult for you to get in, b) marks you as having something valuable to steal and c) it won't help if they slit your bag with an extremely sharp knife. My bag was "explored" in Seville as I walked and I never felt a thing. A couple of things I now do a) nothing really valuable goes in there (my camera is in my hand and firmly attached with a strap) b) carry your backpack on the side or in front (or get a different bag meant to hang on the side or in front) and/or c) make it just a bit more difficult with a disposable plastic flight lock (sold by RS and others), a twist tie from the supermarket or something like a cable lock from Red Oxx Redoxx Cable Lock. I almost always use methods a and b although I will slip a cable lock on when I am on public transportation for the day (like taking a train from one city to the next) or use a disposable flight lock after I have cleared security. I guess I am not big on locks as no soft sided luggage is going to be all that secure.

I think security is mostly related to the cities you will visit. My friend visited Naples and in broad daylight a guy tried to rip her bag off her shoulders....it was a cross body bag.

Been in Florence, Rome and Venice, Milan, never had a problem. I carry a small daypack from Longchamp that cinches at the top. In the bag I carry my money, camera (if the camera is not over my shoulder/cross body for quick photos) a jacket or scarf. So far (knock on wood) no issues.

If you want to feel secure and have no hassle, look into the PacSafe line...as another poster wrote, that's what they use. I have a Pacsafe bag as well, and use it on some of my trips, just depends where I'm headed. They have great closures, and are easier for YOU to access. A little expenditure before your trip to help you be more secure is totally worth it in my book, especially if you plan more trips --- in the US, or Europe.

And also posted, if you have your valuables secure in a money belt, why are you so worried about a jacket, snacks, etc...those are easily replaced. It's about money, credit cards and your camera...those need to be secure.

Never, ever put your pack/bag on the ground or over a chair, and if you take public transport, or find yourself surrounded by a lot of people, put your hand(s) on your bag, and have it against your chest, with a strap over a shoulder for security.

It's simply common sense.... And now go enjoy Italy!

Hey Tom, someone stole your horse in Barcelona? No wonder you're nervous!!! I would say your idea is somewhere between B & C, overly zealous but not quite anal. For the most part, you only need to be seriously concerned in very crowded places. I wandered around Italy for weeks carrying a small daypack, and tried to always carry it with openings facing forward, not back, and could easily grasp it with my arm when in close quarters. Try to have your sweater or towel or whatever is bulky near the zipper, with anything valuable buried underneath. I sometimes tried to "seal" the zipper with a large paper clip, but that became a hassle for me to get into, and usually the clip fell off along the way. I agree with others that the bigger danger is either someone getting into your pants pocket or taking your whole daypack, not so much getting into it, so don't put it down carelessly, and hold it well when there are guys on motorbikes or scooters zipping down the streets around you. I used to use a neck pouch under my shirt, not a money belt, but on my most recent trip I only did that when traveling, and otherwise left my passport, debit cards, reserve cash and iPad buried and locked up in my suitcase in my hotel or inn room, with no problems whatsoever.

Thief to self:

'That dude with his stuff locked up like a chastity belt can't be anal, so his sack must have some really valuable goodies. He shall therefore be my target for the week.'

Thief to self:

'That dude with the well-protected bag is clearly a savvy traveler and will be aware that someone might target him. Because every tourist carries valuables, I therefore will target that clueless guy next to him in the USA T-shirt who just set his bag on the ground while he's looking up at that building. Why spend a week stalking a guy when there are much easier pickings?'

I'm with Michael, though I think Ed was being a little sarcastic. But thieves are looking for easy targets, and there are plenty of them.

If you have something you really do not want to lose in your backpack, then by all means secure it. While all the "hold your bag close on crowded trains" advice is good, it is missing the point as you are just as likely to get picked someplace else when you don't expect. A simple travel lock works great, and you can get inside in just seconds. Most bags have two zippers now and those can be locked together. While slashing does occur, it is rare and not really worth worrying about in most places you will visit.

It sounds like the only really valuable thing in your bag might be your camera. But that will mostly be outside since you'll want it to take photos. And pickpockets aren't really looking to take your camera, though they'd be happy enough if they just stole your bag altogether and found it in there.

I agree that you will be frustrating yourself. Every time I see a wife stopping a husband so she can take something out of his backpack, it looks like a waste of time (and a roadblock), and opening locks even more so. In crowded areas, you can take the bag off your back and sling it around to the front of you. Although it's less ergonomic, I like my small, cross-body bag because my hand is always on it and I take things in and out about 100 times per day.

It is "C". Advice rating -- Michale - 9, Ed - 2. Silly to think that putting locks on your day bag means your carrying lots of valuables. I think it is more a matter of how you conduct yourself, how you carry yourself in public. We have spent nearly a year traveling in Europe - 4 visit to Barcelona, and other great pickpocket capitols with no adverse results. We always use small combo locks on the zipper pulls on our day bag just to keep everything closed. I put the bag over the back of chairs all the time but make sure that a strap is wrap around a chair rung or leg. Same for overhead rack on trains. Have never had an attempt made on the bag. Never carry the bag in front with both arms over the bag. Personally think it looks stupid. When standing on crowd public transit, the bag is at my feet with one foot on a strap and one hand holding the top. When getting on and off the transit, I am almost dragging the bag on the ground. If you are going to get at the bag you need to be a three year old or a very short person. Never worry about a cut bag. I have never seen it nor encountered anyone who has. Is it possible? Sure. Is it frequent? No. We always wear money belts even recently when in New York. It is second nature. Deeply buried under clothing so even I cannot get to it.

Over 18+ years of travel have only had two slight encounters with gypsies and that was in the first few years of travel and both were my stupidity at the moment. But no harm. Since then I don't think I have ever seem a pickpocket that I recognized as such. I marvel at those who see several pickpockets a day. There eyesight has to be so much better than mine.

We do dress better than the average American tourist that we frequently encountered and we conduct ourselves in manner that I hope does make us look like an easy target. So far it has worked well but there is always the next trip.

Piggybacking on this question - Do people lock suitcases together when traveling on trains? I saw a post about buying a bike lock to do this. We will be training from Venice to Florence, then Florence to Rome.
wasnt going to do this but...
Thanks

Follow on to Diane's comment. See: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/epic-cable-lock-failure
Pack a wire cutter, but not in your cable secured pouch?

A thin wire might raise some questions with airport security.

Diane - we have never had a problem with bags on the train. We just put them in the overhead rack and no one bothers them. Some cars have racks at the ends of the car - no problem there either. We've even left them and gone to the bar car car - no problem.

That being said - I would never put anything valuable in my suitcase - that stuff goes in my purse which goes with me - everywhere.

That depends. There is constant discussion about luggage being snatched from the luggage storage bins on trains. I have never seen or even know, first hand, of anyone who has lost luggage on a train. BUT, I am sure it is a possibility. The theory is that someone will grab a bag and jump off a train just as the doors are closing. It it was a major problem I doubt if all of the locals would dump their luggage in the storage but they do. However, as a matter of a little precaution we do lock our bags together with a cable lock under the idea if someone grab one bag he would be surprise to dragging a second along. Has it prevent a bag theft? Who knows. But it is just one little precaution that we take that is not a big deal. We have never had a lock fail and if it did we would just carry off two bags together.

PS Why would a wire cable cause concerns with airport security? We have taken our cable locks through dozens of airport security with no questions.

I wear a money belt. I never have any worries about valuables begin stolen. It took me about 20 minutes to get use to it. I carry a messenger bag over my shoulder, at my side, my arm is usually over it, I keep my mini-ipad in it, again, never a concern. A back pack is such a burden and I always wonder why people are carrying so much stuff around with them.

1)Not all pickpockets are Roma.
2) You can't spot the professionals too easily. They are dressed like us, or better. My husband, Paris born and raised, can spot some if they are using the same tricks his father told him about, and his grandfather before him.
3) Just because it hasn't happened to you doesn't mean it hasn't happened. I remember specifically a report on the Helpline by a woman who had lost a suitcase in first class, but what was even more revealing was that the police said, yeh, it happens all the time. Oops. Locals do watch their luggage closely. My husband's a local. He watches it closely. I brought up the lock idea that I learned about on this forum and he said to go for it.
4) If you use a messenger bag and keep the opening towards you, it's harder to get to your stuff. I keep the zippered back pack for the mountains.
5) We've had several attempts over the years by kids and once by a professional. Attempts are ok; actually losing your stuff stinks.

At present the most dangerous moments is when you board or get out of a train. You have luggage so you are not free in your movements and in major stations there are a lot of shady persons that will try to help you with your luggage - if you do not give them a substantial tip they will try to help themselves with your wallet. The problem is relatively recent and police is still thinking how to deal with them - only very few travellers file a formal complaint with police.

Have you thought about leaving most of the contents of your daypack at your hotel? For the most part daytime Italy is Hot in September. Don't need sweaters in your daypack. Food and Frizzante are everywhere in Italia, so save those snacks for midnight munchies.

It rains only a few days in September, so you will know when to carry your umbrella and/or don a raincoat. I can see carrying your camera, but I bet you can unload that "whatever." I can't imagine walking around with the weight of your daypack.

Then too your hotel hosts might advise you Not to carry purses or day packs. My hosts did that, in Rome and Napoli.

Nothing of value ever goes in our day bags; my camera stays ON me, and the only things in the bag are items that can be replaced: jacket, guides, wet wipes, etc. Money/cards go into a small pouch (not a moneybelt; hate those) pinned inside my waistband.

I'd agree with not carrying a backpack in front of you; it looks sort of dorky. I like shoulder bags better as you don't have to check those in some of the places that require it of backpacks, and make moving around easier in heavy crowds.

We have a Pacsafe shoulder bag (doubles as a day bag when we don't need jackets and umbrellas) for moving the passports, cards and all the other valuables from city-to-city, and a lightweight, telescoping cable with combination lock for the bags if we have to leave them at the front/back of the carriage, and our "radar" tells us that it might be a good situation in which to use it.