Security Expert Warns: Your Fancy Suitcase Makes You a Target for Thieves
A leading security expert has issued a stark warning to holidaymakers, revealing that certain types of luggage can dramatically increase your risk of becoming a victim of theft while travelling. The advice comes as new data highlights a worrying surge in suitcase-related crime across the UK and globally.
The Rising Threat of Luggage Theft
Recent analysis by Money Supermarket has uncovered a disturbing trend: suitcase theft on UK trains soared by nearly 37% in 2024. This alarming statistic is compounded by separate industry data from airlines and the global baggage sector, which indicates that approximately one in twenty bags on flights worldwide either goes missing or is stolen. These figures underscore a growing problem for travellers seeking to protect their possessions.
"Nobody wants to begin a holiday with a lost or stolen suitcase," notes security specialist Joseph Barton from AdleyBarton.com. "Travelling is expensive enough without the added cost and distress of having your belongings taken."
How Your Luggage Signals Value to Criminals
Joseph Barton explains that the primary risk factor isn't necessarily what's inside your bag, but rather what's on the outside. Many travellers operate under the mistaken belief that investing in high-quality, expensive luggage offers better protection. While these cases might withstand the rigours of airport handling, they inadvertently advertise the potential value of their contents to opportunistic thieves in public spaces.
"Always try to blend in," Barton advises. "The moment you or your belongings don't, you become a target. Thieves are adept at assessing the cost of items. If you're wheeling a £1,000 suitcase, there's a strong likelihood that your interior clothing is designer and worth reselling."
Features That Attract Unwanted Attention
It's not just overt designer branding that marks a suitcase as lucrative. Barton identifies several common features that can draw the wrong kind of attention:
- Bright colours: While chosen for easy identification at baggage carousels, they also make it simpler for thieves to spot and follow you.
- Hard shell finishes: Often associated with premium, modern luggage.
- Matching sets: Coordinated luggage pieces can signal a well-prepared, potentially affluent traveller.
Conversely, thieves tend to steer clear of older-looking bags, as they suggest the owner is an experienced traveller with possibly well-worn, less valuable contents. However, Barton cautions that a brand-new, pristine suitcase of any type sends a different signal entirely.
"It signals to them that you aren't an experienced traveller, and quite possibly you have bought everything new for your trip. This tells them they can make money from your belongings," he explains.
The Simple Trick to Deter Thieves
For those with new luggage who wish to avoid becoming a statistic, Barton recommends a straightforward, proactive measure: deliberately scuffing it up to give it a used appearance.
"Suitcases are built for the rough and tumble of airports, so don't worry about getting them a little scuffed or dirty," he says. "Something as simple as rubbing a bit of pavement dirt onto the wheels or base, then wiping it off, can leave the case looking well-travelled rather than fresh from the shop."
This technique can be extended to other travel items. "You can also do this to your trainers and clothing to make them look more worn," Barton adds, emphasising that the goal is overall inconspicuousness to blend in and avoid marking yourself as a target.
By understanding how thieves select their targets and taking simple, preventative steps, travellers can significantly reduce their risk and enjoy greater peace of mind on their holidays.
