A travel expert has explained exactly how thieves can get into your suitcase and hand luggage with ease, as well as sharing top tips on warding them off. When all of your valuables are tucked away into one case, it's difficult not to worry about its safety or whereabouts once you've handed it over at the checked-luggage desk.
And rightly so, with Sarah Adekola aka @millennialwealthsarah explaining how simple it is to break into such a travel bag using just a pen. Rather than suggesting that people refrain from going on holiday, or only taking hand luggage with them on fortnightly trips - which isn't viable whatsoever - Sarah offered some tips on keeping bags safe and secure.
Taking to TikTok, the influencer shared exactly how easy it is for thieves to crack open a locked suitcase using just a pen - by simply jamming it into the zipper and creating a gap to be rived open. Worryingly, it also works on suitcases with sturdy locks attached to them.
Read more: Police warning after would-be holiday makers lose £15m to travel scams
The Mirror reports that in the clip, Sarah explains: "First never pick suitcases with zippers like this because people are literally stealing your stuff with just a pen. Basically what people are doing is they're taking their pen and they are literally just pushing in between there.
"And they're getting into your suitcase. Then what they do is when you have a padlock they are going to go over it (the hole) and you would never know."
After explaining the ease of access when it comes to some suitcases, the expert then went on to explain in vital qualities she looks for in a travel bag. Sarah recommends picking darker suitcases in either grey or black, as well as ones made with harder shells instead of squishy material bags.
Sarah also revealed that she's more likely to opt for a bag with wheels, as they are easier to move, and prefers luggage which have zips which are difficult to spot or are obscured by fabric. However, it is now possible to buy bags without zips at all, according to the guru.
She added: "I would also go for suitcase brands that give me a lifetime warranty or at least five years."
Should you be concerned about your bags treatment after it's handed over at the check-in desk, you may also want to consider slapping it with a 'fragile' sticker. News.com.au report that asking for one for your luggage could not only earn your bag gentler treatment, but it could also speed up your wait time at the claims carousel.
This is because the sticker affects which order bags are packed onto the plane. Baggage tagged fragile will go into the plane last, meaning it's the first out - equating to less time waiting at the terminal to collect your belongings.
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