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This question worried me and so inspired this question. Provided that an airline traveller must rely on checked baggage, what can one dissuade or forestall such theft?

Friends have confirmed that for example, at London Heathrow Airport, customs precede the luggage claim carousel area, after which no especial law or security enforcement appears to check what one removed from the luggage carousel. So any traveller can access any luggage carousel and steal whatever on the carousel, without premeditation. For example, one may feel like pilfering a random suitcase?

Footnote: I wrote 'defer' in the question title; I assume that foregoing checked baggage is too inconvenient.

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1 Answers1

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Number one easiest way: A padlock.

It comes down to psychology: you're looking for a bag to steal - are you going to choose a locked one or an easily-opened one?

Secondly, having a unique, distinct bag is likely a deterrent too. A thief is less likely to pick up the gaudy unicorn-emblazoned pink and purple backpack than the standard black bag that has 9 duplicates of it on the carousel. Here's a source on that one

Try not to make a bathroom stop until you've got your bag. The longer it's travelling around the carousel on its own, the longer it's unattended and inviting attention.

Another simple idea is to buy cheap, simple luggage (expensive luggage implies the contents may be valuable too).

Mark Mayo
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