We love to travel, but we do have to be careful. Tourists are often seen as easy marks. I know I'm one of them since they've attempted to pick my pockets and backpacks several times in Portugal, Rome, Paris, etc.
Now it appears you have to be careful while you're on the airplane too!
My friend, Myrtle just sent me an e-mail about thieves that:
"...sit in the back row of the plane observing where bags are behind or away from the passengers and systematically pull them from the overhead lockers, while passengers rest or watch movies, take them to the back of the plane and steal any valuable contents.
They prey on foreign airlines as the penalties are so lenient, the pay-off makes it worth the risk.
I naively have never thought of robbers operating on planes, but now I have experienced it first hand, there are a few takeaways:
1. Hand luggage should ALWAYS be locked.
2. Do not assume luggage under your seat is safe....last week one passenger had her purse stolen by the guy sitting next to her while she slept!
3. If in doubt, wear or keep any valuables ON YOU at all times!
4. Don't assume, like me, that everyone on a flight is a law-abiding citizen.
5. Do not assume business class travel is secure....robbers can be wealthy..."
This is so annoying. I shall be getting some locks for my carry-ons now. I guess you can never be too careful. Another thing I never do is wear or carry any valuable jewelry with me when I travel. Well... to be honest I don't have much valuable jewelry. They've already been handed down to the kids.
However, I shall be much more vigilant about other things since we do carry our iPad and Kindle with us. Those things all have security code locks on them just to be on the safer side. I guess we'll also be careful about not going to the bathroom at the same time. Please be careful, everybody. First there's annoying vacuum salesmen and women. Now there's airplane thieves! What next?
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ReplyDeleteThieves are everywhere, and they do try to find vulnerabilities wherever they can. I never thought of airplanes, but when I fly I have my backpack under the seat in front of me and my larger bag overhead. I've never seen much activity in the overhead bins, but now I'll pay attention any time one is opened around me! Thanks for the warning, Kay.
ReplyDeleteI always thought planes to be an ideal place for stealing. Once I had to carry a wad of hundred dollar bills on a long long flight and I sewed my pocket shut. My little wallet and camera also fit into my pockets, and I never leave them in my bag under the seat when I walk to the lavatory. Even on long distance trains I put my carry-on in a place where I have eye contact with it, and in jets too.
ReplyDeleteIn Israel on the inter-city buses you have to put big bags in the bottom of the bus. As the driver stops at various stops on the road, he automatically opens the side and the exiting passenger grabs their packs, and the bus drives off. When I take American visitors on such trips, they get very nervous about this.
Have a nice flight, Kay.
(Oh that reminds me, once I flew Japan Airlines to Narita. We were taking off and the Japanese pilot said, "Welcome aboard and have a nice 'fright'. haha That old problem with the Rs and Ls.)
OH love it! That is too funny!
Deletewell I fly very little, but good advice!
ReplyDeletegreat info Kay, I will spread the word, who knew?
ReplyDeleteThis is really great advice. It seems like thieves are alway thinking up new ways to ply their trade. :(
ReplyDeleteGood info, Kay --
ReplyDeleteI usually travel with my purse, (or shrink it into a big belly pouch.) When touring or shopping, I put the belly pouch in my backpack with a small combination lock on the two meeting zipper pulls to keep it closed. This frees my hands for getting on/off buses, trolleys, jeeps during the tour. If I'm careful how I walk and swing around in a store, this frees my hands to look at items to purchase. Yes, when I buy a tour ticket or want to purchase an item, I slip off the backpack, use the personalized combination lock to unlock it, get my purse/money, pay for the item, and then put the item and purse/belly pack in the backpack and lock it up again. (I figure if they want my money, they'll wait just a tad longer.)
As a single traveler, I've had a blast popping around the Islands, or even nurse meetings, or big cities with my trusty, locked backpack.
DrumMajor
Excellent, DrumMajor! You are definitely a smart seasoned traveler. However, I remember another seasoned traveler we met on a tour of Turkey. She put all her money, passport, credit cards, everything in a purse and then set it aside when she was taking her shoes off at a mosque. It got stolen in seconds! Yup. We met one fellow in Paris who told us all his cash for the trip was in a back pocket wallet. It got stolen too. Tsk. Pretty pititful! Airplanes though? Now I'm going to be really paranoid.
DeleteInteresting. I have never even thought about theft on an airplane. We travel with our iPads and Kindles too but since we are never both away from our seats at the same time I've assumed we had nothing to be concerned about.
ReplyDeletegot to be careful when I next fly..
ReplyDeleteAnd now that more people are choosing to have "carry on" as their only luggage, it seems to me that those overhead bins would have more valuable items available to steal. Good point, Kay!!
ReplyDeleteMahalo for the advice, Kay!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice. We always seat in the back of the plane (first to board) . Come to think, I have noticed people always opening their carryon compartment above during the flight and wondered why would they need to. I don't think there was any mischief but now I will be extra vigil. I buckle my purse strap with me during the flight...no guarantee we both aren't dozing off at the same time. This way I don't worry where my purse is. Now with baggage fees we limit our shopping so our luggage is not carrying anything valuable. On trips I bring along only jewelry I don't mind losing. I have lost and been home burglarized twice where all my jewelry was stolen. I'm used to thinking about losing it and whether I'm ok with it.
ReplyDeleteL...w
I have lost my wedding band twice before the burglaries and the last insurance replacement ring during the second burglary. I don't know why I didn't claim again..hmmm just clarifying what I meant by lost.. Still I don't trust myself to wear anything too expensive.
DeleteL...w
Yup. I'm going to be more vigilant now too. Sheesh!
DeleteAlso I wanted to say, be careful with TSA lines where you have to put everything you're wearing into bins. We used to be very casual about putting our cash laden items into bins thinking we'll easily retrieve them on the other side of the machine. One trip a man started picking all the loose change in our bin after my husband retrieved his wallet and belt. I told him that's ours and then he shouted if it means that much to you you can have it. Now we don't put anything valuable loose into the bins. I stuff all my husband's valuables in my carry tote before heading to the TSA lines.
DeleteL...w
Kay, you are smart to take common sense precautions, and kind to share this. Be wise, then relax with calm awareness. Great post. I put up an actual recipe today. A first! Lol. Aloha
ReplyDeleteNo that is just too sad. I grew up in an age when we didn't lock our doors. How things have changed. Another good reason for me not to fly.
ReplyDeleteGosh! I remember the days of not having to lock our doors too. Not anymore though. Definitely not anymore.
DeleteI've never flown, but I'd make sure to follow these tips when I finally do.
ReplyDeleteSo much for having a relaxing trip! I hadn't thought about someone stealing my bag from the overhead bin. I do worry about the checked bags on the carousels. Anyone can take them. No one checks the tags anymore.
ReplyDeleteWe do always put valuables in carry ons, since inspectors are known to steal things out of checked bags.
Nothing is simple anymore.
Wise words, woman! It's a shame this is how we must travel...
ReplyDeleteMy kids just took the train to Quebec City and their winter festival. They went with two other families. Lots of fun!