TSA lock for trips to USA

[bambbbam2]

I want to know what people have in their checked luggage that is so valuable?

Mine only has things like photocopies of passports, clothes, maybe the odd low-value gifts and some toiletries.

IMO you should always keep essential stuff in carry-on.

 

[munitalP]

FWIW

Last week my TSA lock disapeared from my case between MEL/SYD !

I was on a DJ flight which was delayed due to fog.

I am 99% sure that my lock was closed and latched - it was a 3 wheel combination (purchased at the shop opposite the QP entrance at SYD) and I was surprised to find it gone later that day on entering my hotel. :shock:

Am I being paranoid, did I leave it unlatched - I don't know (Twilight Zone music starts playing in my head)

I do know the the TSA locks are for the US but do Australian security also have the right to open and inspect?

Mr!

 

[harvyk]

I believe that certain zippers found on expensive/reliable brands of luggage aren't easy to attack in this way. Certainly $10 luggage will have little to no security.

Bag, Meet Mr Knife...

If you honestly think that any price bag is going to stop someone from getting into your bags you've got another think coming. Remember that at airports (especially domestic ones) baggage belts are in public areas, and whilst I have the tickets for my bags, I believe I've only ever had to show them to someone once maybe twice. Once I have your bag back at my place I can take all the time in the world to get into your bag. Furthermore, unless your bag is 100% unique, would you notice someone walking away with "another" black (or grey \ red \ dark green) bag???

 

[james4321]

MunitalP - dont be lulled into a false sense of security by thinking that those TSA locks need a "special" key to open them. There will be a million copies of those "special" keys around the world by now - so all the crims will have them!!!!

 

[Maca44]

There are other threads on this topic, so save your money and use cable ties.

 

[harvyk]

Why'd they even bother with the keys? TSA keys would be tightly controlled, there are several different master keys to solve this problem, and a pair of bolt cutters, which can be brought (at a five finger discount even) at any hardware store and the lock is no longer a problem.

Basically from a security point of view anything which leaves your possession can no longer be thought of as secure. Locks are there to stop the honest and the lazy. If someone wants to get into your check luggage, be assured that no matter how strong your security around your luggage is, they will get in (even if it means your luggage gets "lost" along the way).

 

[james4321]

Quote "save your money and use cable ties"

Sadly maca44, cable ties dont do anything about covering your zips - so basically they are a complete waste of money too!

 

[serfty]

... Sadly maca44, cable ties dont do anything about covering your zips - so basically they are a complete waste of money too!

What the do is reduce the chances of opportunistic access:

• "This bags got cable ties(/lock)!"
• "The next doesn't ..."
• "OK, forget this bag and do the next."

 

[NM]

Why'd they even bother with the keys? TSA keys would be tightly controlled, there are several different master keys to solve this problem, and a pair of bolt cutters, which can be brought (at a five finger discount even) at any hardware store and the lock is no longer a problem.

Basically from a security point of view anything which leaves your possession can no longer be thought of as secure. Locks are there to stop the honest and the lazy. If someone wants to get into your check luggage, be assured that no matter how strong your security around your luggage is, they will get in (even if it means your luggage gets "lost" along the way).

And that is the whole point. While the bags are in the possession of the airlines, they have reasonable surveillance etc keeping some sort of an eye on what is happening. Anyone getting out a knife and cutting open a bog or pulling out a set of bold cutters is likely to draw attention to themselves. If someone really wants to get into you bag and has the opportunity there is nothing that will stop them, apart from maybe coughy-trapping the bag with a 1000V shock or explosives, but then I expect the airlines will not want to carry it.

Making a would-be thief pull out a knife or bolt cutters means that in many cases they will just skip your bag and move on to the next unlocked one they find. Make your bag a difficult target and the next bag on the conveyor looks more attractive to the bag people.

But any lock (TSA approved or otherwise), cables ties or plastic wrap will not stop someone who have access to your bag by say breaking into your hotel room or taking from your unattended rental car while you are drinking at the pub.

 

[harvyk]

NM, yes, they are in the possession of the airlines, and chances are an airline employee ain't going to whip out a pair of bolt cutters in front of the camera's.


The problem is when bags are sitting on the baggage carousel in a domestic airport any Joe Blow can pick up a bag and leave, dom bag claim is not usually even in pax only area (or behind security). Provided a thief looks like they are meant to be there, they will not be stopped, once they get the bag home they have all the time in the world to get into it. How easily could you pick out someone else leaving bag claim with your bag at an airport? I know I probably wouldn't, and even if I noticed it, I'd probably assume that it must have been his \ her bag. (Given most people simply see black bags).

 

[NM]

The problem is when bags are sitting on the baggage carousel in a domestic airport any Joe Blow can pick up a bag and leave, dom bag claim is not usually even in pax only area (or behind security). Provided a thief looks like they are meant to be there, they will not be stopped, once they get the bag home they have all the time in the world to get into it. How easily could you pick out someone else leaving bag claim with your bag at an airport? I know I probably wouldn't, and even if I noticed it, I'd probably assume that it must have been his \ her bag. (Given most people simply see black bags)

No locks of any kind will protect your good in that situation. But that does mean that applying a locking mechanism is not still worthwhile.

Best is to ensure you get to the carousel before the bags. Have some easy identification mechanism for your bag (a bright coloured sticker, ribbon etc), and watch for it at the first point the bags come through.

I expect this is exactly what happened in this recently reported case.

 

[straitman]

Straitman, my point is that any locks (TSA or otherwise) dont stop the zipper being opened and then reclosed again by using a pen or other pointed item to pierce the zip teeth.
Thats why I think the plastic wrap makes sense - you can see if the plastic is pierced that someone has tried to get into your bag.
Check out the video on you tube www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXinRy0SIQE to see how its done - its so easy its scary!

.... and you my friend are missing the other point.

And I think the other point that your missing is that a thief is not going to stuff around with a pen on the zip of a locked bag when there is an unlocked bag sitting there next to it. Undoing a zip in the normal way is even easier, hopefully I don't need a video link to demonstrate this fact. When you got 1000 bags going past you every hour a fair number will be without lock, why would anyone stuff around with the locked cases?

A lock services exactly the same purpose as the plastic wrap. It makes people thing twice. So what if it doesn't give a visual indication of tampering, it will still fulfill the deterent role. If people what to break the zip they will, having a visual indication that someone opened your case isn't going to help because your valuables will just as stolen. :shock:

Thanks medhead,

You saved me an explanation.

Quote "save your money and use cable ties"

Sadly maca44, cable ties dont do anything about covering your zips - so basically they are a complete waste of money too!

You have still missed the point.

What the do is reduce the chances of opportunistic access:

• "This bags got cable ties(/lock)!"
• "The next doesn't ..."
• "OK, forget this bag and do the next."

serfty,

Exactly what a few have said several times but some are not listening or just don't get it.

The problem is when bags are sitting on the baggage carousel in a domestic airport any Joe Blow can pick up a bag and leave, dom bag claim is not usually even in pax only area (or behind security). Provided a thief looks like they are meant to be there, they will not be stopped, once they get the bag home they have all the time in the world to get into it. How easily could you pick out someone else leaving bag claim with your bag at an airport? I know I probably wouldn't, and even if I noticed it, I'd probably assume that it must have been his \ her bag. (Given most people simply see black bags).

So stand near where the baggage comes out, don't have plain basic black bags and do have distinctive tags on your bags.

It's all about risk management. If you bags are that bit different, that bit more secure 'most' baddies will go for someone else's bag. Wrapping in plastic, concrete tie wraps or anything else will not stop the determined thief.

 

[harvyk]

NM, my point exactly. From a purely security point of view, it's not secure - locks or no locks.

That said I usually lock my luggage, because if nothing else it stops it from being opened by accident in transit. I've even purchased the TSA locks.

I just found it a little amusing how people though that a little $10 lock will protect their bags, and even more amusing was the comment by Mal about how the more expensive bags give better security, which ultimately they don't.

straitman, I agree with what you say. I myself have things on my bag which makes it unique. Regardless of anything else, I know that if someone wants to get my bag (or at least see inside it) they will. My comments are more directed towards people being thinking that a $10 lock (or a slightly more expensive bag) will protect them.

For me at least anything of value goes with me in the cabin.

 

[Mal]

I just found it a little amusing how people though that a little $10 lock will protect their bags, and even more amusing was the comment by Mal about how the more expensive bags give better security, which ultimately they don't.

Please don't misquote me. I never said that.

The point was made around the use of a pen and getting into a zipper that way. Certain zippers are made that can prevent this style of attack.

Cable ties are insecure (easy to open with a paperclip). TSA locks are insecure, locking bags is insecure. However, you can take certain steps to make your bag less vulnerable to someone choosing it.

 

[NM]

Cable ties are insecure (easy to open with a paperclip). TSA locks are insecure, locking bags is insecure. However, you can take certain steps to make your bag less vulnerable to someone choosing it.

Exactly. Your bag does not need to be 100% secure or impenetrable. It just needs to be less vulnerable than the bag along side it.

Its a bit like the two friends who suddenly found themselves facing a bear in the woods. As one fellow bent down to take off his shoes, his mate said "are you crazy? Do you really think you can outrun a bear?". The said other said "of course I can't outrun a bear. But I only need to outrun you!".

 

[JohnK]

I think most of us know that little padlocks are useless in stopping someone taking things from your luggage but it is a useful deterrent for the opportunistic thief. My biggest concern is not what they can take out of checked luggage but what they could put inside. I wish there was a way to stop this from happening. Thankfully nothing has happened so far.

Not much you can do stopping someone taking luggage from a carousel that is not theirs. I can imagine that this does not happen very often but can happen. When I am not pre-occupied having a drink in the lounge after the flight I am one of the first waiting at the carousel for the luggage to come out.

That being said last weekend in Brisbane after a Virgin flight I went outside to confirm and pay for a seat on the 11:00pm shuttle bus and I could not get good position at the carousel when I returned back inside after a few minutes. My luggage does not have any easily identifiable marks on it but I could definitely see a person, couple, take my luggage off the carousel on the other side of the carousel and inspected it closely for a little while before throwing it, not carefully placing it, back on to the carousel. I decided against doing anything about it as that is the punishment I get for travelling Virgin.

 

[james4321]

I think most of us know that little padlocks are useless in stopping someone taking things from your luggage but it is a useful deterrent for the opportunistic thief.

My biggest concern is not what they can take out of checked luggage but what they could put inside. I wish there was a way to stop this from happening.

JohnK that is one of the reasons why I like to use the plastic wrap - its the only way that you can know for sure that nothing has happened to your bag. If your bag has been violated in any way then the plastic will have a hole in it, and you can see that on the carousel before you take possession of it. If you see that the plastic is cut then you leave it there and go to the airline baggage desk. Get them to check it out for you.

 

[Mal]

You could also use a secure cable tie (eg this one http://www.entheos.co.uk/tying_solutions/st01.html) which is like the ones they use for electoral ballot boxes, secure mail deliveries and other security sensitive environments.

Of course that assumes it won't easily be torn off by baggage equipment.

That should indicate your bag hasn't been tampered with (assuming the zip is secure) - or if it is missing that the potential occured for tampering.

 

[Cabbage]

I decided against doing anything about it as that is the punishment I get for travelling Virgin.

How could this been avoided were you flying Qantas?

 

[james4321]

Mal unfortunately that cable tie (or any other for that matter, or any lock) doesnt provide any indication whatsoever that someone has been tampering with your bag. The zip is the risk - the teeth can be opened in the blink of an eye, and then rezipped, all without damage or interfering with the cable tie, lock or whatever other item is holding the ends of the zip together. You should look at the video on you tube - it will show you just how useless locks and cable ties really are.