Security expert Ed Burnett, a former U.S. Army military policeman and now executive advisor at Cloudastructure Inc, has warned that wrapping luggage in plastic does more harm than good. Speaking to The Independent, he said plastic wrapping 'screams I have something expensive in here' and makes it impossible to quickly check belongings if tampered with.
Burnett advised travellers to choose bright-coloured luggage, as thieves prefer anonymous black or navy bags. Hard-shell suitcases are safer because soft-shell bags can be sliced open with a box cutter. He also cautioned against high-end brands like Tumi, Rimowa or Louis Vuitton, which signal wealth, recommending 'upper-middle' brands instead.
Backpacks are targets for pickpockets due to exposed zippers, while wheeled suitcases are vulnerable during grab-and-run thefts. Burnett urged travellers to keep a strap looped around their leg. He dismissed visible tracking devices as deterrents, advising to hide them inside the lining or a sock, noting that 'most GPS-tracked stickers are ignored or seen as a challenge'.
Locks and cable ties offer limited protection; coil zippers can be opened with a ballpoint pen, bypassing locks entirely. Cable ties act as a seal but don't prevent theft. Burnett warned against displaying home addresses on luggage tags, recommending a covered tag with work contact details instead. He also advised against labels like 'fragile' or 'camera equipment'.
For checked luggage, Burnett suggested hiding valuables in diversion safes like empty sunscreen bottles, and keeping essential items in a carry-on. He identified train overhead racks and hotel lobbies as prime theft hotspots, where travellers are easily distracted.
