How stuff goes missing from your locked baggage?

An airline baggage handler shows you how it'* done.

http://zudelmak.multiply.com/video/i...pening_Luggage

makes me think twice about what i'll leave in my lugage from now on...

That'* why I always carry on

i prefer carryon just because i hate waiting to find out if they lost my luggage this time.

i do check luggage, but when i do, i do so without fear that anything will turn up missing -- and nothing ive ever packed has come up missing (to my knowledge). having flown at least two or three dozen times, i feel completely safe with the assumption that nothing will turn up missing next time.

i dont even bother locking my luggage. its possible that they see my luggage (and old, large duffel bag which is unlocked) and think "there cant possibly be anything worth stealing in there"

Wow thats amazing.

That happened on accident to my bookbag in college all the time. Where is the exciting part where he puts a gun to the luggage and yells "TA DA!"?

The thing is, this only works easily on "self-repairing" zippers, those cheap zippers that are made from a plastic line.
Metal zippers, and molded plastic zippers are very much harder to open that way.

The best thing you can do if you travel a lot, though, is buy something similar to a Pelican case. A hard plastic case that can be padlocked.
Failing that, a traditional suitcase is your best bet, one with a hard body and latches. Don't trust the built-in latches though, as some will surrender to a hard thumping. Buy a small but suitably tough ornamental hasp and install that on your lid.

Also, same goes for traveling by car, if you stay in hotels. Lock it anytime you leave the room, and if you feel a little paranoid, bike-lock the thing to the frame of the bed...

I never lock my luggage. Anything I'd want to bring that'* valuable would be on my person.

For all I care, the theifs can have my underware and jeans. Was probably due for some new ones anyway.

Last time I flew, it was required to have checked luggage unpadlocked. If it was padlocked, they would cut it. If it'* locked, it'* suspicious. Eh. I'm with the others. If it'* valuable, either carry it with you, or mail it (depending on where you're going)

Gee, that helps anyone who travels with a permitted firearm in their luggage. Valuable, but has to be checked, and GODDAMN sure not going thru handling unlocked...