80. That’s the number of luggages that are being pilfered in airports worldwide. That’s according to Specialists in air transport communications and IT solutions (SITA).
How? Simply by breaking through the zipper with a pen which is the easiest way to gain access to your luggage. And here I thought that padlocking the zippers together would be enough to secure the contents of my luggage. And I also though that pen trick only works on those cheap luggage bags. Nope, it works on all types of zipper and thieves can seal it back without leaving a trace.
Check out this video:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mf-DGKUNffI
Sometimes there’s this modus operandi where the technician manning the X-ray machine will tag hot luggage bags, those with laptops and other gadgets inside which are easy to sell. His partner, usually a baggage handler, will then access the contents simply by breaking through the zipper. Once done, he will run the zipper (even when padlocked) through the opened portion to seal it back again. 10 seconds tops and you won’t know your bag has been pilfered unless you immediately check the contents.
Airline ticket rules – the ‘contract of carriage’ – excludes liability for any valuables in luggage, such as computers, cameras, electronic equipment, jewelry, business documents, artwork or similar valuable items.”
Not only you can lose your valuables this way but people can also plant drugs or evidence in your bag by opening it through the zipper.
Fortunately, Delsey, a French luggage company, came up with a simple and ingenious way to prevent this. Their ZIP SECURI TECH features double zippers, a zipper within a zipper. And this prevents thieves from accessing your bag through its zippers.
I was given a demo and yes, it’s impossible to break through the ZIP SECURI TECH zipper. I even tried it myself, punching the zipper line using a pen with a long, sharp, thin tip and I couldn’t get through unlike trying it on a bag with the typical zipper. I also tried it on an old luggage of mine when I got home and boy it was easy.
If you’re the paranoid type when it comes to your luggage being broken into, you can completely stop worrying about it when you use a Delsey luggage with the ZIP SECURI TECH. Or go with the crude solution, put your luggage inside a bigger luggage.
[Delsey]