>>Not to my way of thinking. If I were a thief, I'd go for the locked suitcase, assuming it had valuables in it!<<

IMO suze is right. secured bags just seem more tempting.

Be sure to watch that youtube link nukesafe posted. A lock will not deter ANYONE and just indicates there <i>might</i> be something worth stealing inside.

My cable ties aren't to prevent theft -- but to help keep the bag closed. Same function as the strap suze mentioned.

I'm not a thief, so don't know how they think but they often do things that are the easiest and path of least resistance, so I agree that they would rather break into something not locked, it is easy and leaves no trace.

The police in my city say that all the time -- thieves are much more likely to steal things out of cars that are unlocked or houses, for that matter (many thefts in my city involve thieves getting in through open windows or doors).

I used to lock my bags when traveling and I never had much of value in them, still don't. But I still don't want anyone stealing anything even if minor, or just messing around in there. But we would need to take a poll of thieves and dishonest TSA agents or baggage handlers (enough of them at airports) to find out the thinking on that.

Actually the thieves (all of whom are baggage handlers) look for the most expensive suitcases, the 1st class stickers, and the origin of the bags (Middle East, Brazil, China...) to know where the goodies are. So many Paris baggage handlers have been caught by the video surveillance in recent years that the problem is now diminishing, even though naturally baggage handlers know exactly where they still can do things in places without video. But of course Paris is never more than 50% of the problem at best, since the bags have come from somewhere or are going somewhere.

After seeing open bags spilling (one assumes, dirty) laundry all over the baggage carousel, I have begun locking my bags with TSA locks. So far none have been cut off.

>>After seeing open bags spilling (one assumes, dirty) laundry all over the baggage carousel,<<

Cable ties/straps prevent that . . .

Locks are totally useless. Anyone, try for yourself, can easily separate a locked zipper with a ballpoint pen , paper clip...and rezip, or not.

Over 40 years, we've never "lost" anything in a checked bag, including all important to us dragged on the plane on the way over.

How are cable ties not the same as locking your luggage? You just cut them off instead of using a combo code or key to open them.

And, how do they prevent your clothes from spilling out if someone has broken your zipper?

>>How are cable ties not the same as locking your luggage? You just cut them off instead of using a combo code or key to open them.<<

The point is that locks do nothing to protect your belongings. Why invest in one since they will only attract attention and don't secure anything. Cable ties at least are nearly free (I get 100 for $150 at the hardware store)

Then why buy cable ties? Same results, I don't believe that luggage locks actually attract attention.

And, how do theses cable ties protect against your belongings from spilling out when someone breaks your zippers?

I always use TSA locks, never have found a TSA card inside in all of my trips. Carry jewelry and important stuff in my carryon.

I always lock my luggage whether to or from France or anywhere else and just put the TSA lock on the luggage. I also locked my luggage to and from places back before TSA locks were required here and have never had a piece of luggage ripped open in 40 years of overseas travel.

However, once to Bangkok, when my suitcase arrived, the TSA lock was missing so TSA had to have opened it. When I got home, I filed a form and TSA sent the money to replace it . In Bangkok TSA locks are available at department stores, but cost double what they cost here in the U.S. I thus pack a couple extra TSA locks when I travel.

Happy Travels!

>>And, how do theses cable ties protect against your belongings from spilling out when someone breaks your zippers?<<

Huh? Where do you think the cable ties go? The exact same holes in the zipper pulls as your locks. So If my zipper fails . . . and your zipper fails -- we are in the same exact boat.

If you are a braces and belt sort of person then you'd want to get a strap to hold your bag together in case the zipper fails . . . .

>>Then why buy cable ties? <<

I actually don't buy them specifically for for travel. I just have them. Many people just have them on their work bench or in the 'junk drawer' . Cable ties have hundreds of uses all over the home and like I said they cost about 1.5¢ each in a bag of 100.

I fly intra-European flights and flights leaving Europe frequently and always lock my case with a a small padlock (key or combination). The only time I've ever had an issue was on one trip back home from the USA when the TSA clowns broke open my (presumably "non-TSA") lock and left their delightful calling card instead.

Thankfully the TSA have nothing to do with pre-flight security on flights leaving European airports and I've never heard of CDG security forcing open someone's back (though I'm sure they have the power to do so in extremis, but just not as a regular thing without grounds). Given that they x-ray the bags and use sniffer dogs, these's really no reason to look inside unless there are other suspicious signs.

The Brits don't like TSA locks. Once they cut my lock off, such that that suitcase could no longer be locked. NowI use cable ties when flying abroad,TSA locks in between and in the US.