Station wagon theft of luggage-Italy?
 

Hi fellow travelers!
We are planning an Italy trip renting a Mercedes 22o station wagon. We are 4 adults and a sedan just seemed too small. How concerned should I be about the risk of break-ins while parked, as opposed to a sedan with a trunk. I thought we could cover our stuff with a blanket and would only be leaving the car unattended at restauraunts and maybe while seeing Pompeii ruins. I realize you can never be sure that crime won't occur but I just wonder if there are many cautionary tales out there.

We always back our car up to a wall, light post, tree, or other immovable object. This way, someone can not physically open the trunk. If you have a station wagon and they can get to the luggage through the back seat, this won't help. Perhaps if a parking lot guard sees someone removing luggage via the back seat, they might investigate.

Stu Dudley

As I see it you have two problems - one it's a station wagon, and two it's a Mercedes. I have driven all over Europe and left luggage in the trunk when traveling between hotels. I take the normal precautions: I use paid parking lots or garages whenever possible, do as Stu said and back up to something, try to park near the attendant's booth, or on a street with lots of people around. But I would never risk it in a station wagon. I also think if I were a thief I'd go for the more expensive cars (I usually have a low end sedan) so I'd be worried about a mercedes.

Another tip that a couple of Fodorites have suggested is to bring along a locking cable such as a bicycle chain. Use it to secure all the luggage together. It would require major effort on the part of a thief to haul off all the bags chained together.

I would go one step further and slip the cable through the little loopy thing on the inside of the trunk latch.

I agree, got the cable. Good point about the mercedes being a Target. I was originally thinking it might have better locks and maybe even an alarm, but who knows. Reminds me of the old joke that in NYC BMW stands for "break my windows!"