We will be in Spain in October and will be traveling some by car. After hearing the concerns about car break-ins, I'm wondering what to do about luggage in the car when we stop to see sites along the way between destinations. The main places we will be traveling by car will be in the white towns in Andalucia and the El Escorial/Valley of the Fallen/Segovia area NW of Madrid. The rental car will likely not have a trunk. We will be traveling relatively light, but I'm still not excited about wearing heavy backpacks everywhere we stop. Any suggestions?

Unless you are driving a van type car, your car, even if a hatchback, will have some type of trunk which will have a cover so that what is in it is not visible.

How often do thieves break into car trunks that have nothing in them? Very rarely I suspect. The usual reason they break into a car and steal stuff is that the owners did something like stand at their trunk and sort through things, or carefully put things in the trunk, locked it, and then walked away. Just make sure you aren't telegraphing to people that you have anything of value in the trunk.

i assume that your assumptions are based on the hire car models being hatches? i don't think i've ever had a hire car without a shelf over the luggage area of the hatch. "smash and grab" crime is pretty big in many parts of europe so a covered storage area is standard on cars.

no need to put a local newspaper on the front seat or a french bread (or in this case plates of tapas or paella?) under the windscreen or any other silly tricks that people think will make your car look more local. just use common sense, keep any valuables with you and you should be fine.

Hi S,

When possible, back up to a wall or a tree.

Just curious, since I'm going there in a few weeks... does Spain have a higher rate of car theft than other European countries?

We were in Spain last year and rented a car for 15 days. We each had a suitcase, one of which fit in the trunk of our Nissan Micra. The trunk was small, but one suitcase fit and it had a shelf on the top to cover. My suitcase, which was bigger, went on the backseat. We stopped here and there while driving around and never had a problem. I don't even remember covering up my suitcase (would have needed a blanket for it!).

I'm sure your rental car will have some sort of trunk where you can store your valuables.

Don;t accept a car in which the luggage will show. You are sinply asking for trouble - esp if parking in large lots in tourist areas.

Change cars or car rental companies if necessary - but don;t let anything at all - even a map - show inside the car.

If someone wants to get in they will. We were vacationing in Hawaii a few years ago. Had a couple of hours before going to the airport. We were parked in a residential area. When we got back to the car I noticed that the glove compartment was open and the center arm rest as well. Well sure enough there was a button to open the trunk from inside the glove box. They got in the trunk and stole my pocketbook and husbands shorts. I guess they thought his wallet was in it, fortunately it was not. They got in the car through the passenger side key hole, must have used some sort of a tool. It was a real hassle as it was right after 9/11 and all my ID's were gone. My hubby did vouch for me and offered to show a family picture he had in his wallet. Needless to say we called cell phone companies and the airlines immediately and had no problem getting back home. But a very big headache. So just beware but have a good trip. Take what is very valuable with you when you leave the car. Clothes are easier to replace.

I do not think you'll have any problem in this itinerary. In big cities I think unwise to leave luggage in plain sight, but I live in a very touristic place and thiefs dont go opening every car as if to hit a jackpot, in the trunk things are safe. But the thing is that you cannot go to visit a monument or such and be constantly worried about how you'll find the car when back. So get yourself a car with enough trunk space, and take care.