Hiding luggage in an SUV
 

We're headed for Costa Rica and plan to rent an SUV. I've read all the warnings on the forum and elsewhere about theft from vehicles so my question is...

Is there any way to deter theft by covering luggage with a towels, tarp, etc? Is there any point in doing so anyway, because if thieves know there is something underneath, my guess is a loose piece of fabric isn't going to stop anything.

(Maybe it's better to leave everything out in an open mess scattered throughout the car!?)

I don't expect to do a lot of driving with luggage in tow on a daily basis, I'm concerned about when we're stopping between destinations for lunch or a driving break.

Please share any tips you have on this. Thanks.

The only way to prevent it is to stop and pick up food you can eat in the car (always keeping one person in the car when the other gets the food) or to park the car where you can see it at all times. It may be difficult to find the right place but I'm sure you'll be able to find something.

Yep, that's exactly what you will have to do. Don't worry about covering anything--as you already know, pointless.

One person will need to stay with car or else find a place to eat with your car in full view. It isn't that hard; we've done it plenty of times. You just really can't plan on leaving it to go off and do an activity. Lunch and rest breaks shouldn't be a problem.

Good luck!

I always like to chime in here as the sorry voice of experience. DO NOT leave your vehicle with possesions inside under ANY circumstances. We thought we'd stop for lunch at the Cafe Capuccino in Cartago - a busy place on a busy street mid day - with a small parking lot that included other cars next door. We took a chance cause we were in transit back to San Jose and wanted to stop for lunch. Bad idea. ALL of our luggage was removed from our locked SUV while we were inside eating.
So don't do it. ...

I have been worried about this same issue. We only have one time where we will have our luggage in the car and need to stop. We are doing PureTrek Canyoning on our way from Poas to Arenal with no time to take our luggage to the hotel first. Should we take everything into the office at PureTrek? OR do you think the parking lot would be safe?
Thanks for your input.

wego, this is going to be risky, I think. Check with Pure Trek to see if they have secure parking. If not, I don't know. I wouldn't leave it in the office either.

When travelling between hotels, with a vehicle full of luggage, we don't stop for any sight-seeing, basically. Sometimes you can find a small place for lunch where your table is literally right next to your car! One time we found a restaurant on the highway which had posted a guard in its parking lot. He really seemed to be on the ball so we parked there...but still, we made sure we could see our car from inside the restaurant. Another time we found a mini-mall with an armed guard in the parking lot...we spoke to him and he seemed to be on the ball, so we parked there.

Also, I have a rule for the family. Luggage goes in the trunk. Anything in the car has to be open so that thieves can see it doesn't look valuable...I have a rule about not leaving anything worth stealing within plain sight.

the only time I had a vehicle broken into was right in my home state, when I was dumb enough to leave a purse in the car...I tried to hide it but the strap was visible, I think...plus we didn't park in the regular lot, we parked all alone on the road, so our car was isolated...bad idea!

I make sure that when we have activities, they will occur when we already have been settled in our new hotel.

Also, we always put our passports and credit cards wherever feels safest at the time...usually either with us, or in our hotel safe (only if it is a very secure hotel safe...some hotel safes are not as good as others.)

My husband and I always make sure that we each carry a credit card that the other person doesn't have...otherwise if one of you gets a purse or wallet stolen, if you have the same cards, you are sunk!

You really feel violated when you return to your rented vehicle and find the window smashed and something stolen. You don't want to take that chance. It is a terrible feeling.