Laptop theft - How vulnerable am I?

FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
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I'm going back home (China) for the year and I was wondering how vulnerable I am to laptop theft. Going through the Minneapolis, Denver, and Sanfranscisco airports, as well as the seoul airport.

My grand parents keep scaring me about horror stories of theft.

If I do take it, would it be worthit to take it on my main luggage instead of my carry-on?
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
31,528
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You're only as vulnerable as you let yourself be.

Rule #1 in an airport: Don't take your eyes off your luggage. If you have to use the bathroom, put the bags right next to you at the urninal or take them into the stall if you have to.

If it's a laptop, keep the bag over your shoulder at all times.
 

FishTankX

Platinum Member
Oct 6, 2001
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Could I hear your stories of traveling with laptops? Has anyone here suffered laptop theft?
 

Jeff7

Lifer
Jan 4, 2001
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If I just need to walk with my laptop case from a parking lot to the place I work, I keep it slung over my shoulder, and even then, I still have one hand gripping the main handle all the time.
Just make sure it doesn't look like it's an easy steal. If you feel a need to venture anywhere, always take the thing with you - never leave it go even for a moment. If someone's keeping a watch on you, and sees a window of opportunity, that bag will be gone before you'd sit back down. I figure that'd be mainly what someone would do - look for a chance for an easy steal, as creating a rucous in a crowded airport isn't the best way to do things if you're a crook. They'll want to snap it up while you're not looking, and just casually walk out like it's their own.
 

SpunkyJones

Diamond Member
Apr 1, 2004
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When I travel for business, I never let my laptop out of my sight, and I keep the strap around my shoulder/neck the majority of the time. Just dont put it down anywhere at all, I've known people who've lost laptops, at airports, and libraries in college. I've been lucky and cautious enough to not have one taken. Yet.

NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF IT!
 

sailor420

Member
Mar 14, 2002
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I cant comment on traveling with a laptop, but I do frequently travel with a good deal of rather expensive camera equipment, and the same things apply to that.

Like others said, keep it in view *at all times*. Never, ever, take your eyes off of it. Even better, have a firm grip on it at all times. Criminals tend to look for the easy hit--dont be that guy, and you shouldnt have a problem. Make sure it looks like you are paying attention to it, not just absentmindedly letting it sit there.

One thing to think about is the metal detectors. While this hasnt happened to me, I have heard of it occuring. When you put your laptop through the scanner, make sure to keep your eye on it. There have been many cases of someone at the end of the detector walking off with it as though it were their own. If you are travelling with more than one person, it may be a good idea to let someone go through first that doesnt have an valuables on him so that he can watch the rest of your stuff go through.

Again, just be vigilant. It isnt going to magically disappear, and as long as you take precautions to make you a harder target than someone else, you shouldnt really have a problem.

And definitely take any valuables carryon. Never trust the guys in the back not to root through your stuff.
 

apoppin

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
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alienbabeltech.com
Originally posted by: FishTankX
Could I hear your stories of traveling with laptops? Has anyone here suffered laptop theft?
i don't look like a tourist [out of place, camera, etc.] : . .. so , 'no'


My laptop is always inside it's case inside of a backpack . . . no suspicion is aroused.

Finally there IS insurance just for travellers . .. your credit card may even provide it if you bought your laptop (recently) through them. ;)