Inflight Theft: How to protect your valuables in the air

Sky-high crime happens more often than you think.

If there’s one place I’ve always thought my valuables were safe, it was on a flight. Where could anyone possibly go with your stuff? Turns out I was being naïve.

Picture settling into your seat, ready for a long-haul flight. Noise-cancelling headphones have been deployed and you’re ready for a snooze – if you can manage to sleep on planes – but you wake up mid-flight to find your wallet missing.

You’d think that being 35,000 feet in the air would deter crime, but opportunistic thieves have been caught rummaging through bags while passengers sleep.

In-flight theft is more common than you might think

On a recent Scoot flight between Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore, a man was arrested for stealing $36,000 in cash from three separate people’s bags.

A passenger alerted the cabin crew to a suspected theft on the flight and the involved passengers were escorted off the plane by airport authorities for further investigation.

See also: What to wear on a flight to stay comfortable

Premium cabins are a hot spot for thieves with business and first class passengers finding their cash disappeared or even credit cards missing – sometimes swapped with expired ones.

Crew have caught criminals in the act as some sneak through aisles when the lights are dimmed and unzip bags stored in overhead lockers, all while passengers peacefully sleep in their lay flat beds.

How to protect your valuables

Consider storing your bag across the aisle, so you can see it

1. Consider a lock

At a minimum, all your bags should be zipped up during the flight. You can add a lock on yourbags, particularly for any luggage sitting in the overhead lockers. Cable ties to secure zips work too. The key is to make it as difficult as possible to get into.

2. Never store valuables in the seat pocket

It’s just too easy to lift. Don’t keep anything valuable there like your phone, passport or wallet. Keep them on you instead in a cross-body bag.

3. Don’t flash your cash

It sounds obvious but mid-flight is not the time to be counting foreign currency or rummaging through your designer wallet for everyone to see.

4. Store your bag across the aisle

If you’re using the overhead storage, place your bag across the aisle where you can keep an eye on it. Position the zippers facing away from the aisle and push the bag further in to make it less accessible.

5. Be aware

If you see someone repeatedly reaching for the overhead bin that’s not theirs or acting suspiciously, alert the cabin crew.

What to do if you fall victim to inflight theft

Make sure you notify flight attendants if you see anything suspicious

If you suspect something has been stolen, notify the flight attendants straight away. Some airlines have procedures for handling theft including identifying potential culprits and alerting authorities upon landing. Report the theft to airport security and file a police report if necessary, this will likely be required for travel insurance claims down the line.

If you’ve had cards stolen, it’s a good idea to check your banking apps to ensure no unauthorised transactions have been made once you’re on a secure Wi-Fi network.

If you spot any dodgy transactions,you may want to cancel your card. Whether you’re in economy or first class, always keep your valuables within reach and stay alert to any suspicious behaviour. Sadly thieves don’t take holidays, even at cruising altitude.

Originally published as Inflight Theft: How to protect your valuables in the air