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If you’ve ever stored your luggage with a hotel, you probably know the nagging question: Is my bag safe?

Two recent cases come to mind. One involves one of my readers, Lauren Labadie, who stored three bags at a hotel in Marseille, France. She only received two back — bizarrely, from a male hotel worker who was wearing her blouse.

The other is a case handled by fellow consumer advocate Chris Chmura. A man entrusted $7,000 worth of his personal belongings to a hotel in San Francisco. Then, an employee reportedly gave his bag to a thief who claimed he had lost his claim check.

Both cases ended the same. Despite the involvement of law enforcement and seasoned consumer advocates, the guests received far less compensation than they deserved. The reason: Federal, state and local laws limit the liability of innkeepers.

“Problems like misplaced bags, theft, or damage can happen,” says John Rose, chief risk and security officer for ALTOUR, a global travel management company. But he says they are relatively uncommon, even during one of the busiest times for travel.

Are hotel luggage thefts on the rise?

I asked several security experts about the theft of stored luggage.

Hotels do not track and report thefts from secure storage areas in a systematic manner. However, they agreed that travellers are paying closer attention to this problem and asking tough questions before they hand over their valuables.

I haven’t seen a noticeable uptick in consumer advocacy cases involving luggage theft. However, like the security professionals, I’ve heard more people discussing this issue. So, let’s talk about it.

If you’re worried you might be a victim, stop reading this story and consider purchasing a tracker, such as an AirTag. Slip it into your luggage so that you’ll always know where it is. However, you have other options for keeping your valuables safe, including luggage storage services and some helpful tips for protecting your belongings from falling into the wrong hands.

How safe are luggage storage services?

Luggage storage services provide a convenient way to lighten your load and protect your valuables with security guarantees.

For example:

Bounce has a program called BounceShield Protection that may compensate you for the value of any lost, stolen, or damaged Items up to $10,000 for each bag.
LuggageHero offers protection that covers up to $3,000 in case of theft or damage. The company also conducts background checks on its partner locations to ensure a safe environment for bags.
Nannybag, another luggage storage service, offers € 10,000 in protection for specific losses.

Restrictions apply, of course. For example, Nannybag’s protection only covers a limited range of incidents, including material damage to luggage and its contents, breakage, loss, and theft that may occur to the stored luggage. In other words, you can’t file a claim if you missed a flight because you had to go to the police station to file a report.

How can you protect your luggage?

There are ways to ensure your luggage is in good hands when you store it at a hotel.

“First, use sturdy, easily recognisable luggage — something with bright straps or tags so it’s less likely to get taken by mistake,” says Russ Johnson, the CEO of Linx Legal, and an experienced traveller. Before checking in, remove any valuable items and place them in your carry-on.

Inspect the storage area. Before handing over your luggage, ensure the area is secure. “The storage area should be locked at all times,” says Frank Harrison, Regional Security Director for the Americas at World Travel Protection. “If the storage door is propped open or accessible to non-staff, consider alternative arrangements.”

Ensure a secure system is in place. The hotel should offer you a claim check, rather than simply allowing you to claim your luggage by identifying it in a room. “The hotel should have some sort of claim ticket system for identifying you and your luggage,” notes travel advisor Brandi Taylor. “Even better is when your name is written on the luggage tag, and then the hotel representative asks to see a form of ID when you pick it up, along with the claim tag.”

Document your belongings. This is an important step, and is often overlooked. “Take photos or make a list of valuable items in your luggage before checking it in,” advises Raymond Yorke, a spokesman for Redpoint Travel Protection. At a minimum, take a picture of your luggage. However, if you want to be extra cautious, open your bag and take a picture of its contents.

Make sure you have insurance. Jeremy Murchland, president of Seven Corners Travel Insurance, says travellers often forget that travel insurance can help when someone steals their belongings from a secure holding area. “If something goes missing when your bags are checked with your hotel, your coverage could reimburse you to replace that item,” he says. (Remember to file a police report; your travel insurance company will need it.)

Is there a safer way to store luggage?

Are there better options than checking luggage at the hotel? Yes, says Markus Feller, CEO of Like Magic, a hotel guest and operations platform. Look for properties specialising in luggage storage that offer cardless entry systems, such as mobile keys and automated PIN-based locks.

“Unlike traditional keycards, which can be easily lost or cloned, mobile keys generate unique, time-sensitive codes directly on the guest’s smartphone that expire after check-out,” he says. “That significantly reduces the chances of unauthorised access.

Context is everything when it comes to luggage security. For example, I recently spent a few days in Doha, Qatar. I needed to store my luggage before my next flight and entrusted it to a hotel that had very little security. I could walk into the storage area and take whatever I wanted.

Was I worried? Not really. Doha is one of the safest places on Earth. In the unlikely event that someone tries to steal your luggage, there’s a good chance it will be quickly retrieved. I wasn’t concerned for a minute. In other places, not so much.

But perhaps the best way to ensure your luggage stays safe is to keep it with you. (I know, I know. Thanks, Captain Obvious!) But it’s often overlooked. Pack lightly and put your valuables in wearable luggage, such as a ScotteVest travel jacket. You won’t have to worry about someone pilfering your belongings because there will be nothing to pilfer.