Bag Broken into on a Flight from Jakarta to Phuket
Good day,
This is the serious matter of my bag being broken into and an “attempted robbery” of some of my belongings. I checked my bag in Jakarta, Indonesia with a lock on it, when I got to Phuket, Thailand the lock was gone and the tops of the zippers were broken. This was 100% deliberate as it must have required great force to break the tops of the zippers.
I typically had my most valuable possession in there, my backup with all the video footage and countless photos from this trip. I decided to carry in my “digital equipment pack” for safety on the night train last night from Yogyakarta to Jakarta. Nothing was stolen as apparently there is not much of a market for old white t-shirts from tesco lotus, ha.
Being a gentlemen and knowing this can happen on any airline, I will not mention which airline. I will just say their initials match that of “Alcoholics Anonymous”. If you can’t figure that out, I do not know what to tell you.
I was the first through customs and when leaving I looked at the guy who checks bags and said you want to take a look? He was still comfortably seated in his chair and just waved me through. Check your bags BEFORE you leave through customs. Imagine if someone had broken in to plant something, effectively making me their “mule”. I’d have a hard time selling my story had they found some unmentionables tightly packed in my sack, yes?
These things happen, if you lock your pack, use the rings at the base of the zipper, lesson learned.
Tips hat,
P.S I will still ALWAYS lock my bag and so should you. They even have a “shrink wrap service” available as added precaution from “wandering hands” where they do not belong. These things happens, be aware.
you would be like the “ganja queen”(hopefully you saw that movie, Ausie that got busted for smuggling in indo if i remember correctly), good name for you in fact. maybe you should not have little locks on your bag. Makes it look more interesting.
I never would have thought of shrink wrapping luggage; that’s a really good idea.
Well, at list nothing is missing.
I always carry with me my most valuable possessions.
As mentioned, I also think that locks make your bag more attractive for the”alcoholic Anonymous”
Hi Rob,
I just thought I’d drop in to check out your blog and have to say that my heart was in my mouth when you described this experience. You’re right about the not-checking-customs danger. At the end of the day, just because a guy is wearing an official uniform and checking (or not as the case may be) your bag that you have nothing to fear.
As it is, I’m so glad that you didn’t lose anything AND that nothing worse happened! I also love the blog! It was a pleasure meeting you the other night and I hope you have an awesome trip.
BTW – I am writing posts for a couple of blogs at the moment that you might be interested in. In addition to the link that I’ve attached to this comment, you might find a recent post to my technology education blog on 3G broadband modems interesting. Check it out at: http://back2skool.wordpress.com
Cheers,
Michael
Phew!…what a relief, nothing stolen! Your way around ‘not mentioning’ the airline really cracked us up. You just seem to be never boring – thank you for not only letting us learn from your experiences but making us laugh as well!
Taking a quick glance at your site. Fly’s sweet Brother passed your site onto me. I travel the world……. ALWAYS carry your valuable’s on you. I took 86 flights last year. When in the states, a locked lock on your bag is not allowed. They have to be unlocked so the nanny state can peek through. Grrrrr…… I love the plastic wrap in second, third world countries. It is fabulous. Many times I have been delivered a bag that has been ransacked or sliced…….. it sucks. The plastic takes all that away. Safe and happy travels. I just joined the PPT and love it. My name is Liquidasset on the site…….. Take care, J
Hey, sorry about that. I tried to pick them to no avail. Anyway, you should replace that toothbrush. Travel safely.
Never a dull moment…definately not a boring life.
Reg – That’s what made me thinko of it, thanks for the kind words, ha.
Gareden – Indeed
Chris – Yeah I have no valuables besides the stuff I carry always.
Mike – Good meeting you guys in Yogya and thanks for that GSM modem thing. Now all internet seems expensive and I can’t wait to buy a nice one in Bangkok. Safe travels.
Fe- Thanks
Dani – 86 flights? That’s intense. Thanks for the comment and you are going to LOVE the PPT. I’m banking coin, so is everyone I think. My money defintely works harder than I do.
Moob – Thanks, I thought it tasted sketchy in a way I won’t publish online.
Lindsay – Thanks for the sugar and protein tips, it appears to be healing faster.
Yeah man, I keep a money belt sealed to my skin and carry anything important (camera, pics, ipod) in a daypack. Balls to the robber, now you have to buy a new lock.
haha agreed. I will buy it on Khao San Road. I have an idea of how much it should cost. I had “so much history” with the old lock.