Jesus, Mary, and Joseph a - fucking pen! That blows my bleeding mind!

This is why I love capitalism. There's a problem - easy to break into and reseal suitcases - and someone comes up with a solution. In this case it's machines that wrap your bag in cling film. http://www.protectabag.com/

I probably wouldn't use it if I were traveling domestically. I don't ever put anything valuable in my checked bag so the risk is low. But if I were traveling from someplace like Colombia where there is a much better chance someone would slip drugs into my suitcase for me to unknowingly transport? I'd definitely wrap my bag.

Amy your http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2010/05/12/islam_and_weste.html

post on the Islam "protesters" seems to be broken.

How about opening a locked car door with a tennis ball?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNaSTipOYy8

PS- I thought you weren't allowed to lock bags anymore so they can all be inspected?

Yeah ok and? Just like them buying a common suitcase brand and simple switching it. Or some poor dumb dupe taking something through security for someone. I've seen it many times with first time travelers in foreign countries. I'm really not that shocked or concerned. Keep your suite case with you at all times. The feds have better ways to shit can your life than planting coke or such in your suite case. While I'd imagine it's happened at least once no self respecting cartel will hide a kilo of coke in your luggage in the hopes that his plant (in US customs) on the other side of the ocean will find your suitcase and get his kilo out. If that worked every suitcase would be packed with cocaine in the hopes of one getting through, given the difference between manufacturing costs and retail value.

"You're Still Guilty" As opposed to what? You think the it's not mine excuse should be valid? I'd bet if some guy in a turban tried the "TSA is framing me" excuse for why he had a brick of C4 (or even polymer based modeling clay) in his luggage you'd be screaming your favorite Islam loving meme.

This is disturbing, in that any dealer who needs to get rid of his stash in a hurry can stow it in a random bag to evade a search of his person.

On a more personal level, now I finally know how to get into a suitcase with a broken zipper! Also, I finally must admit I need new luggage because the whole time I was viewing the video, I was thinking, "I want that suitcase! Where did he get it?"

I really ought to consider shopping more. "Hello, my name is Melissa, and I am a penny-pincher." (Chorus: "Hello, Melissa.")

>>You think the it's not mine excuse should be valid?

Actually, yes. The instant it is proven your suitcase was, as a matter of law, out of your personal custody, there is reasonable doubt about the contents. This video adds to that doubt.

We don't have a Constitution any more.

These guys say the tennis ball trick doesn't work to unlock a car:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prQRtGnKfzA&feature=related

Mythbusters killed the tennisball idea a couple of years ago.

D'oh!

THey dont pla it anymore, but anyone remember the security recording at airports which used to ask you to report if anyone had placed anything in your luggage WITHOUT your knowledge?

I recall a few mtal dector drones used to ask that as well

How the hell can anyone ever answer that?

This probably only works on the fine tooth, plastic zippers. Not that there are many metal zippers on anything anymore -- but I suspect if you tried that with a course tooth, metal zipper you couldn't hide the fact it had been tampered with.

The zipper handle gets moved to the other side, so theoretically someone could notice that, though it's not likely. Also, doing the pen trick twice will bring the handle back to the starting point.

Hey Melissa have you heard of Schapelle Corby.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schapelle_Corby

After what happened to her. Many Australians started Saran wrapping their bags. Services counters became available for a price to seal your bag.

Another post for another link to get around the spam block

http://www.upgradetravelbetter.com/2009/06/12/baggage-wrapping-brilliant-or-stupid/

This leaves two possibilities at least:

(1) Rivet a loop near one side of the zipper. Lock the sipper pulls together and to that loop.

Or

(2) Take the locks off. They only announce that you have valuables the bags. Worse, they may falsely convince a TSA agent that only you could have had access to your bag.

The photo or whetever seems to be missing. But you just reminded me that I need to email the TSA - although I'm sure I will never get a satisfactory resolution. We always use TSA- approved locks. On one new bag, due to the fact that the TSA or the delicate flowers who handle baggage busted off a zipper pull,I have been using a lock with a 3-inch cable instead of the metal U-shaped thingy (there's a word for that but ..?). Well, we pulled it off the carousel after the last trip, and guess what? The boys & girls at the TSA cut the cable! I know they will deny any liability, and suspect they will say that there's no way to determine if it was them or simple damage by baggage handling machinery. I need some different luggage ... or a private jet ...