By ULU_BIRD / shutterstock.com
As if taking to the sky wasn’t already nerve-wracking enough, 
there’s another thing to potentially worry about onboard your 

next flight. In-flight theft is a reality. While not so widespread
 to cause panic, it can happen, and if it does a whole trip can 
be ruined before the wheels touch down on the tarmac.

Safeguard Your Valuables from Potential 

Onboard Thieves with these Tips

While in-flight robbery is relatively rare, it does happen and 
largely goes unreported to the airlines, who actively avoid 
this type of negative publicity. That’s why currently there’s no 
database to run the statistics and see how often it actually 
occurs. But by all accounts, it is a known issue, yet it gets 
about the same treatment as customer complaints like 
delays and broken inflight entertainment.
Most travelers are unaware of the crime until they reach 
home or the hotel and notice something amiss. Others 
might not realize until they get a ping from their credit 
card issuer. Many just assume they lost the item along 
the way before suspecting theft or even where to properly 
report theft – the airline, police, travel insurance, credit 
card company, or all of the above. Not the ideal way to 
return from vacation. Even worse if you are starting one off.
To avoid finding yourself in that situation, it’s important to 
know some of the tactics in-flight fleecers use and ways 
you can prevent your valuables from getting taken on your 
next trip above the clouds.

Types of In-Flight Theft


By tete_escape / shutterstock.com
There are two main types of inflight theft; one a more 
brazen attempt while the other is an opportunistic approach.

Organized Theft

Much like pickpockets on the streets, small rings of thieves 
have taken to the skies. While not as prominent in North 
America and Europe, flights connecting through other 
regions of the world like the Middle East, Asia, and 
Africa have seen increasing action by bold groups of 
pilferers. Often purchasing cheap tickets on high capacity 
long-haul flights, a couple of hopeful robbers will vet out 
potential targets in the boarding area. Noticing which bag 
compartment or pocket a traveler might store his or her 
phone, tablet, or wallet.
Onboard, the team will keep a close eye on where the 
victims stow their belongings and may often place one 
of their bags next to it or nearby to limit suspicion. When 
the interior lights are dimmed, and vision is low, thieves 
will wait out to see if the mark falls asleep, leaves the seat 
for an extended period of time, or is distracted, and will then 
pounce at the opportunity to rifle through target’s luggage 
looking for valuables. Once an item is snatched, it’s often 
handed off to the other accomplice discreetly in case another 
passenger or crew notices the thief.
Surprisingly, another method of organized theft is done by 
rogue airline crew themselves. Former flight attendants have 
admitted to and have been caught stealing from passengers, 
this form is exceedingly rare, but occasionally these things 
happen by the people you’d expect the least. Don't allow a 
crewmember to take your credit card away from you for an 
extended period while purchasing inflight items and keep an 
eye out for any behavior that seems out of the ordinary. The 
flight crew has access to parts of the plane where passengers 
are not allowed, giving them a safe area for searching. Again, 
this is a minuscule fraction of the workforce, and often 
crewmembers that turn to theft are caught by colleagues 
and fired, but they do exist.

Opportunistic Theft

Unfortunately the world has its fair share of people who 
take advantage of others’ mistakes and naivety. This 
group of crooks might not have a deliberate desire to 
pinch items from other travelers, but when presented 
with the opportunity they'll seize the moment. These 
thefts can similarly follow the game plan as organized 
rings in that they'll notice something of value and wait
it out for the best opportunity to strike and reach inside 
your luggage to nab whatever caught their initial attention. 
Another tactic is that the would-be crook will notice 
general aloofness or wantonness with valuable items 
by a passenger and lifts them from a seatback pocket 
or open purse that’s in their reach while the victim is distracted.
Opportunistic thieves will also observe if you leave your 
purse or bag under your seat to visit the galley or toilet 
and see it as a go-signal to rifle through your wallet and 
take a credit card or some cash then return it as if nothing 
has happened. Generally, these methods take place while 
the cabin lights are low, but there’s no telling how brazen a 
thief can be if they think they can get away with it.

Simple Steps to Prevent Yourself from 

Theft

  • Limit the valuables and high-priced items you travel with, 
  • including jewelry, watches, and cash. No one needs to 
  • be dripping in diamonds like Elizabeth Taylor while 
  • sitting poolside in Cabo. Leave your blingy items in a 
  • safe place at home.

  • If you choose to bring along costly items, pack them 
  • deep into your luggage or inside harder to reach 
  • pockets, making them more difficult to access.

  • Place your bag facedown or with the pockets, compartments, 
  • and zippers toward the overhead bin back wall. This will 
  • curtail easy access to your items and make it harder for 
  • thieves to open and unzip your luggage without drawing 
  • suspicion. Oscourt makes a great anti-theft backpack 
  • that also has a USB charging port to limit you having to 
  • open your bag for others to see what's inside.

  • Invest in a set of luggage locks. This set of cable locks by 
  • Forge is TSA approved, made of durable yet sturdy steel, 
  • and simple to reset on the go. The added step of locking 
  • things up isn't ideal, but you'll feel a lot more confident 
  • knowing your belongings are protected afterward.

  • Choose an overhead locker in front of you where you 
  • have a clear line of sight. Having your luggage close-by 
  • or in view is one of the easiest steps to ensure you can 
  • keep an eye on your belongings. By doing so, you’ll be 
  • able to witness if someone dodgy keeps visiting the bin 
  • containing your contents. Fighting for overhead locker 
  • space can get vicious on some flights but try your best 
  • to avoid storing your stuff behind you where you’ll need 
  • to keep your head on a swivel. Here's a list of some of 
  • the best carry-on sized bags with safety features to bring 
  • on board.

  • If purchasing duty-free goods that are not in a sealed bag, 
  • try to store them inside your luggage if you have free space. 
  • We’ve all heard the announcement that items might have 
  • shifted in the overhead lockers during the flight, meaning 
  • that new pair of Ray-Bans or bottle of Chanel perfume 
  • might've slipped out of the flimsy plastic bag into the 
  • overhead bin where somebody could easily nab.

  • Never put your wallet or items containing credit cards 
  • and money inside the seatback pocket. Not only do 
  • you run the risk of forgetting it there, but your cards 
  • and cash are also easily accessible if you get up to 
  • visit the bathroom or take a walk around the airplane 
  • to stretch your legs.

  • Keep your necessary items on you at all times. Those 
  • include: ID/Passport, a wallet containing credit cards/cash, 
  • phone or mobile device, and essential prescription 
  • medicine if required.

Have you been a victim of in-flight theft? 

We’re you aware that happens regularly? 

Leave any comments or stories below. 

Related Article: 7 Smart Places to Stash Valuables When Traveling

Feature image by Nicoleta Ionescu / shutterstock.com