Travelling and going on holiday can be expensive, so the last thing you want is your suitcase to go missing. However, according to one expert, some of us are making a common luggage mistake, which can signal to thieves that our suitcase is worth targeting.

The warning comes as suitcase theft on UK trains surged by nearly 37% in 2024, according to analysis by Money Supermarket. Separate airline and baggage industry data shows that almost one in 20 bags on flights worldwide is either lost or stolen. Joseph Barton, a security expert from AdleyBarton.com, has warned that it’s not what’s in your bag that gives you away – but what’s on the outside.

He explained: “Always try to blend in, the moment you or your belongings don’t, you become a target.  Even if you have bought a counterfeit bag on holiday that isn’t worth much, doing so puts you at risk. Thieves know the cost of items, and if you’re running with a £1,000 suitcase, then there’s a good chance that your clothes inside are designer and worth reselling.”

Travellers often assume that buying expensive luggage means their belongings are better protected, and while the good-quality cases may survive rough handling at airports, in public they can do the opposite by advertising what might be inside.

And it’s not just the obvious designer brands that signal your case is worth stealing either.  Bright colours, hard shell finishes and even matching sets are all features that draw attention, and not in a good way. 

“You may choose a brighter coloured suitcase so you can find it easier when you land, but it also makes it easier for thieves to identify and follow you,” Joseph warned. 

On the other hand, thieves tend to avoid older-looking bags – unless you give them a reason not to. Joseph said: “It signals to them that you aren’t an experienced traveller, and quite possibly you have bought everything new to go on your travels too. This signals to them that they can make money off your belongings.”

However, an old and worn-out suitcase can have the opposite effect, so thieves may think that you have nothing in your case worth stealing. 

So if you have luggage that is new and don’t want to become a victim while travelling, the expert recommends that you try to scuff it up a little.

He explained: “Suitcases are made for the rough and tumble of an airport, so don’t worry about getting them a little scuffed up or dirty.  Something as simple as rubbing a bit of dirt from the pavement onto the wheels or base of the case, then wiping it off, can leave it looking used rather than brand new.

“You can also do this to your trainers and your clothing, to make them look more worn too.”