How Hongkongers can stop thieves stealing their valuables while flying

The Post learns why direction your bag faces in overhead compartment can offer protection, among other advice, amid spike in on-board thefts.

Hong Kong police recorded a 164 per cent rise in the number of thefts on flights into the city in the first eight months of the year, with one case involving a passenger losing a watch valued at HK$4.16 million (US$535,320).

Passengers reported 132 cases of items being stolen on board passenger jets between January and August this year, compared with 50 cases in the same period in 2023.

The Post asked experts how to keep belongings safe and have peace of mind when flying.

1. What should I do before I board?

Steve Vickers, the CEO of international political and corporate risk consultancy Steve Vickers and Associates, said passengers should select a good quality bag and lock.

“You need a bag that is lockable and hard to get into in a hurry,” he said.

Vickers added passengers should consider limiting the number of valuables they took on trips.

Passengers can also prepare their carry-on luggage ahead of their travels, according to advice from the Canadian government.

Travellers can place brightly coloured labels on valuables such as passports, cameras, electronics or sports equipment to make them easily identifiable.

If passengers decide to put cash or valuables in their carry-on luggage, they should place them deep inside the bags instead of in easily accessible outer pockets.

2. What should I do first when I get on board?

Security consultant Vickers said passengers should try their best to board early to secure space close to their seat in the overhead lockers.

The Canadian government also advised passengers to keep in mind where and how they stow their bags on board.

Travellers should stow their carry-on bags in the overhead compartment directly across from them, which makes it easier to spot anyone rummaging through their belongings.

Anti-theft backpack manufacturer Pacsafe recommends travellers strategically place bags inside overhead compartments by flipping them over to block access to outer pockets and rotate them so the openings are facing towards the inside of the bin.

3. What if I’m alone or the compartments near me are full?

The Canadian authorities said passengers should keep essentials such as passports, credit cards, smartphones and essential medication on them in a pouch or vest when on board. This ensures that even if other items get lost or stolen, friends and family can still be contacted, and other travel arrangements can be made.

Travellers are also advised to pack a separate small bag containing their valuables within their carry-on luggage to retrieve their items easily if gate agents ask to conduct a search.

Vickers urged solo travellers to keep their bags locked and check on them before and after leaving their seats.

Passengers can ask flight attendants to try to help them find a better location for their carry-on luggage if the bag cannot be placed in a nearby compartment.

“Mitigate the risk as far as you can, make it difficult for the other parties,” he said.

4. How to minimise loss?

Security consultant Vickers said passengers could consider purchasing travel insurance, which would cover unforeseen circumstances and in-flight thefts.

Splitting up cash and keeping it in different places could be another option to ensure money is available to handle emergencies if a wallet or purse is stolen.

Warren Chim Wing-Nin, the deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers’ aircraft division, said surveillance cameras on most planes were often only located outside the cockpit door.

Chim said aircraft manufacturers and airlines were not likely to install cameras to monitor the whole plane, due to negative perceptions or potential privacy complaints from passengers.

“If you were a passenger, would you like to be constantly filmed like this?” he said.

Responding to questions from the Post, airlines said they were also taking the theft issue seriously.

Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways said it would ask cabin crew to be vigilant and work with police.

Greater Bay Airlines said passengers would be reminded to look after their belongings and never leave their valuables unattended, adding it would meet police regularly.