I've never locked a checked suitcase in my life. And I've traveled all over the world.
Of course it goes without saying that I only carry laundry in my checked luggage. Laptop, chargers, camera, etc goes in a carry on backpack.
Of course it goes without saying that I only carry laundry in my checked luggage. Laptop, chargers, camera, etc goes in a carry on backpack.
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/05/23/sfo-baggage-hand...
(SFO is notorious and most of the airlines keep lax enough records that they'll even deny that you checked a bag in the first place, much less that the contents were anything more valuable than old t-shirts)
In Europe you get the tracker code of any luggage that you have checked in.
And if you have a valuable thing in sight, then even with the fanciest locks, you're running the risk of broken windows. Just easier to keep nice stuff out of that 'public place'.
The unlocking in the hopes of preventing a window smash.
Leaving the car open is mostly to forestall people opportunistically smashing the window and looking for valuables.
Fencing a whole car is much harder than fencing some smaller loot.
Reminds me of a joke.
I leave my car with a sign hanging from the mirror that clearly states that no valuables are inside.
One day I go to my car with a broken window and a new sign that says "just checking".
What I would be worried about when leaving my car open is eg other people sleeping in it. (I wouldn't mind too much, as long as they are clean. But that's too much to ask for.)
Fortunately, I do not own a car in the first place.