AP Photo

There are lessons to be learned from the recent arrest of a prolific Phoenix, AZ, Sky Harbor Airport luggage thief (AP, Reuters) .

One important fact noted in many reports is that none of the luggage found at the suspect’s home had a luggage tag attached. The tip here is to make it harder for a would be thief to get the luggage tag off your bag. The folks over at YourBagTag.com sell luggage tags that feature a metal grommet on the tag and attach via a metal cable. If you can make it harder for the thief to cut the tags off and depersonalize your bag; maybe they’ll choose a different target.

I always try to make sure that I have another completed luggage tag attached inside of my bag. I do this this because I’ve had tags break off while on the road and been nervous wondering if the airline supplied tag would hold up. Attaching a second tag inside your luggage provides a way for someone to get your bag back to you if recovered.

Finally, the reporting on this luggage theft seems to indicate that while airlines are getting lean one area they have cut is securing luggage claim areas. As more people figure this out it will only make it harder to travel as less people check bags and bring more bags along. While overhead space is shared you should always try and make sure you laptop bag fits under the seat in front of you. If only as a last resort.