Originally Posted by
Doc Savage
You greatly overestimate the intelligence and greatly underestimate the desperation of petty thieves if you actually do this. They are not going to spend the time looking through your bags; they will simply walk off with them as quickly as possible.
If they're that smart and that desperate, they'll just break the window or pop the trunk. Then you'll have damage to deal with, in addition to a stolen bag.
Note that there are two schools of thought on this, and both have merit. I'm with the people who choose to leave their rental car doors unlocked. If you choose to lock your doors, great. But I think we can all agree to take anything of value with you.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...hu_Hawaii.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...osta_Rica.html
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-...n_Islands.html
P.S. Because petty theft is such an issue in tourist-dominated places, I've really pruned back on what I travel with anymore. I wear a cheap gold ring instead of my diamond wedding ring. Our Nikon D50 has been replaced by a much smaller, more portable digital camera. The laptop has been replaced by an iPad. My Kindle has been replaced by old-fashioned paperbacks. And I highly recommend waterproof backpacks and Aquapacs for stowing what you can't live without:
http://store.aquapac.net/explore-pro...top-cases.html