theft prevention of laptop while vacationing?

[JACKC]

What do you do to safeguard your laptop when you leave your timeshare villa for shopping, entertainment, etc.?

Jack

 

[Fern Modena]

I lock the laptop, its case, and all its goodies inside the suitcase I have in the closet. The suitcase is locked, too. If somebody really wanted it, I suppose that is no deterrant, but I believe in "out of sight, out of mind."

Fern

 

[Timeshare Von]

Having travelled nearly 60-75 days per year for work and pleasure, I have never worried about locking up my laptop in a hotel or timeshare resort. That's not to say that it isn't possible that someone might rip one off, but it's highly unlikely, especially if you are staying in decent hotels and resorts.

Yvonne

 

[Icarus]

I travel with a cable lock, like this

http://www.amazon.com/Targus-PA410U...r_1/102-2056586-9889741?ie=UTF8&s=electronics

and keep it locked to the furniture. You have to make sure that it can't just be slipped off the legs of the furniture when you use it.

This type of lock will prevent the casual walk off. But it won't stop a professional thief.

-David

 

[mrsstats]

We lock it in the safe if it is large enough. Or as Fern does, put it out of sight. No guarantee but we have not had any problems. My brother on the other hand, leaves his out in plain site. Never had a problem.

 

[sfwilshire]

I usually don't worry much about it. If I'm in a hotel where I know they prop the door open while cleaning, I remove it from the desk and stick it in a drawer. If I'm worried about it, I lock it case and all in a large suitcase, going under the assumption that it would be harder to discreetly take a whole suitcase.

Sheila

 

[folashade]

If there is a safe I lock it in the safe or in a locked suitcase

 

[pedro47]

I usually lock the laptop in my carry on suit case. But with a non TSA combination lock.

 

[Kozman]

Safe Guarding Laptop

I don't find it that difficult to take just the computer part and put it in the trunk of my can when I leave if I'm that concerned. The least I've done is slide it under some dresser or obscure furniture piece.

 

[sfwilshire]

I don't find it that difficult to take just the computer part and put it in the trunk of my can when I leave if I'm that concerned.

I'd be more concerned about heat damage in the car than theft. Had a friend who killed multiple laptops this way.

Sheila

 

[Avery]

We used to hide mine behind the sofa or somewhere that housekeeping wouldn't look on a daily cleaning... until we forgot it once at a hotel in Pennsylvania, didn't realize it until we got almost all the way back home. Called the hotel but they refused to disturb the new guests in the room. It was a total pain, but we finally got it back after about 24 hours and another round trip in the car... I don't think anyone would've found it behind the sofa until they changed the carpeting/furniture!!!

 

[Cathyb]

Thank you for the awareness -- we just have left it set up -- out in plain view of anyone -- prior to reading this message.

 

[folashade]

Thank you for the awareness -- we just have left it set up -- out in plain view of anyone -- prior to reading this message.

I'm more likely to do this if I am traveling with my personal laptop since I don't keep personal data on my laptop. My work laptop I am much more paranoid about and always make sure that it is in a secure location. I would hate to have to explain my laptop was stolen because I left it out in the open. A huge no no during the repeated privacy training they drill into us

 

[fnewman]

We have a pretty effective hiding place that is available in most hotel and resort rooms that has not yet been mentioned here, but don't want to post it for all the world to see.

 

[abbekit]

Having travelled nearly 60-75 days per year for work and pleasure, I have never worried about locking up my laptop in a hotel or timeshare resort. That's not to say that it isn't possible that someone might rip one off, but it's highly unlikely, especially if you are staying in decent hotels and resorts.

Yvonne

I usually don't worry much about it. If I'm in a hotel where I know they prop the door open while cleaning, I remove it from the desk and stick it in a drawer. If I'm worried about it, I lock it case and all in a large suitcase, going under the assumption that it would be harder to discreetly take a whole suitcase.

Sheila

Theft can happen even of large cases and in good hotels. A friend who is a professional video camerman had his video camera stolen in a nice hotel. He set it down his camera case in the hall while unlocking the door to his room. He entered his room for just a few seconds to put down another case and when he went back to the hallway it was gone.

That being said, my husband who is also a video professional often has to leave his laptop and other assorted editing equipment set up in our hotel room (often while the equipment is running) when we run out to a meal or a meeting and we've never had a problem.

 

[Brett]

We have a pretty effective hiding place that is available in most hotel and resort rooms that has not yet been mentioned here, but don't want to post it for all the world to see.

All the world belongs to this forum? How about a small hint?

 

[Cat]

Or...

All the world belongs to this forum? How about a small hint?

...how about PMing (or emailing) the poster to find out?