Stolen Laser Rangefinder (in luggage)

DaveLeeNC · November 27, 2016

This was surprising to me when it happened. Not so much in retrospect, I guess.

I was flying from NC to Dallas for a family visit. My brother is a good golfer and I decided to ship my clubs separately as I don't have any kind of a 'bag for my bag'. At the last minute I pulled my rangefinder out of my bag and put it in my luggage. This was a last minute, little thought given to it thing. My luggage had not much of value (other than the Bushnell rangefinder).

When I got to Texas - no rangefinder. I finally decided that, since I packed up the clubs and suitcase (which was checked) on different days I just didn't actually pack the rangefinder. Even when I got home and couldn't find it I still believed that it was around somewhere.

Well, it has been months now and clearly the rangefinder is gone. I am pretty sure that someone was monitoring the luggage X-Ray and saw what probably looked like a camera or something else of value. I had not locked my suitcase (never had this problem in the past) and that was that.

I guess I'll be locking my checked luggage in the future, but has anyone ever run into that?

Thanks.

dave

dave5405 · November 27, 2016

Bummer. It's also possible that your bag got hand checked and your range finder fell out or was inadvertently not put back in on accident. Locking your bag won't help as TSA will either unlock it or remove the lock. At the end of the day, best practice is to never check anything of value.

BlackDiamondPar5 · November 27, 2016

That is a bummer. I have always put my laser and any other valuables in my carry-on for this very reason. Even cigars except for the cutter go in my carry-on.

DaveLeeNC · November 27, 2016

I used to do a ton of business travel, but the VAST majority of it was pre-9/11. Things have changed, I think.

dave

BlackDiamondPar5 · November 27, 2016

I used to do a ton of business travel, but the VAST majority of it was pre-9/11. Things have changed, I think.

dave

Things definitely have changed. The other thing that's changed is the rise and ubiquitous nature of cool electronic devices and the ability to easily "fence" them on places like Craigslist and ebay.